Espionage

MGM did not produce B movies. They produced quality movies full of stars.

Mind you, occasionally, some oddball picture did escape, like MY DEAR MISS ALDRICH, and this one, which plays like a Columbia Pictures thriller written by some one who had been reading Graham Greene and didn't take any of it seriously. Then, in typical MGM fashion, they cast it perfectly, with Edmund Lowe, always willing to play a matinée idol, and Madge Evans, who was happy to get the work. Then they cast the minor roles with comedians and told off Ray June to photograph it, who produced some astonishing proto-noir effects using, it would seem, baby spots to light the actors and leave the sets dark.

The result is a hoot and not something you'd expect from MGM. Take a look.

I love this movie. I just caught it on TCM today and what a treat. Madge Evans and Edmund Lowe are reporters on a train following a munitions tycoon. The reasons for this are fairly thin, as is the resolution to the plot. But the movie's strength is in its fast pace and the chemistry between the two leads. When I first realized Lowe would be the leading man I prepared myself for disappointment. He's not exactly Cary Grant to look at. Evans is beautiful, of course. So I was worried this would be one of those old films with a beautiful young woman and a gross older man where the spark is just not there. These movies littered the 1930s and, more often than not, are duds. But don't worry the chemistry is there between these two leads. They have a lot of fun with the roles and it shows. It's fast, light, and fun with lots of great banter. Madge Evans, who I have seen before in a couple of roles, has never looked lovelier than here. There's also a great supporting cast, headed by Paul Lukas as the tycoon they're after. Overall I think it's a hidden gem and I recommend you catch it next time it's on.

Espionage has reporters on rival newspapers, Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans om a train together and trailing European munitions king Paul Lukas on a story though I'm still not clear what specifically Lukas is supposed to have done. Circumstances and somewhat amusing ones at that have Lowe and Evans pretending to be husband and wife.

Lowe and Evans engage in some delightful banter between them. Funniest in the film is Billy Gilbert who plays a corpulent and somewhat gross Turk that Lowe is supposed to share a cabin with. That he would seek out Evans as a traveling companion is completely understandable.

Other than selling arms I'm not sure what Lukas was guilty of. Would that the snappy dialog had a better story to be in.

One of the forgotten yet highly entertaining actors of the 30s and 40s was Edmund Lowe. While he wasn't among the more handsome leading men, his easy style and erudite persona made for some wonderful films--even if he is somewhat forgotten today. "Espionage" is one of his better films--even if it wasn't intended as a prestige film. Lowe and Madge Evans both play reporters from rival newspapers who are chasing a famous munitions supplier, Kronsky (Paul Lukas)--trying to get a story. Yet, somehow, neither knows that the other is a reporter! The world THINKS something serious is afoot--such as a war, and the pair end up posing as husband and wife aboard Kronsky's train. While they manage to ingratiate themselves to Kronsky and his girlfriend, a serious hiccup comes into their pursuit when an unknown assassin tosses a bomb at Kronsky. In the confusion, they think Lowe and Evans are responsible--leading to a crazy foray through Switzerland. I think the film slows down a bit here--becoming a bit silly. But, overall, who cares? While the plot did get pretty silly, somehow Lowe and Evans make it all work. Their on screen relationship works quite well and the film left me wanting more. Fun and enjoyable--what more do you want from a movie?

An European munitions magnate has disappeared and various governments are alarmed. Reporters Kenneth Stevens and Patricia Booth from different newspapers board a train after getting the same tip. They join forces to pose as a married couple to track down the elusive magnate.

I don't know these actors but the lead couple has some good combative banter. It would be better if they are long time rivals and have some history together. This pairing could have had some legs. The moustache reveal is such a ridiculous move that it's actually funny. The movie gets sillier and sillier. The story has a few bumps and has trouble staying on track. It's less about the plot and more about the fun chemistry.