I WAS A SPY

UK, 1933, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Madeleine Carroll, Conrad Veidt, Martita Hunt, Herbert Marshall, Edmund Gwenn, Nigel Bruce, Gerald du Maurier, Anthony Bushell, Brian Aherne.
Directed by Victor Saville.

I was a Spy is a British melodrama of the 30s, looking back to espionage and W.W.I. It is based on a true story and has a quotation from Winston Churchill in praise of the heroine. She is in contrast to the stories of Mata Hari. With its focus on the Germans and the occupation of Belgium, with Conrad Veidt yet again as a German Commandant, the film anticipates the many spy stories of World War 11. Madeline Carroll is the spy, Herbert Marshall is the sympathetic orderly, Conrad Veidt doing his perennial impersonation of a German Commander. Martita Hunt has a small role as the spy, Aunt Lucille. It is interesting in retrospect, especially of W.W.11, to see how the 30s told stories about W.W.I at the time of the rise of the Nazis.

1. Interesting and entertaining British spy story? W.W.I? A story of the 30s, the period of the rise of the Nazis, anticipating W.W.11 and espionage?

2. The black and white photography, studio sets? The musical score? The use of authentic footage and photography in Belgian towns?

3. The directness of the title? The focus on Marthe? Winston Churchill's praise?

4. The W.W.1 setting, the occupation of Belgium, the reactions of the Belgians? The Burgermeister and his collaboration as well as confrontation? The German Commandant in the town? The hospitals? The doctor and his sympathies? The war wounded, both allies and Germans? The aerial bombardments? Information, espionage in the 20th century?

5. Marthe, her work in the hospital, devoted nurse? Her parents and their restaurant? Aunt Lucille and her visit, enlisting her help with delivering messages? Her delivering the messages and becoming involved? Her relationship with Stephan, their work in the hospital, the seeming antagonism and German sympathies? Finding out the truth about him, collaboration, in love? The German Commandant and his control? Her helping with the wounded, with the allies and getting information, tending the Germans? The setting up of the explosives in the tunnel? Her loosing her watch? Her being tricked by her claiming the watch? Her going with the troops, the bombardment during Mass? Her help of the soldiers and her being awarded the Iron Cross? The Commandant discovering the truth, her arrest, internment? The trial, Stephan claiming to be in charge and being executed? Her release after her imprisonment and the end of the war? An ordinary citizen, patriot, spy?

6. Stephan, his work in the hospital, German sympathies? The truth about him? With Marthe, collaboration? The tunnels, the explosives, the plan for the ammunition dump? Getting information? Her arrest, his confessing in the court and his execution?

7. The Commandant, the German staff? German arrogance? Supplies in Belgium, the Burgermeister and his pleas? The attraction towards Marthe, her going to Brussels with him, the theatre, his advances? Her return and his reaction? Giving her the Iron Cross? Discovering the truth - and his regrets in condemning her in the court?

8. The Burgermeister, collaboration, confrontation, the plea in the court for Marthe?

9. Aunt Lucille, appearances and disappearances, communicating information? Recruiting Marthe?

11. The popular ingredients of espionage stories - and the initial focus in the films of the 30s?