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IMDbPro

The Spy in Black

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
42,986
9,878
June Duprez, Valerie Hobson, Sebastian Shaw, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
ThrillerWar
A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
42,986
9,878
  • Director
    • Michael Powell
  • Writers
    • J. Storer Clouston(story)
    • Emeric Pressburger(screenplay)
    • Roland Pertwee(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Conrad Veidt
    • Valerie Hobson
    • Sebastian Shaw
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Powell
  • Writers
    • J. Storer Clouston(story)
    • Emeric Pressburger(screenplay)
    • Roland Pertwee(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Conrad Veidt
    • Valerie Hobson
    • Sebastian Shaw
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos33

    Marius Goring and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Cyril Chamberlain, Marius Goring, Torin Thatcher, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Marius Goring and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Sebastian Shaw and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Conrad Veidt
    Conrad Veidt
    • Captain Ernst Hardt
    Valerie Hobson
    Valerie Hobson
    • The School Mistress
    Sebastian Shaw
    Sebastian Shaw
    • Ashington
    Marius Goring
    Marius Goring
    • Lieutenant Felix Schuster
    June Duprez
    June Duprez
    • Anne Burnett
    Athole Stewart
    • The Rev. Hector Matthews
    Agnes Lauchlan
    • Mrs. Matthews
    Helen Haye
    Helen Haye
    • Mrs. Sedley
    Cyril Raymond
    Cyril Raymond
    • The Rev. John Harris
    George Summers
    • Captain Ratter
    Hay Petrie
    Hay Petrie
    • Engineer
    Grant Sutherland
    • Bob Bratt
    Robert Rendel
    Robert Rendel
    • Admiral
    Mary Morris
    Mary Morris
    • Chauffeuse
    Margaret Moffat
    • Kate
    • (as Margaret Moffatt)
    Kenneth Warrington
    • Commander Denis
    Torin Thatcher
    Torin Thatcher
    • Submarine Officer
    Esma Cannon
    Esma Cannon
    • Maggie
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Michael Powell
    • Writers
      • J. Storer Clouston(story)
      • Emeric Pressburger(screenplay)
      • Roland Pertwee(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The password that Hardt is to use for his contact is the opening line of Heine's poem Die Lorelei, in which a beautiful woman, who lures sailors on the rocks, is used as a symbol of homesickness. When his crew joke about him spouting love poetry to a woman in the dark, they miss half of the point.
    • Goofs
      In the German submarine, the officers refer to depths in feet, and the depth gauge is calibrated in feet. On a German ship, depths would be measured in meters.
    • Quotes

      The Reverand John Harris: That medal ribbon. I don't seem to recognise it. What is it?

      Captain Hardt: The Iron Cross... Second Class.

      The Reverand John Harris: Second Class... then you must be a prisoner of war?

      Captain Hardt: No.

      [draws gun]

      Captain Hardt: You are.

      The Reverand John Harris: Oh dear.

    • Crazy credits
      The distributor in the film's opening credits is shown as: KEY TO SUCCESS Key Films Distributors Ltd. presents
    • Connections
      Featured in Ruutiukot: The Big Parade (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      Die Wacht am Rhein
      (uncredited)

      Composed by Carl Wilhelm

      (played in the restaurant at the movie's beginning)

    User reviews23

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Good war thriller
    Interesting in that it has a German lead, played by a German actor, who you actually sympathise with. Very much not a jingoistic war film, and not what you would expect. Veidt stands out in this as a an actor, his experience really shines through and he comes across as a more realistic, where some of the British actor comes across as 2D. Nice character study of a professional officer who sticks by his code, despite the circumstances. Atmospheric and well made, solid British war spy flick.
    helpful•6
    1
    • barjo-915-203229
    • Apr 16, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 30, 1939 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • U-Boat 29
    • Filming locations
      • Orkney, Scotland, UK
    • Production company
      • Irving Asher Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £47,300 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    June Duprez, Valerie Hobson, Sebastian Shaw, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Top Gap
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