Enemy Agent


1h 2m 1940

Film Details

Genre
Spy
Release Date
Apr 19, 1940
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Universal Pictures Co.
Distribution Company
Universal Pictures Co.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 2m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels

Synopsis

Enemy agents, under the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Arnold, infiltrate an aviation plant in order to acquire the secret plans for the United States Army's Flying Fortress and secret bomb sites. After the murder of his agent Evans, an engineer at the plant, Arnold assigns Lester Taylor to finish the job. The FBI, on Evans trail, summons Jimmy Saunders, a young draftsman at the plant, for questioning, but learns nothing. Meanwhile, Taylor begins to date lunchroom hostess Irene Hunter, who comments on his unusual matches. When the FBI announces plans to search the plant, Taylor puts a watch camera in Jimmy's Locker and he is arrested as a spy. After he is released for lack of evidence, Jimmy is unable to find work because of his notoriety, and begins to drink. Arnold then instructs Taylor to arrange a job for Jimmy in Kansas City, where he can be quietly eliminated. Taylor writes the address of the job on the back of an envelope bearing the words "Lionel Carter care of Lester Taylor", and becoming suspicious, Jimmy breaks into Taylor's apartment, where he finds photographs of the secret plans and a bank book. When Taylor unexpectedly returns home and discovers Jimmy hiding in his closet, he has him arrested for trespassing. As Jimmy languishes behind bars, Peggy O'Reilly, a waitress at the lunchroom, visits him and he tells her that he has hidden a photo that will prove his innocence. When Peggy tells Irene about Jimmy's confidence, Irene searches his apartment and then his car, where she finds the photo. Irene then informs Taylor that Jimmy has accused him of being a spy. Later that night, they meet Arnold at a nightclub where Irene notices that he is using the same matches as Taylor. The next day, Jimmy is released from prison and kidnapped by Arnold's thugs. That night, Irene visits Arnold and offers to sell him the plans. As Arnold begins to threaten Irene, her drunken friends burst into the house and stage a football game in which they tackle Arnold's bodyguards. The drunks then reveal that they are government agents and are arresting Arnold and his men to free Jimmy. Thus exonerated, Jimmy is reinstated at the plant and marries Peggy.

Film Details

Genre
Spy
Release Date
Apr 19, 1940
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Universal Pictures Co.
Distribution Company
Universal Pictures Co.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 2m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

According to a production chart in Hollywood Reporter and the Call Bureau Cast Sheet lists, Fritz Van Dongen was slated for the role of "Dr. Jeffrey Arnold."