''Lancer Spy'' is a 1937 American

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

directed by

Gregory Ratoff Gregory Ratoff (born Grigory Vasilyevich Ratner; ; April 20, c. 1893 – December 14, 1960) was a Russian-American film director, actor and producer. As an actor, he was best known for his role as producer "Max Fabian" in ''All About Eve'' (195 ...

and starring Dolores Del Rio and George Sanders. Its plot concerns an Englishman who impersonates a German officer and a female German spy who falls in love with him.

Plot

Cast

Production

''Lancer Spy'' was based on a story written by Marthe McKenna, a Belgian woman who was a spy for England during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. She had previously written the 1932 memoir ''I Was a Spy'', the basis of a 1933 film of the same title. Gregory Ratoff signed a contract with

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

to write, produce and direct. The film was originally to star Michael Whalen in the part that was eventually played by George Sanders. French actor Germaine Aussey was to have made her American debut in the film but was replaced by Dolores del Río soon after filming began in May 1937. Peter Lorre was cast after his success in '' Think Fast, Mr Moto''. Fox bought his contract from the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation. Colin Clive, who had been cast in the film, collapsed during filming and died.

References

External links

* 1937 films 1930s spy thriller films American spy thriller films Films directed by Gregory Ratoff Films produced by Samuel G. Engel Films with screenplays by Philip Dunne American black-and-white films 20th Century Fox films World War I spy films Films set in London Films set in Norfolk Films set in Berlin 1930s English-language films 1930s American films Films set in 1917 English-language spy thriller films {{1930s-thriller-film-stub