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Special Agent

  • 1935
  • Approved
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Bette Davis and George Brent in Special Agent (1935)
Newspaperman Bill Bradford becomes a special agent for the tax service trying to end the career of racketeer Alexander Carston.
Play trailer2:29
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryRomance

A reporter turned tax agent infiltrates a crime ring to catch a racketeer, working with the mobster's bookkeeper. When she agrees to testify, an informant exposes them and she's kidnapped.A reporter turned tax agent infiltrates a crime ring to catch a racketeer, working with the mobster's bookkeeper. When she agrees to testify, an informant exposes them and she's kidnapped.A reporter turned tax agent infiltrates a crime ring to catch a racketeer, working with the mobster's bookkeeper. When she agrees to testify, an informant exposes them and she's kidnapped.

  • Director
    • William Keighley
  • Writers
    • Laird Doyle
    • Abem Finkel
    • Martin Mooney
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • George Brent
    • Ricardo Cortez
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Keighley
    • Writers
      • Laird Doyle
      • Abem Finkel
      • Martin Mooney
    • Stars
      • Bette Davis
      • George Brent
      • Ricardo Cortez
    • 19User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:29
    Trailer

    Photos106

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    + 102
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    Top cast54

    Edit
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Julie Gardner
    George Brent
    George Brent
    • Bill Bradford
    Ricardo Cortez
    Ricardo Cortez
    • Alexander Carston
    Jack La Rue
    Jack La Rue
    • Jake Andrews
    • (as Jack LaRue)
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • District Attorney Roger Quinn
    Robert Strange
    Robert Strange
    • Alec 'Waxy' Armitage
    Joseph Crehan
    Joseph Crehan
    • Police Commissioner
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • Joe Durell
    • (as J. Carroll Naish)
    Joe Sawyer
    Joe Sawyer
    • Ned Rich
    • (as Joseph Sauers)
    William B. Davidson
    William B. Davidson
    • Charlie Young
    • (as William Davidson)
    Robert Barrat
    Robert Barrat
    • Chief of Internal Revenue Service
    Paul Guilfoyle
    Paul Guilfoyle
    • Williams
    Joe King
    Joe King
    • Agent Wilson
    • (as Joseph King)
    Irving Pichel
    Irving Pichel
    • U.S. District Attorney
    John Alexander
    John Alexander
    • Arcade Manager
    • (uncredited)
    Edwin Argus
    Edwin Argus
    • Pinball Onlooker
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Bruno
    • Carston's Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Allan Cavan
    Allan Cavan
    • 122 Club Doorman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Keighley
    • Writers
      • Laird Doyle
      • Abem Finkel
      • Martin Mooney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews19

    6.41.3K
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    Featured reviews

    8zoshchenko

    Ricardo Cortez is wonderfully evil

    I like Ricardo Cortez, catch him whenever one of his movies comes on... which isn't very often sad to say. This is a pretty good film with plenty of suspense. Yeah a lot of cliches and Hollywood stuff but still it was very good. Also got to see a little different side of Joe Sawyer who has a supporting role as one of Carston's thugs.

    If you like these old 30's gangster movies then I highly recommend it.

    And of course seeing Bette Davis from very early in her career is quite a treat!
    7planktonrules

    Pretty typical 30s Warner Brothers crime drama

    In the 1930s, Warner Brothers was the place for gangster films, as they churned out a huge number of high-quality films in this genre. While this one did NOT star the usual gangster stars of the day (Cagney or Edward G. Robinson), it star the ever-capable George Brent as a federal agent and Ricardo Cortez as an Al Capone-like thug. I particularly liked Cortez's little speech to Brent that men like him are above the law and can never be convicted--it was a very exciting scene. In addition to these two, the film also stars Bette Davis in a pretty decent role as Cortez's bookkeeper. The film features good writing, dialog and acting and while not the greatest gangster film, it is very good and watchable. Oh, and by the way, the ending is pretty exciting (and violent), so it won't disappoint.

    By the way, if you see the film and it seems familiar, this appears to be a reworking of the plot from the MGM film THE SECRET SIX. There are just too many similarities to be coincidental, as both heroes are government agents whose cover is newspaper reporter.
    5bkoganbing

    Bette's own code

    The only thing about Special Agent worth remembering is that for Bette Davis it was the film that she did immediately prior to her first Oscar winner Dangerous. Other than that it was the kind of potboiler programmer that Warner Brothers kept casting her in despite acclaim she got for a few films like Of Human Bondage.

