Foreign Correspondent

Foreign Correspondent (1940)

  • 93% of critics liked it
    (29 reviews)

  • 78% of users liked it
    (6,246 ratings)

Fourteen scriptwriters spent five years toiling over a movie adaptation of war correspondent Vincent Sheehan's Personal History before producer Walter Wanger brought the property to the screen as Foreign Correspondent. What emerged was approximately 2 parts Sheehan and 8 parts director Alfred… More

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In Theaters
Jan 1, 1940 Wide
On DVD
Sep 7, 2004
Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

    This film contains one of Hitchcock's most famous set pieces -- an assassination in the rain -- but otherwise remains a second-rate effort, as immensely enjoyable as it is.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Story is essentially the old cops-and-robbers. But it has been set in a background of international political intrigue of the largest order.

  • Bosley Crowther, New York Times

    Into it Director Alfred Hitchcock, whose unmistakable stamp the picture bears, has packed about as much romantic action, melodramatic hullabaloo, comical diversion and illusion of momentous consequence as the liveliest imagination could conceive.

  • Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

    A showcase of early Hitchcock suspense.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Due to the rapidly changing political context, more writers worked on the script than on any Hitchcock thriller, but end result is satisfying (if not credible), and even Nazi Propaganda Minister Goebbels acknowledged the movie was a masterpiece.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • First L


    Alfred Hitchcock's tale of foreign intrigue and reversible windmills centers around John Jones (Joel McCrea), a maverick crime reporter whose editor feels he would be perfect to cover the burgeoning rumours of war echoing around Europe (for, he reasons, what is happening in… More

  • Melvin W


    Johnny Jones: I came 4,000 miles to get a story. I get shot at like a duck in a shooting gallery, I get pushed off buildings, I get the story, and then I've got to shut up!  "MYSTERY IN WHISPERS that cracks like THUNDER!" Although Foreign Correspondent is definitely… More

  • Graham J


    A really entertaining film. Hitchcock blends comedy and suspense along with amazing sets to create his masterpiece propaganda film.

  • AJ V


    A little long, but a great war movie from Hitchcock. It's really exciting and thrilling, I highly recommend it.

  • Conner R


    An interesting pre-WWII adventure/thriller from Hitchcock. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s still a fun movie that is a cut above others like it. Joel McCrea is a decent enough lead, but isn’t exactly exploding with charisma. However, George Sanders and Laraine Day are very… More

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

Cast

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