War,Thriller
United Kingdom
The Spy in Black is a 1939 British war thriller film directed by Michael Powell and starring Conrad Veidt, Sebastian Shaw, and Valerie Hobson. The film is set during World War I and tells the story of a German submarine commander, Captain Hardt (played by Veidt), who is sent to the Orkney Isles off the coast of Scotland to sink the British fleet.
Once on land, Hardt meets a local schoolteacher named Anne Burnett (played by Hobson), who he quickly befriends and who eventually discovers his true identity. Anne is torn between her patriotism and her growing feelings for Hardt, who she knows is planning a deadly attack.
As Hardt and his crew prepare for their mission, they encounter a British spy (played by Shaw) who has been sent to infiltrate their ranks and sabotage their efforts. The tension between the two men builds as they both try to outsmart each other and accomplish their objectives.
The film culminates in a dramatic showdown as the German submarine comes face-to-face with the British fleet, and Hardt is forced to make a difficult decision that will impact not only his own fate but that of his crew, Anne, and the future of the war effort.
The Spy in Black was praised for its atmospheric cinematography and tense storytelling, and it helped establish Powell as a major talent in British cinema. The film also features an iconic score by composer Miklรณs Rรณzsa, who went on to become one of Hollywood's most celebrated composers of the 20th century.
