La espía número 13

Always liked Marion Davies in most of her films. She always played good-natured, cheerful parts in which you can root for her character. But I guess everyone's entitled to a clinker once in a while, and I thought "Operator 13" is hers. She is hard to believe as a Northern spy in blackface - she doesn't look like a black person at all, and in real life would fool no one. Her makeup as a white spy looks laid on with a trowel, and in addition she doesn't sing well when called upon.

The plot itself is a good one and is handled well by underrated director Boleslawski, who died too soon. The scenes of intrigue and espionage are very good, as are the few fight and battle scenes, but the picture goes downhill in the love scenes between Davies and Gary Cooper. The dialogue here seems forced and Davies tries too hard to play an ardent lover. Rest of the cast is excellent with several recognizable character actors, including Ted Healy (minus the 3 Stooges) as a Union Captain.

"Operator 13" is an early Civil War film with a fine cast. It's also one of the early Hollywood films in which a white performer plays a role of another race. Marion Davies impersonates a Black woman in disguise to infiltrate the Confederacy and spy for the Union forces.

Davies plays Gail Loveless who soon meets and falls for a Confederate spy, Capt. Jack Gailliard. Gary Cooper plays that part. Of course, she doesn't let on to who she is. It's only after the war that the truth comes out.

A number of other known actors of the day have roles, including Jean Parker, Douglas Dumbrille, and Sidney Toler. The plot is interesting but the screenplay is a little choppy in places. This isn't a movie about the actual battles and destruction, but a behind-the-scenes film about spying during the Civil War.

Many may not find it that great a story, but I give it six stars on the strength of the fine cast.

Well if you thought that "Batman" had a poor disguise, just wait to you see Marion Davies in this quite entertainingly predictable American Civil War adventure. "Gail" has been recruited by the original Mr. Pinkerton to act as a spy for the Yankees down amongst the Johnny Rebs and so blackens up, sports a washer-woman's garb and adopts an accent that is supposed to help her pass as a serving wench. Luckily for her, those she is spying upon are not the sharpest bayonets on the gun, and pretty swiftly she has ingratiated herself with their deadly foes but along the way taken a bit of a shine to "Capt. Jack" (Gary Cooper). When she returns for a second bite at this intelligence gathering cherry, only this time looking more like something from a Parisian ballroom, she realises that her enemies are not quite so thick as she'd thought. Can she escape in time? Can she ever be with her true love? Unless you don't actually know who won this particular conflict then there's precisely no jeopardy at all here, but along the way there are some daft escapades, a few musical numbers and just enough romance to give Cooper a chance to show he's not quite as wooden as the picket fences they are shooting from. Davies is game, especially at the start but like most of the rest of the cast here, is rather swimming against a tide of low-budget blandness and some 1930s racist stereotypes. These don't sit so well nowadays, but watching near century old films with modern day attitudes can often be unrewarding, so it's best to remember that if you're going to give this mediocre ninety minutes a go.

Marion Davies is unbelievable as a spy behind Confederate lines who falls for Confederate spy Gary Cooper.

The black stereotypes are normal for the time, but now hard to take. The main interest to me are the women's costumes by Andre, especially those in the ball scene.

Although there are some blinkered reviews here,this is actually an enjoyable Civil War movie.Marion Davies acquits herself well as an Union spy in two guises:Initially as a mixed-race maid(Of French lineage from Martinique!),and latterly as a supposed Northern Sympathiser of the Confederacy.She is appealing in both roles. Gary Cooper also gives a decent performance as the Confederate Captain/ Counter-Spy who seeks to apprehend her and becomes her Paramour.Even though this is not exactly his strongest career role! Add to this a stalwart supporting cast(including Jean Parker as a Southern Belle),and some fine atmospheric cinematography:Note the early morning "fishing" scene,and also the Romantic interlude with Gary Cooper pushing Marion Davies on a sizeable swing as she sings the nice "Once In A Lifetime".This is one of several songs sung by her or the Mills Brothers. Approach this Film with an open mind and you may well find it entertaining!