The Spy in Black

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Audience Member Surprisingly good naval espionage movie set during WWI but made on the verge of WWII. Germans, particularly Veidt's character, come off as very human. Hobson's character is intriguing, particularly her obvious attraction toward's Veidt while married to another man. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member good plot, but clumsy ending Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review s r Great storytelling for its day and a compelling war film to boot. Then one of the characters went to university of Bristol made it all the better. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This first collaboration between Powell and Pressburger already contains some of the lyricism that would feature so prominently in their later great films (I Know Where I'm Going!, The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, etc.). Surprisingly, the film follows Conrad Veidt, a German U-Boat commander in WWI, when he is assigned to the small Scottish Orkney Islands as a spy. His mission is to receive secret plans from a British traitor that would allow him to destroy the warships stationed here. His control turns out to be Valerie Hobson, undercover as a schoolteacher in the small village (after the real incoming schoolteacher is disposed of in an unfortunate way). But things are not always how they seem to be! Powell moves smoothly and easily between the wartime U-Boat scenes and the close up personal drama in the village (where Veidt and Hobson may be falling in love!). A memorable portent of things to come and a solid and engaging spy story on its own. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Like Conrad Veidt. Enjoyable pace of opening. Supporting cast is good. Theme is right for its time. Seriousness of purpose is fairly shown. Professionalism of German sailors seems free of typical anti-Nazi sentiments. Proper vehicle to explain the Great War at a time when the US was about to enter and at a time when we were still not in WWII. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Veidt has a strong role for which he's admirably suited. Sebastian Shaw is excellent as the English naval officer. Valerie Hobson, as the other spy, is creditable. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Spy in Black

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