“Secret Agent” (1936) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring John Gielgud, Madeline Carroll, Robert Young, & Peter Lorre / Z-View

Secret Agent (1936)

Director:  Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Charles Bennett, Alma Reville, Ian Hay, Jesse Lasky Jr. based on the story by W. Somerset Maugham and the play by Campbell Dixon

Stars: John Gielgud, Madeline Carroll, Robert Young, Peter Lorre, Sebastian Cabot, Michael Redgrave, Michael Rennie.

Tagline: Dead Women Tell No Tales Was The Motto of This Charming Lady Killer!

The Plot…

British Captain Edgar Brodie (Gielgud) is recruited for a secret mission to to identify and eliminate a German agent.  Brodie is given a fake identity as Richard Ashenden.  He is also given a “wife” named Elsa to assist with the mission.  Ashenden and Elsa are teamed with a foreign agent (Lorre) called “The General” (also known as “the hairless Mexican – although he isn’t a general, hairless or a Mexican).

As Ashenden and Elsa move forward with the mission, they will encounter double agents, secret messages, and lines that they are unwilling to cross that The General will without hesitation.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Seeing John Gielgud and Robert Young looking so, uh, young is a hoot.  Especially since I knew them from Arthur and Marcus Welby, MD.

Sebastian Cabot, Michael Redgrave and Michael Rennie appear in uncredited roles.

Another Alfred Hitchcock winner.

Be aware that the copyright lapsed and there are many bootleg and low quality versions on the market.

Secret Agent (1936) rates 3 of 5 stars.