IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Early in World War II, Danish sea captain Andersen, delayed in a British port, tangles with German spies.Early in World War II, Danish sea captain Andersen, delayed in a British port, tangles with German spies.Early in World War II, Danish sea captain Andersen, delayed in a British port, tangles with German spies.
Sidney Monckton
- Third Danish Waiter
- (as Sydney Moncton)
Hamilton Keene
- Fourth Danish Waiter
- (as Hamilton Keen)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Michael Powell and the crew went on location to Ramsgate (Eastgate in the film), they sent all their luggage and equipment in cases boldly marked "Contraband". Luckily the local wartime Contraband Controllers saw the funny side and when they arrived at the hotel they found their cases had stamps and stencils all over them saying things like "Explosives", "Examined", "Condemned".
- Quotes
Miss Lang: If you're not Mr Pidgeon, then who are you ?
Captain Anderson: My name is Anderson, Hans Anderson.
First Brother Grimm: And we Sir are the Brothers Grimm.
- Crazy credits"White Negro Cabaret" Designed & executed by Hedley Briggs
- Alternate versionsEight minutes were cut from Contraband for its U.S. release; some just snips here and there, others more major. The most regrettable loss is the opening minutes of Veidt's and Hobson's table scene at the Three Vikings Restaurant, which in the U.S. version begins at the point when Veidt and Hobson begin drinking together and look at Veidt's watch. Another cut sequence shows black male dancers and white female dancers in a nightclub production number [The "White Negro" cabaret designed & executed by Hedley Briggs], a racial combination that would have outraged much of white America at the time, especially in the Southern states.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The South Bank Show: Michael Powell (1986)
Featured review
Early British Wartime Effort from Director Michael Powell. It has a Light Touch with Some Amazing Noirish Flourishes. A Male-Female Team of Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson are Thrown Together Against Some Nazis and the Adventure Takes Them Through London Blackouts and Underground Cement Caverns with Secret Entrances and Ominous Elevators.
Beneath Nightclubs with Gaudy Fashions and Cuisine and Floor Shows Like "White Negro" that are Quite Bizarre, as is a Musical Group of Female Banjo Pickers with Artificial Glass Legs. It is All Rather Surreal.
Our Heroes get to Engage Banter with Some Sexual Innuendos and a Bondage Scene as They Combine Efforts for an Entertaining Romp that May be a bit Heavy on the Humor but the Thing Works Wonderfully.
It is Michael Powell's Inventive Camera Work and Expressionism that Makes this Stand Out and One can See that the British were Developing, as were Their American Cousins, a Seemingly Unconscious Style of Filmmaking that would Become Known as Film-Noir in its Various Degrees of Genre Bending and Definition.
Beneath Nightclubs with Gaudy Fashions and Cuisine and Floor Shows Like "White Negro" that are Quite Bizarre, as is a Musical Group of Female Banjo Pickers with Artificial Glass Legs. It is All Rather Surreal.
Our Heroes get to Engage Banter with Some Sexual Innuendos and a Bondage Scene as They Combine Efforts for an Entertaining Romp that May be a bit Heavy on the Humor but the Thing Works Wonderfully.
It is Michael Powell's Inventive Camera Work and Expressionism that Makes this Stand Out and One can See that the British were Developing, as were Their American Cousins, a Seemingly Unconscious Style of Filmmaking that would Become Known as Film-Noir in its Various Degrees of Genre Bending and Definition.
- LeonLouisRicci
- Jan 21, 2015
- Permalink
- How long is Blackout?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Ratni krijumcari
- Filming locations
- Chester Square, Belgravia, London, England, UK(Mrs. Sorenson's Aunt's House)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- £47,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 20 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content