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IMDbPro

Foreign Correspondent

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Watch ’Trailer’
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
66 Photos
  • Action
  • Romance
  • Thriller
On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
21K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Joan Harrison(screenplay)
    • James Hilton(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Joel McCrea
    • Laraine Day
    • Herbert Marshall
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Joan Harrison(screenplay)
    • James Hilton(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Joel McCrea
    • Laraine Day
    • Herbert Marshall
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 168User reviews
    • 72Critic reviews
    • 88Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 6 Oscars
      • 1 win & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Trailer

    Photos66

    George Sanders, Robert Benchley, and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Albert Bassermann, Martin Kosleck, and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Martin Kosleck and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Martin Kosleck and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joel McCrea
    Joel McCrea
    • John Jonesas John Jones
    Laraine Day
    Laraine Day
    • Carol Fisheras Carol Fisher
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • Stephen Fisheras Stephen Fisher
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Scott ffolliottas Scott ffolliott
    Albert Bassermann
    Albert Bassermann
    • Van Meeras Van Meer
    • (as Albert Basserman)
    Robert Benchley
    Robert Benchley
    • Stebbinsas Stebbins
    Edmund Gwenn
    Edmund Gwenn
    • Rowleyas Rowley
    Eduardo Ciannelli
    Eduardo Ciannelli
    • Mr. Krugas Mr. Krug
    • (as Eduardo Cianelli)
    Harry Davenport
    Harry Davenport
    • Mr. Powersas Mr. Powers
    Martin Kosleck
    Martin Kosleck
    • Trampas Tramp
    Frances Carson
    Frances Carson
    • Mrs. Spragueas Mrs. Sprague
    Ian Wolfe
    Ian Wolfe
    • Stilesas Stiles
    Charles Wagenheim
    Charles Wagenheim
    • Assassinas Assassin
    Eddie Conrad
    Eddie Conrad
    • Latvianas Latvian
    • (as Edward Conrad)
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Bradleyas Bradley
    Barbara Pepper
    Barbara Pepper
    • Dorineas Dorine
    Emory Parnell
    Emory Parnell
    • Captain John Markas Captain John Mark
    Roy Gordon
    Roy Gordon
    • Mr. Broodas Mr. Brood
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writers
      • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
      • Joan Harrison(screenplay)
      • James Hilton(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shooting was completed on May 29, 1940, after which director Alfred Hitchcock made a visit to England. He returned on July 3 with the word that the Germans were expected to start bombing at any time. Ben Hecht was hurriedly called in and wrote the tacked-on final scene set at a London radio station. It was filmed on July 5, and the real-life bombing started on July 10, 1940.
    • Goofs
      As the purser on the ship tells John and Carol that he has no more cabins, the right side of his fake moustache can be seen sliding down. He surreptitiously pushes back it in place, but as they turn back for a second try and he continues speaking, the moustache slides down again.
    • Quotes

      John Jones: I'm in love with you, and I want to marry you.

      Carol Fisher: I'm in love with you, and I want to marry you.

      John Jones: Hmm... that cuts down our love scene quite a bit, doesn't it?

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: To those intrepid ones who went across the seas to be the eyes and ears of America... To those forthright ones who early saw the clouds of war while many of us at home were seeing rainbows... To those clear-headed ones who now stand like recording angels among the dead and dying... To the Foreign Correspondents - this motion picture is dedicated.
    • Alternate versions
      Due to its political theme, no German distributor was willing to show the film until 1960. Then, after the huge success of Psycho (1960), Constantin Film released the film with a running time of ca. 98 Minutes; approximately 22 minutes were cut, mainly Nazi-sequences. ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) showed the film in 1995 for the first time ever in Germany in a newly-dubbed uncut version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Le contrôle de l'univers (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Rule Britannia
      (1740) (uncredited)

      Music by Thomas Augustine Arne

      Background music played as a ship pulls out of the harbor

    User reviews168

    Review
    Top review
    The best special effects of 1940... and possibly 2020
    "Foreign Correspondent" is yet another Hitchcock masterpiece featuring some incredibly creative visual effects that, 80 years later, still hold up. This was thanks to a huge budget ($1.5 million which was enormous back then) that allowed for huge sets and props to be built, for example the entire Amsterdam Town Hall and surrounding streets were constructed inside a studio for the famous assassin chase scene in the rain. The full size cockpit of a transatlantic airliner was built (and somewhat trashed), and my favorite part, a 4-story windmill was also built for this picture.

    But I'm getting ahead of myself, first the plot. "Foreign Correspondent" is a roller coaster political thriller that centers on a reporter "Johnny Jones" (Joel McCrea sporting the most American name ever invented) who is sent to Europe to find out the inside scoop on whether war is going to be declared. He stumbles into an insidious plot by agents of "Bovaria" (they weren't allowed to say "Germany" lest they offend American neutralists at the time). Once the action begins it never lets up, except for a few well-placed moments of comedy and sarcastic wit thanks largely to the unforgettable performance of George Sanders as the British liaison "Scott ffolliott" (spelled with a lowercase 'f' due to an ancestor losing his head).

    And it's really that characteristic blend of action and Hitchcockian humor that makes this film fly. Yes, there is a romance element featuring the lovely Laraine Day as "Carol", but it never distracts from the lightning pace of this story. And in fact, we get one of the most hilariously abridged "love scenes" in the history of cinema...

    JOHNNY: I'm in love with you and want to marry you. CAROL: I'm in love with you and want to marry you. JOHNNY: Hm, that cuts down our love scene quite a bit, doesn't it?

    Ok, as promised back to the visual effects. They're so good that you might miss them, and that's sort of the point. Harrowing scenes atop hotel ledges, countryside chases through windmills, and of course those incredible airplane scenes near the end--these were all staged in a studio with constructed sets, enormous props, fantastic matte paintings and one of the most elaborate Hollywood effects ever made involving a projection on rice paper and a few thousand gallons of water. After you see this movie, definitely look up Alfred Hitchcock's interview on the Dick Cavett show 1972 where he spills the beans on how the magic was made.
    helpful•5
    0
    • rooprect
    • Dec 25, 2020

    FAQ2

    • Is this film in the public domain?
    • Some copies look terrible. Which is the best version to buy?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Dutch
      • German
      • Latvian
    • Also known as
      • Imposter
    • Filming locations
      • Amsterdam, Netherlands
    • Production company
      • Walter Wanger Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $623
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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