Madame Spy

The story has already been told by Long Horn, who has read it in a library dictionary, according to him. The only interesting aspect of this feature is it's a rare gem from Universal Studios vaults. And also directed by Roy William Neill, who also made the famous Sherlock Holmes series for the big screen, starring Basil Rathbone. MADAME SPY is typical of Universal films, a slight mix up of comedy, action, romance and of course spy, war melodrama, as far this was shot in 1942. Nazis were everywhere in these days.

I won't say it's boring. But if you don't like this kind of stuff in particular, you can live without it.

I don't know what to say else...

Constance Bennett marries war reporter Don Porter. On the way back to the US, their ship is sunk by a submarine. When they finally arrive, Porter is busy making broadcasts urging the country to vigilance; Miss Bennett is seeing.... some suspect old friends. They're just old friends, she insists, but it gradually dawns on Porter that she is a spy, the one that whispers callMadame Spy[.

It's directed by Roy William Neill. He is best remembered for directing many of the Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes movies of the era, but he was one of the survivors of the silent era, and as he struggled back into prominence, he excelled as one of the directors who were instrumental in the rise of film noir in the 1940s. This one is dark and visually striking with some fine camerawork by George Robinson, but while it's clearly a link in the evolution of noir, it's not there yet. Neill would direct a minor noir masterpiece,BLACK ANGEL, and die at the end of the year, 59 years old.

By 1942, the once big star, Constance Bennett, was no longer a box office draw and was making less and less prestigious films following her glory days in the 1930s. Evidence of this is "Madame Spy", a cheap B-movie that was, frankly, beneath her talents.

When the story begins, a famous war correspondent, David Bannister (Don Porter), meets and marries Joan (Bennett). They seem very happy and she follows him about the globe covering the war. However, after a while, Joan behaves oddly and David begins to wonder if his wife might actually be an Axis spy!!

The story is illogical. I'd say more but it would betray the big plot twist...something that really didn't catch very many folks by surprise. It also is WAY over the top as a preachy propaganda movie (it probably made some HATE the war effort instead of getting behind it). However, I must also admit that the movie IS entertaining...if a bit silly.

During WWII, a war correspondent (Don Porter) gets married, but his wife Joan (Constance Bennett) is up to something. She pretends not to already know his friend, slips out on mysterious errands and hangs around with a group he doesn't approve of. She also seems to have a large supply of ex-boyfriends. This breezy spy film is entertaining enough, and features some unexpected comedy at the end supplied by Jimmy Conlin and a saxophone. It blows my mind that someone would marry another person without really knowing them, but I guess that happened a lot during the war.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Constance Bennett stars with Don Porter, John Litel, Edward Brophy, and John Eldredge in "Madame Spy" from 1942. At 63 minutes, I suspect this is a B movie. Bennett was after all an ancient 38. If she wanted a decent role, she'd have to produce a movie herself, which she did (Paris Underground).

Bennett plays Joan Bannister, newly married to radio journalist David Bannister (Porter), who warns the public about loose lips sinking ships. The film was released in December 1942, so it was probably made after Pearl Harbor.

Joan seems to have some special friends - and David doesn't like them. One in particular is Alicia Rolf (Nana Bryant) whom he considers a subversive. What he doesn't realize is that one of her "friends" is also his dear friend, Lt. Cmdr. Bill Drake (Edmund McDonald). When they are introduced in the Bannister apartment, they pretend not to know one another.

It doesn't take long - well, let's face it, the film is only 63 minutes - to suspect that is wife may be a spy. He has a taxi-driving friend (Edward Brophy) follow her. When she's supposed to be home, she isn't. And one night, after a visit by a mystery woman, Bill Drake winds up dead.

Okay film. I am a huge fan of Constance Bennett; she had a wonderful presence. It was amazing to see Don Porter so young. He found his big success in television. Here he does a good job, as do Victor Jory and John Eldredge. Brophy supplies the comic relief.

Nothing special. It's an example of one of the many propaganda films that came out during the war. However, I'm always happy to watch Bennett.