Hmmm. The casting department at MGM must have just gotten back from a Christmas party where the booze was flowing like rivers, as the way they set up the film was strange to say the least. Fred MacMurray plays an Oxford professor(!) and marries Joan Crawford. This is an odd pairing, I know, but the Oxford part really seemed far-fetched. Then, on the way to their honeymoon, they are approached by the British Foreign Office and asked to do a bit of spying on their trip through southern Germany and Austria (this was set in early 1939--just before the war).
However, despite the odd casting and basic premise, the film worked pretty well provided you didn't think through how easy it was for them to slip through the Gestapo's fingers on two occasions. So why did it work? Well, the acting was very good and they were given excellent supporting players in the form of Conrad Veidt and Basil Rathbone. Once again, though, how they assigned these two roles is very odd. Veidt was famous for his portrayals of evil Nazis, but here he is a good German! And, oddly, the English Rathbone plays a die-hard Nazi! It really did work--but for fans of classic Hollywood, this is a bit strange.
In addition to the acting, the plot and action were very good and the film was given the full MGM treatment--excellent music, direction, sets, etc. They really did a good job of making the MGM back lot look like Austria with all the matte painted mountains that were exceptionally realistic.
Overall, it's a very good WWII propaganda film and curio that is quite entertaining--provided you don't think too much during the film.
However, despite the odd casting and basic premise, the film worked pretty well provided you didn't think through how easy it was for them to slip through the Gestapo's fingers on two occasions. So why did it work? Well, the acting was very good and they were given excellent supporting players in the form of Conrad Veidt and Basil Rathbone. Once again, though, how they assigned these two roles is very odd. Veidt was famous for his portrayals of evil Nazis, but here he is a good German! And, oddly, the English Rathbone plays a die-hard Nazi! It really did work--but for fans of classic Hollywood, this is a bit strange.
In addition to the acting, the plot and action were very good and the film was given the full MGM treatment--excellent music, direction, sets, etc. They really did a good job of making the MGM back lot look like Austria with all the matte painted mountains that were exceptionally realistic.
Overall, it's a very good WWII propaganda film and curio that is quite entertaining--provided you don't think too much during the film.