Cloak and Dagger (1946)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(1,902 ratings)

Inspired by actual events, Cloak and Dagger was first major "atomic power" melodrama of the postwar era. Gary Cooper stars as bookish physics professor Alvah Jesper, a character obviously based on A-bomb codeveloper J. Robert Oppenheimer. Pressed into service by the OSS in the last months of WW2,… More Inspired by actual events, Cloak and Dagger was first major "atomic power" melodrama of the postwar era. Gary Cooper stars as bookish physics professor Alvah Jesper, a character obviously based on A-bomb codeveloper J. Robert Oppenheimer. Pressed into service by the OSS in the last months of WW2, Jasper is sent to Europe in search of Dr. Polda (Vladimir Sokoloff), an atomic scientist held captive by the Nazis. In Switzerland, Jesper quickly runs afoul of enemy spies who murder the only person to know Polda's whereabouts. Moving on to Italy, he links up with the partisans, falling in love with gorgeous resistance fighter Gina (Lilli Palmer). Adopting a disguise, Jesper finally locates Polda and spends the last few reels in a desperate dash to freedom. Screenwriters Albert Maltz and Ring Lardner Jr. had originally intended Cloak and Dagger as a warning to a complacent America. Director Fritz Lang recalled in later years that, as conceived and filmed, the ending was to have occured after Jesper and a group of Allied soldiers stumbled upon the ruins of a secret Nazi A-bomb factory, as well as evidence that the German scientists had fled to parts unknown with their atomic secrets intact. "It's day one of the Atomic Age", Jesper was to have noted ruefully, "And God help us if we think we can keep it a secret much longer." This lengthy coda was removed from the final release print, transforming a thought-provoking drama into a mere romantic thriller. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Fritz Lang
Written By: Albert Maltz, Ring Lardner
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 28, 1946 Wide
On DVD: May 20, 2003

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
The ugly ruthlessness on both sides of the conflict attests to Lang's pragmatic refusal to pit simple "good" versus "evil"
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Minor spy thriller has some good touches from the great Fritz Lang.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Much longer and less focused that You Only Live Once, it's still a vintage Lang picture and worth seeing.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A confusing, at times very boring, but at other times pretty good spy movie from the forties.
xGary X

Alfred Hitchcock was not the only great director to make anti-Nazi porpaganda films. Fritz Lang, himself an escapee from Nazi Germany, made this film to warn of the dangers of atomic power in the hands of fascists. It's essentially a spy film as it follows scientist Gary Cooper… More
Alfred Hitchcock was not the only great director to make anti-Nazi porpaganda films. Fritz Lang, himself an escapee from Nazi Germany, made this film to warn of the dangers of atomic power in the hands of fascists. It's essentially a spy film as it follows scientist Gary Cooper as he infiltrates an enemy project to produce an atomic bomb. Fritz Lang's keen eye for black and white photography and gritty drama works really well in the early scenes as he cranks up the suspense as Cooper evades the Gestapo to help rescue an eminent scientist from their clutches. Unfortunately things nose dive at the appearance of Lilli Palmer, although her character is initially intriguing. Casablanca proved that used subtly, a doomed romance between star crossed lovers can compliment political intrigue brilliantly. The ham-fisted approach in evidence here couldn't be further away though, as Palmer's fiery and proud partisan soon has her heart melted and she becomes an insipid doe-eyed lump who is just waiting for a strong American to take her away from all this. The fact that this corny Mills & Boonery makes the tough guy heroics and gritty realism take a back seat for a solid twenty minutes nearly kills the film stone dead. It gets much better for the finale when it returns to the point but it just serves to highlight what a missed opportunity this film really was.

Cast

            Gary Cooper as Prof. Alvah Jasper

            Lilli Palmer as Gina

            Robert Alda as Pinkie

            Vladimir Sokoloff as Dr. Polda

            J. Edward Bromberg as Trenk

            Marjorie Hoshelle as Ann Dawson

            Ludwig Stossel as German

            Helene Thimig as Katerin Loder

            Dan Seymour as Marsoli

            Marc Lawrence I as Luigi

            James Flavin as Col. Walsh

            Pat O'Moore as Englishman

            Charles Marsh as Erich

            Robert Coote as Cronin

            Elvira Curci as Woman in Street

            Yola d'Avril as Nurse

            Vernon P. Downing as British Sergeant

            Claire Du Brey as Nurse

            Eddie Dunn as Radio Operator

            Ross Ford as Paratrooper

            Arno Frey as German Soldier

            Holmes Herbert as British Officer

            Leonardo Scavino as Italian Soldier

            Bruce Lister as British Officer

            Rory Mallinson as Paul

            Eddie Parker as Gestapo

            Gil Perkins as Gestapo

            Otto Reichow as German Soldier

            Hans Schumm as German Agent

            Lotte Stein as Nurse

            Don Turner as Lingg

            Douglas Walton as British Pilot

            Frank Wilcox as American Officer

            Clifton Young as American Commander

            Peter Michael as German Agent

            Lillian Nicholson as Nun

            Michael Burke as OSS Agent
See full cast