International Lady (1941)

The film opens with a German air-raid over the skies of London, and moves to the attempts of the F.B.I. and Scotland Yard investigators trying to circumvent the attempts of a sabotage ring ... See full summary »

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Jack DeWitt (story), E. Lloyd Sheldon (story)

Stars:

George Brent, Ilona Massey, Basil Rathbone

Cast

Cast overview:
George Brent	...	Tim Hanley
Ilona Massey	...	Carla Nillson
Basil Rathbone	...	Reggie Oliver
Gene Lockhart	...	Sidney Grenner
George Zucco	...	Webster
Francis Pierlot	...	Dr. Rowan
Martin Kosleck	...	Bruner
Charles D. Brown	...	Tetlow
Marjorie Gateson	...	Bertha Grenner
Leyland Hodgson	...	Sergeant Moulton
Clayton Moore	...	Sewell
Gordon De Main	...	Denby
Frederick Worlock	...	Sir Henry
Jack Mulhall	...	Desk Clerk
Ralph Dunn	...	Don

Storyline

The film opens with a German air-raid over the skies of London, and moves to the attempts of the F.B.I. and Scotland Yard investigators trying to circumvent the attempts of a sabotage ring dedicated to impeding the flow of American airplanes and flying fortresses to Britain(on FDR's Lend-Lease program since the United States was not yet at war against Germany and Italy.) Tim Hanley is an American agent, posing as a lawyer connected with the United States Embassy in London, and Reggie Oliver, a Scotland Yard detective, posing as a music critic, who has a hard time understanding American slang. Both are keeping their eye on Carla Nillson, a famous singer, whom they suspect of espionage. They all meet in London, then in Lisbon, and eventually in New York City, where Carla sings on the radio under the auspices and sponsorship of Siudney Grenner, a wealthy candy manufacturer, who is in reality the head of the sabotage gang. Miss Nillson may or may not know that some of the songs she sings ...

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Plot Keywords:

airplane | singer | scotland yard | saboteur | sabotage | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

Portuguese German English

Release Date:

16 October 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cinquième bureau

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward Small Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'George Brent' to refers to Basil Rathbone as "Sherlock" about half way through the movie. Rathbone had already made a couple of Sherlock Holmes movies and was scheduled to make several more.

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Connections

Referenced in Let's Go to the Movies (1949)

User Reviews

Beware of the opera

American George Brent (Hanley) and Englishman Basil Rathbone (Oliver) are on the trail of Nazi spy Ilona Massey (Carla). Massey is a classical music performer who gives instructions during her performances through the phrasing of her music. It's a code that Brent and Rathbone need to help to crack as every time Massey gives a performance, the Nazis score a successful military strike on the Allied Forces aircraft capacity.

There is no mystery in this film as it is clear from the beginning that Massey is a baddie. This does not matter, though, as the film is fast-moving and keeps you watching. In fact, there may be a few sequences too many. The cast are good and it seems like a pilot film for a series starring Brent and Rathbone as they solve a different mystery together each week. It would have been a good idea as they have a chemistry that works between them. Massey reminded me slightly of Marlene Dietrich and her low-pitched voice is slightly freaky. I'm surprised that she didn't sound a bit more freakish when she sang.

Unfortunately, the copy I watched was poorly taped off the TV and had serious sound interference throughout the whole film. Overall, the film entertains while it runs its course but there's nothing too special going on.