Secret Agent

1h 23m 1936
Secret Agent

Brief Synopsis

During the first world war, novelist Edgar Brodie is sent to Switzerland by the Intelligence Service. He has to kill a German agent. During the mission he meets a fake general first and then Elsa Carrington who helps him in his duty.

Cast & Crew

Read More

Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Madeleine Carroll

Elsa Carrington, also known as Mrs. Ashenden

Peter Lorre

The General

John Gielgud

Edgar Brodie, also known as Richard Ashenden

Robert Young

Robert Marvin

Percy Marmont

Caypor

Film Details

Genre
Adaptation
Spy
Release Date
Jun 15, 1936
Premiere Information
London opening: May 1936; New York opening: week of 12 Jun 1936
Production Company
Gaumont-British Picture Corp.
Distribution Company
Gaumont-British Picture Corp. of America
Country
Great Britain and United States
Screenplay Information
Based on a play by Campbell Dixon (production undetermined), and the short story collection Ashenden; or The British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham (London, 1928).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 23m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7,809ft

Synopsis

After his supposed death, spy Edgar Brodie is sent to Switzerland, under the alias of Richard Ashenden, to locate a German spy. He and his associates identify the wrong man as the German spy, and murder him. They locate the real spy on a train to the Middle East, and in the ensuing train wreck, the German spy is killed. Richard and Elsa, the spy posing as his wife, resign their positions and marry.

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Cast

Madeleine Carroll

Elsa Carrington, also known as Mrs. Ashenden

Peter Lorre

The General

John Gielgud

Edgar Brodie, also known as Richard Ashenden

Robert Young

Robert Marvin

Percy Marmont

Caypor

Florence Kahn

Mrs. Caypor

Charles Carson

"R"

Lilli Palmer

Lilli, the maid

Alfred Hitchcock

Man dancing in casino nightclub

Crew

Charles Bennett

Adaptation

Charles Frend

Editing

Ian Hay

Dial

Bernard Knowles

Camera

Jesse Lasky Jr.

Additional Dialogue

Louis Levy

Music Director

Film Details

Genre
Adaptation
Spy
Release Date
Jun 15, 1936
Premiere Information
London opening: May 1936; New York opening: week of 12 Jun 1936
Production Company
Gaumont-British Picture Corp.
Distribution Company
Gaumont-British Picture Corp. of America
Country
Great Britain and United States
Screenplay Information
Based on a play by Campbell Dixon (production undetermined), and the short story collection Ashenden; or The British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham (London, 1928).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 23m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7,809ft

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Modern sources include Producer Michael Balcon, Associate Producer Ivor Montagu, Design Oscar Werndorff and Albert Jullion, Costumes Joe Strassner and Sound Philip Dorte in the production.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1936

Released in United States November 1971

Released in United States 1936

Released in United States November 1971 (Shown at FILMEX: Los Angeles International Film Exposition (The Alfred Hitchcock Marathon) November 4-14, 1971.)

Re-released in Zurich August 9, 1991.

TCM Emails

Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM.

©2024 Turner Classic Movies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
©2024 Turner Classic Movies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
By using this site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use