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1936·Thriller·1h 26m
7.0
★
During World War I, a novelist declared dead is recruited by British intelligence and sent to Switzerland under a new identity to assassinate a German spy. Teamed with a fellow agent posing as his wife and an eccentric assassin known as “the General,” the trio close in on their target — until two of them grow ambivalent when their duty to the mission clashes with their consciences.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
hotel
world war i
spy
switzerland
black and white
IMDB
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
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Cast

Madeleine Carroll
Madeleine Carroll
Elsa Carrington
John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Richard Ashenden / Edgar Brodie
Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre
The General
Robert Young
Robert Young
Robert Marvin
Percy Marmont
Percy Marmont
Caypor
Charles Carson
Charles Carson
"R"
Lilli Palmer
Lilli Palmer
Lilli
Sebastian Cabot
Sebastian Cabot
Man (uncredited)
Tom Helmore
Tom Helmore
Colonel Anderson (uncredited)
Andreas Malandrinos
Andreas Malandrinos
Manager (uncredited)
Howard Marion-Crawford
Howard Marion-Crawford
Karl (uncredited)
Rène Ray
Rène Ray
Maid (uncredited)

Crew

Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Director
Charles Bennett
Charles Bennett
Screenplay
Jesse Lasky Jr.
Jesse Lasky Jr.
Writer
Charles Frend
Charles Frend
Editor
Michael Balcon
Michael Balcon
Producer
W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
Novel

Popular Reviews

23 reviews
ChobiLoub
ChobiLoub
Secret Agent
wait did i watch the right one- ooh
wait did i watch the right one- ooh
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Jocko
3.4★ · 06/04/25
Secret Agent
Following The 39 Steps, this look pretty rough.Peter Lorre’s character is… questionable
Following The 39 Steps, this look pretty rough.Peter Lorre’s character is… questionable
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Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
4.6★ · 03/25/25
Secret Agent
I wish hitchcock used peter lorre more
I wish hitchcock used peter lorre more
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christy
christy
6.0★ · 02/06/25
Secret Agent
i watched this on a dvd from a 2007 box set that had 2 other movies on the same disc and it definitely showed. also no subtitles so i struggled to understand some of it (this obviously doesn’t impact my rating i just would like to rewatch this on bluray or something eventually) 

i really really liked peter lorre in this he was definitely the highlight. his moments were great and added some good humor to the film and i even audibly laughed at some parts. the movie never achieved the level of seriousness it needed at some points for me but honestly that’s okay it was still a (mostly) entertaining ride
i watched this on a dvd from a 2007 box set that had 2 other movies on the same disc and it definitely showed. also no subtitles so i struggled to understand some of it (this obviously doesn’t impact my rating i just would like to rewatch this on bluray or something eventually) 

i really really liked peter lorre in this he was definitely the highlight. his moments were great and added some good humor to the film and i even audibly laughed at some parts. the movie never achieved the level of seriousness it needed at some points for me but honestly that’s okay it was still a (mostly) entertaining ride
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Christopher Russell
Christopher Russell
8.0★ · 12/31/24
Secret Agent
The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock

I thought this film was absolutely fantastic. The suspenseful and comedic tone work very well in this film. The performances were all really great. 

I will definitely recommend watching this and will also rewatch at some point. Great to see another film where Hitchcock is finely finding his footing in suspense and thrillers.
The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock

I thought this film was absolutely fantastic. The suspenseful and comedic tone work very well in this film. The performances were all really great. 

I will definitely recommend watching this and will also rewatch at some point. Great to see another film where Hitchcock is finely finding his footing in suspense and thrillers.
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Secret Agent (1936) | Flick