"Secret Agent" is a cloak and dagger spy yarn set in 1916 amid WWI. Directed by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock, it is unfortunately one of the weakest efforts from his British pre-WWII period.
The film opens at the funeral of Captain Edgar Brodie (John Gielgud)who has apparently died while home on leave. We learn however, that the British government has fabricated the death because they want him to undertake a special mission. From British Intelligence under a character known only as "R" (Charles Carcon), Brodie learns that his assignment will be to track down and kill a German spy who is undermining Britain's efforts to form an alliance with Arab countries. To assist him an eccentric character known only as "The General" (Peter Lorre) is assigned to him.
With his new identity, Richard Ashenden, he arrives in Switzerland and learns that as a cover, he has a "wife", Elsa Carrington (Madeleine Carroll). When he arrives in his room, he discovers playboy Robert Marvin (Robert Young) putting the moves on Elsa. The Ashendens and "The General" begin their search for the German spy. They are directed to an organist in a small town who has information they need, but he is found dead. They then are led to suspect that Cayper (Percy Mormont) is their man. The men lure him into a ski area and "The General" causes him to have an unfortunate "accident". All the while they are away, Marvin continues to pursue Elsa.
Later they learn that they have murdered the wrong man and that the real German spy is still at large. "The General" learns from a comely young wench, Lili (Lili Palmer) that her fiancé (Howard Marion-Crawford) may have information that will identify the spy. In the suspenseful climax aboard a train going to Germany................................
John Gielgud, as good an actor that he was, just doesn't come off as a dashing leading man. It's difficult to imagine the beautiful Madeleine Carroll being romantically interested in him. He simply comes across as a stuffed shirt. Peter Lorre is way over the top as "The General". His role is played more for comic relief rather than the cold blooded killer he's supposed to be. I'm not quite sure how Robert Young, an American, came to be cast in this film. In any case he carries off his part quite well. And as was the case in several of his movies, Hitchcock again uses a train as a key plot item.
Watch for early appearances by Sebastian Cabot, Michael Redgrave and Michael Rennie in minor bit roles. I have to say that I missed Hitchcock's trademark cameo in this one. He's gotta be in there some place.
The film opens at the funeral of Captain Edgar Brodie (John Gielgud)who has apparently died while home on leave. We learn however, that the British government has fabricated the death because they want him to undertake a special mission. From British Intelligence under a character known only as "R" (Charles Carcon), Brodie learns that his assignment will be to track down and kill a German spy who is undermining Britain's efforts to form an alliance with Arab countries. To assist him an eccentric character known only as "The General" (Peter Lorre) is assigned to him.
With his new identity, Richard Ashenden, he arrives in Switzerland and learns that as a cover, he has a "wife", Elsa Carrington (Madeleine Carroll). When he arrives in his room, he discovers playboy Robert Marvin (Robert Young) putting the moves on Elsa. The Ashendens and "The General" begin their search for the German spy. They are directed to an organist in a small town who has information they need, but he is found dead. They then are led to suspect that Cayper (Percy Mormont) is their man. The men lure him into a ski area and "The General" causes him to have an unfortunate "accident". All the while they are away, Marvin continues to pursue Elsa.
Later they learn that they have murdered the wrong man and that the real German spy is still at large. "The General" learns from a comely young wench, Lili (Lili Palmer) that her fiancé (Howard Marion-Crawford) may have information that will identify the spy. In the suspenseful climax aboard a train going to Germany................................
John Gielgud, as good an actor that he was, just doesn't come off as a dashing leading man. It's difficult to imagine the beautiful Madeleine Carroll being romantically interested in him. He simply comes across as a stuffed shirt. Peter Lorre is way over the top as "The General". His role is played more for comic relief rather than the cold blooded killer he's supposed to be. I'm not quite sure how Robert Young, an American, came to be cast in this film. In any case he carries off his part quite well. And as was the case in several of his movies, Hitchcock again uses a train as a key plot item.
Watch for early appearances by Sebastian Cabot, Michael Redgrave and Michael Rennie in minor bit roles. I have to say that I missed Hitchcock's trademark cameo in this one. He's gotta be in there some place.