How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines (1943)

A training film for OSS agents who are to be dropped behind enemy lines, covering cover and concealment, ambush techniques, etc.

Director:

John Ford

Stars:

John Ford, Eddie Foster, Martin Garralaga

Cast

Uncredited cast:
John Ford	...	J. P. Baldwin (uncredited)
Eddie Foster	...	Fish Cutter (uncredited)
Martin Garralaga	...	Enemy Agent Y (uncredited)
Peter Lorre	...	Secret Agent (archive footage) (uncredited)
Osa Massen	...	Sailor's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Tom Quinn	...	Train Passenger (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Enemy Agent X (uncredited)
Ronald R. Rondell	...	Enemy Security Officer's Aide (uncredited)
Victor Varconi	...	Enemy Security Officer (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Rudy - the Sailor (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin	...	British Agent Z (uncredited)
Crane Whitley	...	A.T. Atkinson (uncredited)

Storyline

A training film for OSS agents who are to be dropped behind enemy lines, covering cover and concealment, ambush techniques, etc.

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Plot Keywords:

secret agent | enemy | spy | spying | american secret agent | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Al turns on his radio, the sound heard is the part of the introduction by the Army officer at the beginning of the film played backwards.

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Connections

Edited into Undercover (1944)

User Reviews

Never intended for widespread consumption....

This film was made for the US government to show agents and soldiers going on missions behind enemy lines. Because it was never intended to be shown to the public, it really isn't fair to give this one a numerical score....so I'll forgo it in this case.

The film is a rather dry* but comprehensive film teaching potential agents what to do and what not to do during their undercover missions. You get lots of advice and numerous examples. How good or bad this is actually is hard to tell. What I do know is that today it makes for fascinating viewing--probably more to me than most as I am a retired history teacher and film nut! The only thing that didn't make much sense is that most everyone in the film LOOKS and SOUNDS just like typical Americans. Odd...

*Like the Private Snafu cartoons, since it was NOT intended to be seen by children and women, the short is peppered with cursing.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Undercover

Company Credits

Production Co:

Office of Strategic Services (OSS), U.S. Office of Strategic Services

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1