CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

Foreign Correspondent

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Year

1940

Rating

Reviewed by

Gon C Curiel a.k.a. Groucho

Review date

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

I waited a long time for a chance to watch Alfred Hitchcock’s Foreign Correspondent. Even though I’d always heard that it was a great film, I noticed throughout the years that it’s rarely regarded as one of Hitch’s greatest or most classic efforts. Now that I’ve seen it, I have absolutely no idea why. The Master’s second American film (done right after the masterful Rebecca (1940)) is an absolutely marvelous thriller filled with suspense, romance, and real-life drama. Plus, it’s got so many of the director’s trademark set-pieces, which work to perfection even to this day, that it’s a complete delight. Its cast is also amazing… It’s a real masterpiece!

Joel McCrea plays Johnny Jones, a determined but inexperienced reporter chosen as foreign correspondent by a New York newspaper to benefit from his naiveté in the imminent war. Under the smart but annoying pseudonym of Huntley Haverstock, Jones seeks information from one of the most important European pacifists, Mr. Van Meer (Albert Bassermann). He has no luck at first, and soon occupies himself in falling in love with Carol Fisher (Laraine Day), the daughter of yet another pacifist, Stephen Fisher (Herbert Marshall). Soon, however, Jones is “lucky” enough to witness Van Meer’s assassination just a few inches away from him. At pursuing the murderers to snatch a good story, he uncovers and gets involved in a spy ring greater and more sinister than he could imagine. Who’s involved (on both sides) and what dangers he has to face are big surprises.

As fine a Hitchcock thriller as any, Foreign Correspondent evades boredom at any cost and manages to grab the viewer just a couple of minutes after the movie has started. That is, thriller-wise, because there’s comedy to spare from scene 1. Every bit of dialogue has a funny twist to it and there’s no stopping the hilarity. Yet, when the suspense begins, it’s gripping to say the least. Plus there are many interesting characters, like Rowley (Edmund Gwenn), a hilarious assassin, Mr. Krug (Eduardo Ciannelli), a spooky villain, and of course Scott ffolliott (George Sanders), a fellow reporter. The latter is especially interesting, and steals the spotlight often, aided by a script full of unexpected twists. Sanders plays the character with charm and wit as he always did.

Bassermann is outstanding as Van Meer, especially since he spoke no English and learned his lines phonetically. He reminded me of Laurence Olivier’s later performances, I wonder if he was inspired by the man… Bassermann gives the finest performance of the film.

The story couldn’t have been more appropriate for a time like when it was released: 1940, with World War II taking over the entire world. Developed from a story that circled another war, and scripted by many people (with finishing touches by actor Robert Benchley, who ad-libbed many of his own hilarious lines), it managed to touch the sensibility of an awful crisis, with respect and humor. Though the film is heroic it’s also riotous, but in the end, it’s touching and unforgettable. After a heart-pounding climatic scene on a plane, the very final scene is awe-inspiring to say the least, turning the piece into the subtlest piece of propaganda imaginable.

With engaging performances, overflowing humor, stunning visual effects, an appropriate music score (by Alfred Newman), and all kinds of haunting Hitchcock touches, Foreign Correspondent is a classic masterpiece, no matter what they say… or don’t say.

“We need someone like you---with a fresh unused brain”

Gon C Curiel en Twitter | CriticSociety en Twitter | CriticSociety en Facebook

Share on Facebook | Share on Twitter