Stamboul Quest

Before her sophisticated flair for comedy was discovered, Myrna Loy played many roles that relied on her exotic beauty.

One is Stamboul Quest from 1934, also starring George Brent. Loy plays a German spy, Annemarie, a sort of Mati Hari, a love 'em and leave 'em type adept at gathering information.

In 1915, her boss, German Counter-Intelligence Chief Von Sturm (Lionel Atwill) asks her to go to Turkey, as he believes Ali Bey, a Turkish Comannder for the Dardenelles, is selling secrets to the British.

While she is attempting to carry out this mission, she meets Douglas Beall (Brent) and although she fights it, she falls in love with him, helping him to get into Turkey as her servant under her passport. This makes for many complications.

Melodramatic, with Loy luminescent as well as resplendent in her various outfits. Brent is mustacheless and lively, though in later years we would see a mustached and more somber version.

The plot is a little complicated, but the two stars are worth seeing.

Myrna Loy is a German spy on a mission to Istanbul. It is of the highest importance to Germany; the entire course of the war may depend on it. But she has met an American, George Brent, and is in love. Can she carry out her job through the haze of conflicting emotions?

Miss Loy had reached stardom through her amazing beauty, and had been cast for the last five years as exotics, and here she is again. But she had already made the switch to Americans in comedies, beginning with Frank Capra the previous year, and more important for her career at MGM, in MANHATTAN MELODRAMA and THE THIN MAN. Yet here she is at her old job, and it looks a little tired, despite the pre-code touches. Still, the MGM gloss and James Wong Howe's lighting cover up a multitude of sins. With Lionel Atwill, C. Henry Gordon, and Leo G. Carroll in his screen debut.

It's unusual in that the story is about espionage and counter espionage (and perhaps counter counter espionage) among the Germans during World War I, at a time before America entered the war.

Myrna Loy plays a German spy, sent by her spy boss (Lionel Atwill) to find out whether the head of the Turkish forces (very well played by C. Henry Gordon) is a double agent, spying for the British. The Dardanelles are involved, and military secrets. Myrna's life and mission are complicated by the fact that George Brent, an American studying medicine in Germany, is accidentally arrested in a dentist's office, during the ambush of Leo G. Carroll, who is also a double agent. Rudolph Amendt (who would play the mad doctor in She Demons nearly 25 years later) has a small role.

There are nuns in this movie, and a convent, at the opening and closing. Myrna, having outed Mata Hari as a double agent, herself falls in love, jeopardizing her work. There is some very clever dialogue in this film, as well as a little bit of well placed humor, and a great scene in which C. Henry Gordon writes secrets in invisible ink on Myrna Loy's naked back.

MYRNA LOY uses her exotic beauty well as a German spy who finds herself being wooed by a persistent American medical student (GEORGE BRENT) who follows her (stalks her is more like it) until she finds herself succumbing to his charms. Their relationship, although it becomes intense, is played out with humor and wit, helped by a script that is totally unpredictable in the amount of twists and turns it takes to get to a rather abrupt conclusion.

C. HENRY GORDON has a prominent role as a Turkish commander and LIONEL ATWILL gets some humor out of his role as her boss in espionage. Loy is photographed with great care and looks exquisite in her Orry-Kelly costumes. She appears to be enjoying her role here almost as much as the "Thin Man" roles she would soon be playing opposite William Powell.

As with all espionage yarns, the plot gets thicker as things go on and anyone who dozes off will have a hard time getting back on track--that's how complicated the yarn gets before the happy ending.

All told, it's a trifle but a pleasant one in the careers of Myrna Loy and George Brent, who is a little livelier than usual in his playful role.

With a Title that will do Nothing but Alienate Modern Movie Watchers this Pre-WWI Tale of a Real Life Female Infiltrator (not Mati Hari) is a So-So, Complex, Talky, Awkward Film that has some Appealing Actors like Myrna Loy (sporting a dazzling wardrobe with Flying Saucer hats) and Lionel Atwill, Among Others (no George Brent is not appealing in any way).

The First Act is in Deep Danger of Ruining the Intent of the Film as it has Brent Stalking Loy and his Relentless Advances and her Constant Rejection becomes Intolerable. But when She Finally Succombs and takes Him on as an "Assistant" things Settle Down to Watchable.

There is some Neat Spy Stuff like Messages in Tooth Fillings, Invisible Ink, and a Very Odd Scene where Body Art takes on a New Meaning. It is All Handled with MGM's Slick Sheen and the Result is Worth a Watch but as a Whole it is too Silly at Times and too Complicated by a Half to be Anything More than just Good.