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Operator 13

Play trailer Poster for Operator 13 1934 1h 26m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
At the start of the Civil War, the Union sends actresses Gail Loveless (Marion Davies) and Pauline Cushman (Katharine Alexander) to infiltrate the Confederacy. Disguised as her black servant, Gail helps Pauline gather intelligence about Capt. Jack Gailliard (Gary Cooper). But when Pauline is imprisoned under suspicion of espionage, it's up to Gail to complete her mission. Refashioned as a Southern belle, Gail is able to get close to Gailliard -- but finds herself falling in love.

Critics Reviews

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Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Spy story of the Civil War. which doesn't attempt to be believable but manages to be exciting and amusing. With Marion Davies and Gary Cooper. Jul 22, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Lavishly entertaining but nonsensical American Civil War spy story. Rated: C+ Jun 15, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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acsdoug D I look at this movie as a missed opportunity. They could have made a suspenseful Civil war espionage thriller, but made a romance melodrama instead. Enjoyed the Mills Brothers though. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/11/23 Full Review Audience Member this civil war pic loses points 4 davies playin black-yikes! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member An entertaining and economically paced melodrama with it's share of intrigue and excitement, though the ending feels rushed and the romance doesn't quite pay off due to that. Seeing Marion Davies in full-on blackface is disconcerting. Both off-putting and oddly comic, though what really gets me about that part of this film is the outrageous voice she puts on while disguised as a black southern slave. It isn't politically correct, but the voice just sends it over the top. I want to say it's offensive, and if it weren't so campy, and the film's message wasn't basically "love thy neighbor" I would. As it is, it's just kind of distracting, in a "I can't believe this was normal back then" kind of way. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Operator 13

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Operator 13

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Movie Info

Synopsis At the start of the Civil War, the Union sends actresses Gail Loveless (Marion Davies) and Pauline Cushman (Katharine Alexander) to infiltrate the Confederacy. Disguised as her black servant, Gail helps Pauline gather intelligence about Capt. Jack Gailliard (Gary Cooper). But when Pauline is imprisoned under suspicion of espionage, it's up to Gail to complete her mission. Refashioned as a Southern belle, Gail is able to get close to Gailliard -- but finds herself falling in love.
Director
Richard Boleslawski
Producer
Lucien Hubbard
Screenwriter
Eve Greene, Harvey F. Thew, Zelda Sears
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 2, 2009
Runtime
1h 26m