The Spy in Black

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Anakin W Jan 9, 2019 A dour and drab espionage story in WWI. The Spy in Black (1939) is a spy thriller from director Michael Powell. While the pacing is a bit of a slow burn and it takes about a half an hour to really pick up, this is an interesting little noir. Conrad Veidt's performance is pretty charismatic and likable for playing a German spy in the middle of World War I. His natural expressions and highly expressive face are a delight to watch and believable for his character. He is particularly fascinating to observe as his character finds out the twist and secrets that this film has to offer. He proves he deserves all the praise he has received as an actor. It's too bad this film is not better suited to display his acting prowess. The leading actress is Valerie Hobson, who ranges from stalwart, stern, and sympathetic, to annoying and overacting. It's a bit of a mixed performance from her. The other leading man, played by Sebastian Shaw, is absolutely dull and replaceable. He does little to intrigue and his character is fairly one note. You'd much rather the villainous Veidt to succeed as his character feels more clever and complex. The Spy in Black is just a quick thriller that gets more suspenseful to the end while Veidt must escape from the British Navy. How it all unfolds is far more interesting than the few nice shots from Powell. Powell should have used the shadows more like when Veidt hides in a nook of a hallway in the dark of night or as he escapes into the nighttime outside on the road. If The Spy in Black had more unique sequences like that or more closeups on Veidt's fascinating face, I'd have been more entertained. See more

Draco S Jan 5, 2019 Surprisingly good naval espionage movie set during WWI but made on the verge of WWII. Germans, particularly Veidt's character, come off as very human. Hobson's character is intriguing, particularly her obvious attraction toward's Veidt while married to another man. See more

Hagrid W Apr 25, 2017 good plot, but clumsy ending

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The Spy in Black

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