“SECRET AGENT”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23083, 8 January 1937, Page 3

“SECRET AGENT”

SPY DRAMA AT STATE A spy drama, containing in its plot subtleties to test the wits of the most astute, is convincingly portrayed in " Secret Agent," which will be commenced at the State Theatre to-day. John Gielgud, who will be remembered for his outstanding performance in the film version of "The Good Companions." • takes the leading part of Ashen den, a young novelist who finds that his own particular path of duty loads not to the trenches, but into the intricacies of international espionage. He is supported by Madeleine Carroll, a beautiful woman soy. 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 moments 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, but 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.