Confessions of a Nazi Spy

Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
by Anatole Litvak

Warner Bros. (Warner Archive) - March 13, 2023

Original Title :
Audio : Français
Subtitles : English SDH
Duration : 1h29
Format : Blu-ray / US import
Zone : All zones
Genre : War, Thriller

Synopsis
In the wake of a trial that convicted four Nazi agents of spying against the US, Warner Bros. became the first Hollywood studio to fire a salvo at Hitler's Germany. Months before World War II erupted, it released this thriller based on revelations that emerged from the trial and other real-life sources. The story is a brisk connect-the-dots tale that ties German-American Bund operatives (Francis Lederer, George Sanders and Paul Lukas among others) to Berlin. Chief among those connecting the dots: FBI agent Edward Renard (Edward G. Robinson). The drama wasn't limited to the screen. Production personnel received threats and violence erupted at some screenings. Directed with hard-hitting verve by Anatole Litvak, CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY struck a nerve in its era. It remains a milestone of filmmaking commitment today.