Those who have read Somerset Maugham's works will not find the tale unusual or fascinating. The Ashenden tales were interesting semi-autobiographical incidents published as novels and shortstories. Hitchcock's film script is built on those Maugham tales.
What then is Hitchcock's contribution? First, the casting of the young John Gielgud and the almost unrecognizable Lili Palmer alongside the scene-stealer Peter Lorre deserve credit. The editing of the chocolate factory sequence is truly remarkable, with touches of Eisenstein's editing skills. The humour of the one-armed spy dropping an empty coffin while trying to lift it was stretching Hitchcockian humour with little purpose.
What then is Hitchcock's contribution? First, the casting of the young John Gielgud and the almost unrecognizable Lili Palmer alongside the scene-stealer Peter Lorre deserve credit. The editing of the chocolate factory sequence is truly remarkable, with touches of Eisenstein's editing skills. The humour of the one-armed spy dropping an empty coffin while trying to lift it was stretching Hitchcockian humour with little purpose.