The Spy in Black (1939) seems like it would be your standard spy thriller with a heaping helping of Allied propaganda, but it is much more than that. It's as much a humanist dramedy as it is an espionage picture. The World War I setting allows Conrad Veidt's German submarine captain to be honorable, charming, and even romantic, despite his status as "the enemy." Valerie Hobson is understated and effective as the English double agent who finds herself falling for Veidt against her better judgement. The sexual tension between them is palpable, bringing an erotic energy to already tense scenes between them. The movie ends on a note of melancholy, with a sense of weariness that humaneness and tenderness mean nothing in the face of war.
This is one of director Michael Powell's earlier efforts and you can see even now his magic. I would not put TSIB in the same category as The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Black Narcissus, or my personal favorite The Red Shoes, but it is an above average movie well worth your time. And of course, fans of Conrad Veidt-- well, you won't want to miss out either.
This is one of director Michael Powell's earlier efforts and you can see even now his magic. I would not put TSIB in the same category as The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Black Narcissus, or my personal favorite The Red Shoes, but it is an above average movie well worth your time. And of course, fans of Conrad Veidt-- well, you won't want to miss out either.