SUBTLE SPY DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 22540, 7 January 1937, Page 6

SUBTLE SPY DRAMA

‘SECRET AGENT' FGR STATE A spy drama, containing in its plot subtleties to test the wits of the most astute, is convincingly portrayed in ‘ Secret Agent,’ the Gaumont-British production, which commences a season at the State to-morrow. John Gielgud, who will be remembered for his outstanding performance in the _ film version of ‘ The Good Companions,’ takes the leading part of Ashenden, a young novelist, who finds that his own particular path of duty leads not to the trenches, but into the intricacies of international espionage. He is supported by Madeleine Carroll, a beautiful woman spy, who assists Ashenden in his task of locating a formidable German agent. The story is set in Switzerland _in 1916, and on this neutral territory the secret agents of enemy nations fight a relentless campaign. The two British spies are assisted by “The General,” a quaint Russian character, admirably portrayed by Peter Lorre, who introduces a welcome note of humour into the tenser momeilts of the film. Instructed to locate and “deal with” a notorious German agent, the trio make valiant efforts to find their man. Their early enthusiasm- meets a tragic check when they find that they have caused the death of the wrong man, and two of them, Ashenden and the girl, are on the point of resigning and returning to England when chance leads them to the discovery of the real agent. At this point the two young people are whirled into a dizzy round of peril and intrigue. The plot moves along at a rapid rate, hut the necessary condensation of the action into the short space of the film does not detract from the absorbing interest which it holds for the audience. In the leading role John Gielgud gives a masterly performance, His restrained acting bnngs convincing realism to a story which might otherwise easily have been too melodramatic.