Secret Agent
The Secret Agent is a relatively early film from none other than renown director Alfred Hitchcock. I believe it was directed during what is referred to as his British film period before he came to Hollywood, U.S.A. to direct movies circa 1940.
*** MILD SPOILERS AHEAD ***
Although made in 1936, The Secret Agent is set in 1916 A.D. during World War I. It is interesting to watch The Secret Agent while keeping in mind major world events that had not yet occurred such as World War II. This movie would be great to use for discussion in a history class about World War I.
The death of a British agent ( John Gielgud) is faked and he is sent to Switzerland with the new name of Ashenden. He is involved in espionage, or spying with a strange man called The General (Peter Lorre). A fake Mrs. Ashenden (Madeleine Carroll) is issued to him as his wife and partner in espionage. Thus begins a journey of adventure, intrigue and death. A young Robert Young, who much later would star in Marcus Welby, M.D. on TV, has a prominent role in The Secret Agent .
The Secret Agent is an oddity, even for Hitchcock. It is a romantic espionage mystery thriller with large doses of comedy which sometimes border on the macabre and I'm not kidding! Peter Lorre's character is a dark, sinister thug who is also a hilarious as well as pathetic womanizer. Madeleine Carroll and Robert Young are quite flirtatious and cheeky even while embroiled in deadly serious espionage. It might take a moment to adjust to a youthful John Gielgud in the starring role as Ashenden if you are familiar with his famous role as the butler in the comedy Arthur which came along many years later in his career.
I won't spoil the plot for you, but it is sufficient to say The Secret Agent takes you on a wild ride.
For those of you who are familiar with and are fans of some of Alfred Hitchcock's earlier movies from the 1930's and even the 1920's, this movie could be to your liking. For fan's of his Hollywood movies from the 1940's through the 1970's, this movie will be quite a culture shock.
I rate The Secret Agent a 73 out of 100 or a C . It is a must see movie for serious Hitchcock fans but it lacks some of the depth of character development in his better films, of which there are many.
Other folks interested in seeing a 1930's Hitchcock film might try starting with The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Thirty Nine Steps (1935), both excellent, or Young and Innocent (1937), which is a good movie. Alfred Hitchcock was a prolific director, especially in his early years and he has left behind many films to choose from. Marxi.
The Secret Agent is a relatively early film from none other than renown director Alfred Hitchcock. I believe it was directed during what is referred to as his British film period before he came to Hollywood, U.S.A. to direct movies circa 1940.
*** MILD SPOILERS AHEAD ***
Although made in 1936, The Secret Agent is set in 1916 A.D. during World War I. It is interesting to watch The Secret Agent while keeping in mind major world events that had not yet occurred such as World War II. This movie would be great to use for discussion in a history class about World War I.
The death of a British agent ( John Gielgud) is faked and he is sent to Switzerland with the new name of Ashenden. He is involved in espionage, or spying with a strange man called The General (Peter Lorre). A fake Mrs. Ashenden (Madeleine Carroll) is issued to him as his wife and partner in espionage. Thus begins a journey of adventure, intrigue and death. A young Robert Young, who much later would star in Marcus Welby, M.D. on TV, has a prominent role in The Secret Agent .
The Secret Agent is an oddity, even for Hitchcock. It is a romantic espionage mystery thriller with large doses of comedy which sometimes border on the macabre and I'm not kidding! Peter Lorre's character is a dark, sinister thug who is also a hilarious as well as pathetic womanizer. Madeleine Carroll and Robert Young are quite flirtatious and cheeky even while embroiled in deadly serious espionage. It might take a moment to adjust to a youthful John Gielgud in the starring role as Ashenden if you are familiar with his famous role as the butler in the comedy Arthur which came along many years later in his career.
I won't spoil the plot for you, but it is sufficient to say The Secret Agent takes you on a wild ride.
For those of you who are familiar with and are fans of some of Alfred Hitchcock's earlier movies from the 1930's and even the 1920's, this movie could be to your liking. For fan's of his Hollywood movies from the 1940's through the 1970's, this movie will be quite a culture shock.
I rate The Secret Agent a 73 out of 100 or a C . It is a must see movie for serious Hitchcock fans but it lacks some of the depth of character development in his better films, of which there are many.
Other folks interested in seeing a 1930's Hitchcock film might try starting with The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Thirty Nine Steps (1935), both excellent, or Young and Innocent (1937), which is a good movie. Alfred Hitchcock was a prolific director, especially in his early years and he has left behind many films to choose from. Marxi.