Review of Foreign Correspondent (1940) by Antonius B — 27 Nov 2018

A spy thriller from Hitchcock which is fascinating in part because of its timing, with the world right on the cusp of war â" and in fact, it appeared in theaters in America just as the Battle of Britain began.

Itâ(TM)s a propaganda film, and much as itâ(TM)s difficult to see those advocating peace or expressing optimism as being naïve, clearly it was on the right side of history. Itâ(TM)s a little awkward in some of its mechanics, melodramatic in its love story, and dubious on a central plot point, that thereâ(TM)s a secret clause in a treaty with vital national security information, not written down and only memorized by a single man on each side.

You have to look past some of that to enjoy the film. There are several fantastic scenes, which (without spoiling them) include those on the steps leading to the conference and later inside a windmill in the Netherlands, at the top of Westminster Cathedral Tower, and in the airplane flying back to America towards the end.

The film also has a strong cast, including Joel McCrea, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, and Laraine Day.