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 Foreign Correspondent 

What grade would you give this film?
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 Foreign Correspondent 
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Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:01 pm
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Post Foreign Correspondent
Foreign Correspondent

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Foreign Correspondent is a 1940 American spy thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock which tells the story of an American reporter who tries to expose enemy spies in Britain, a series of events involving a continent-wide conspiracy that eventually leads to the events of a fictionalized World War II. It stars Joel McCrea and features Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Albert Bassermann and Robert Benchley, along with Edmund Gwenn.

The film was Hitchcock's second Hollywood production since leaving the United Kingdom in 1939 (the first was Rebecca) and had an unusually large number of writers: Robert Benchley, Charles Bennett, Harold Clurman, Joan Harrison, Ben Hecht, James Hilton, John Howard Lawson, John Lee Mahin, Richard Maibaum, and Budd Schulberg, with Bennett, Benchley, Harrison, and Hilton the only writers credited in the finished film. It was based on Vincent Sheean's political memoir Personal History (1935), the rights to which were purchased by producer Walter Wanger for $10,000.

The film was one of two Hitchcock films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1941, the other being Rebecca, which went on to win the award. Foreign Correspondent was nominated for six Academy Awards, including one for Albert Bassermann for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, but did not win any.

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Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:48 am
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The Lubitsch Touch
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Post Re: Foreign Correspondent
Somewhat undervalued Hitchcock picture is a fascinating tale of intrigue in just-barely-prewar Europe.

What it lacks in clear, concise storytelling and a solid leading lady (Laraine Day...blah), it more than makes up for with Joel McCrea (everybody loves Joel McCrea), great character actors delivering delicious performances and some of the best setpieces in the entire Hitchcock filmography; this is a feast of great visual filmmaking. Wonderful fun, and you can get it for less than 10 dollars. What a steal!

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Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:45 pm
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Post Re: Foreign Correspondent
I thought it was an enjoyable enough Hitchcock WWII thriller, although probably among the weakest in his library that I've seen, Hitch doesn't miss often so for one of his to be just "pretty good" is near his bottom.

I echo Yosh's criticism of Day and compliment the sets (I particularly loved the windmill, building he climbs across when getting out of the hotel window, and shot of the airplane hitting the water at the end).

I thought it starts off a bit shaky maybe, when he's hanging around at that party, it just kind of waddles. But from the "assasination" on, it doesn't really stop.

I'm also skeptical of the "secret clause" that is essential to the plot... It's kind of a flimsy motive. I did like what they did with the character of Fischer though, he has layers.

Anyways, it's entertaining enough, I don't think it's a standout film of the 40s or anything, but it's a solid 2 hours.

3/5

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Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:24 am
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Post Re: Foreign Correspondent
7/10 -> B-

Certainly one of the weaker Hitch movies as the plot goes from lazy to interesting etc. Unlike other Hitch movies it has some serious pacing issues. The acting here is also a bit underwhelming.

The windmill scene is the highlight of the movie. If the rest of the movie was at least on par with it, this would have been a great movie.


Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:40 am
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