    At least she got her favorite leading man in Special Agent and in the title role. George Brent has the perfect cover for being a Special Agent for the Treasury Department. He's a reporter which means he can go places see things and ask questions and no one suspects. Least of all gambler/racketeer Ricardo Cortez who Brent has been working on for years to take down.

    Of course this film was done with the successful prosecution of Al Capone in the mind of the movie-going public. Davis keeps Cortez's books and Brent is keeping company with her. Here the story is rather vague. Did he like her before or after he learned she was keeper of the records in her own code so even Cortez can't decipher it. His convincing Bette to turn on Cortez wasn't really convincing to me.

    Coming off best in this film is Ricardo Cortez. He is one shrewd article who has his fingers everywhere, it's why no one's caught him till now and Brent nearly doesn't get him this time.

    Special Agent did Bette Davis and George Brent no harm and great things were in the offing for Bette Davis.
    6boblipton

    Bette Davis' Punishment For Defying The Warner Brothers. And then....

    George Brent is a reporter and pretty chummy with racketeer Ricardo Cortez. Bette Davis is Cortez' personal secretary and keeps his books for him in code. Everyone knows what Cortez is, and Miss Davis fears him -- he's ruthless with 'associates' whom he doesn't find useful and she might be at risk. The local DA can't jail him, but the Feds look to get him on income tax evasion, like they got Capone.

    Miss Davis wears hideous-looking costumes, with lots of lace, that make her look even skinnier than usual. Brent is competent, and it's Cortez who owns this movie. His veiled threats are terrifying. Still, despite the occasional flares of machine-gun fire, it's a well-financed programmer.

    This was Bette Davis' reward for fighting the Warner Brothers for better roles and losing. Her next movie would win her an Academy Award.
    8akasbarian

    some memorable scenes

    Above-average gangster film, typical of the '30s genre. Fun watching, but nothing too extraordinary...EXCEPT some of the close-up scenes involving Ricardo Cortez. With the help of some great lighting, his eyes and facial expressions are chillingly sinister! In particular, there is his private showdown with Armitage (Robert Strange)...simply unforgettable.

    I also found Cortez's expressions to be reminiscent of Pacino in the Godfather (or should i say the reverse)...i wonder if Pacino studied this film at some point.

    Bette Davis clearly showed great acting chops, but her role was fairly typecast and thus limited her range somewhat. George Brent did just fine...his role was probably the most straightforward. The supporting cast was outstanding...lots of subplots, double-crosses, and idiosyncrasies that enriched the story.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Hays office objected to a bit of dialogue by character Alexander Carston, so rather than reshoot the scene, the sound was eliminated.
    • Goofs
      When Richie takes Bill away to the castle, the feet of crew members and camera equipment are clearly reflected on the car.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      [the Chief of the IRS can be seen in an office, addressing various men. As he explains the necessary information, he can be seen walking around the office. Among the ones present is Bill Bradford.]

      Chief of Internal Revenue Service: Gentlemen, as you know, the inability of local governments to cope with crime has necessitated the Federal Government stepping in to protect the American people. Our part of that job is to rid the country of the gambler, the business racketeer, and the illicit profiteer who have been operating within and above the law. The Treasury Department, being limited in their function, has sent you men out to gather information, that will enable us to use the one weapon we have. The Income Tax Law. Millions of dollars in illicit profits from illegal enterprises have been hidden away by these racketeers inside and outside the law. No income tax has been paid on these millions. But that hidden and untaxed money will send these men to prison. We'll rid the country of these men who have so far laughed at every law. Now you men have been called in here today to be told one thing, go after them. Get their books and statements and don't stop until you have the evidence. These are my orders. The dictum of the Secretary of the Treasury and the command of the American People. Now some of you men have been undercover and observing for over a year. You're through observing. You're going into action. If necessary, you'll raid to get this evidence. There's one man, however, we prefer to take alive, Alexander Carston. It's easy enough to kill him, but to put him behind the bars is to prove that the cleverest racketeer isn't smart enough to outsmart the Federal Government.

      [the IRS Chief looks at Bradford]

      Chief of Internal Revenue Service: You get that, Bradford?

      Bill Bradford: [smiles and nods] Yes, sir.

    • Connections
      Featured in All About Bette (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Lullaby of Broadway
      (1934) (uncredited)

      Music by Harry Warren

      Played as background music at the casino

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 14, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Agente especial
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cosmopolitan Productions
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 16m(76 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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