THE SPY IN BLACK

UK, 1939, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie, Helen Haye, Sebastian Shaw.
Directed by Michael Powell.

Spy in Black is a brisk, effective pre-World II adventure war drama. Set during the first World War, it has obvious reference to the situation looming in Europe in the late 30s. Written by Emeric Pressburger, who was to write many films in the succeeding fifteen years with his director Michael Powell, e.g. Stairway to Heaven, I Know Where I’m Going, The Red Shoes, the film is effective British film
making of the 30s. German actor Conrad Veidt, of the Cabinet of Caligari, is effective as the German sailor. Valerie Hobson, in an early role, is the ambiguous heroine. of interest in reflecting the atmosphere of popular entertainment prior to World War II.

1. An interesting and entertaining war film? Of interest in reflecting the attitude of the 30s in Britain, towards Germany? Towards war? The memories of World War I? Patriotism and propaganda? How does it seem in retrospect?

2. The conventions of the war film, the German setting, the German sailors and their mission, the British situation, Scotland, spies, the fleet, sabotage, mine fields, crises and dangers? Heroism?

3. Black and white photography, the British settings for World War 171 The score? Special effects?

4. The plausibility of the plot? The background of world War I? Germany and 1917 and its difficulties as illustrated by the sailors wanting to eat at the beginning of the film? The plan, its execution, the intrusion of the Germans into Scotland? The murder of the school-teacher and the substitute?

5. The hero and British attitudes towards him? As a German in World War I, the atmosphere of the 30s? Strengths and weaknesses? Respect for him by the Germans, his mission, his attitude towards his men, his dilemma in destroying people and the fulfilment of his task, his death? A rounded portrait?

6. The German officers and their portrayal - how objective, interesting? The contrast with the presentation of the British?

7. The heroine and her being the substitute teacher, her links with the Germans, with the British? Her decisive role in the dilemma with the boat?

8. The World War I situation, Scotland and its ordinary way of life and the way this was presented, the fifth column of German sympathisers and their work in England, the Germans and their infiltration? Naval headquarters and the use of the Northern Seas in the War?

9. The building up of suspense, the execution of the mission, the importance of the boat and its destruction? How involved was the audience in suspense? The decisions that had to be nude - human lives, issues of war?

10. How clearly presented were the war issues and the conscience issues? How convincing? As a prelude for attitudes towards World War II? How did these seem in retrospect.