Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)

46% of users liked it
(248 ratings)

Bold for its time (just prior to World War II), Confessions of a Nazi Spy is an expose of a genuine Nazi espionage ring operating in the United States. Dedicated National Socialist Paul Lukas arrives in America to conduct Bund rallies and enlist German-Americans in the service of Hitler. His… More Bold for its time (just prior to World War II), Confessions of a Nazi Spy is an expose of a genuine Nazi espionage ring operating in the United States. Dedicated National Socialist Paul Lukas arrives in America to conduct Bund rallies and enlist German-Americans in the service of Hitler. His rabble-rousing speeches inspire a blue collar worker (Francis Lederer) to join a Bund, and then participate in spy activities. FBI agent Edward G. Robinson is assigned to investigate. Extracting a confession from the not-too-bright Lederer, Robinson traces the espionage activities to Lukas. The Nazi official's notoriety and his undesirability as a security risk compels the German secret police to kidnap Lukas and spirit him back to the Fatherland, presumably to face liquidation. The spy ring is rounded up, but Robinson realizes that this is only the beginning. Confessions of a Nazi Spy may seem dated today, but in 1939 it packed a real wallop, especially since most filmmakers of that era chose to ignore the Nazis lest they lose the valuable European market. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Anatole Litvak
Written By: Milton Krims, Leon G. Turrou
Genres: Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Apr 27, 1939 Wide

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Historically significant, Litvak's sensationalistic political melodrama is considered to be the first Hollywood anti-Nazi film made by a major studio
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Daring for its day.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Despite coming out two and a half years before America's involvement in WWII, Confessions of a Nazi Spy is a wonderful piece of propaganda. This movie is also a single-finger salute to Germany on the part of Warner Bros as the only studio who would speak out against the Nazis… More
Despite coming out two and a half years before America's involvement in WWII, Confessions of a Nazi Spy is a wonderful piece of propaganda. This movie is also a single-finger salute to Germany on the part of Warner Bros as the only studio who would speak out against the Nazis despite a lucrative film market overseas. The movie sets up a sprawling network of Nazi spies and the dread it would've potentially brought upon the U.S. Once Edward G. Robinson, Nazi Hunter is on the case about 45 minutes into the movie, he starts cleverly kicking ass and taking names. It starts playing out like Law and Order's grandfather at points but by the time the final scene and the credits roll you're ready to kick some Nazi ass.

Cast

            Edward G. Robinson as Ed Renard

            Francis Lederer as Schneider

            George Sanders as Schlager

            Paul Lukas as Dr. Kassel

            Henry O'Neill as D.A. Kellogg

            Lya Lys as Erika Wolff

            Grace Stafford as Mrs. Schneider

            James Stephenson as Scotland Yard Official

            Sig Rumann as Krogman

            Frederic Tozere as Phillips

            Dorothy Tree as Hilda

            Celia Sibelius as Mrs. Kassel

            Louis Adlon
            
            Egon Brecher as Nazi Spy

            Ward Bond as American Legionnaire

            Jean Brooks as Kassel's Nurse

            Frederick Burton as US District Court Judge

            Alec Craig as Postman

            Robert O. Davis as Straubel

            Selmar Jackson as Customs Agent

            Will Kaufman as Gruetzwald

            Edward Keane as FBI Agent

            Robert Emmett Keane as Harrison

            Martin Kosleck as Josef Goebbels

            Eily Malyon as Mrs. MacLaughlin

            Frank Mayo as Staunton

            Lon McCallister
            
            Jack Mower as McDonald

            Lucien Prival as Kranz

            John Ridgely as Army Hospital Clerk

            George Rosener as Klauber

            Lionel Royce as Hintze

            Charles Sherlock as Young

            Charles Trowbridge as US Intelligence Official

            William Vaughan as Captain Von Eichen

            Henry Victor as Helldorf

            Emmett Vogan as Hotel Desk Clerk

            Fredrik Vogeding as Capt. Richter

            William Von Brincken as Capt. Vonn Eichen

            Hans Heinrich von Twardowski as Wildebrandt

            Joe Sawyer as Renz

            John Deering as Narrator
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