Lancer Spy
Directed byGregory Ratoff
Written byPhilip Dunne
Based onnovel by Marthe McKenna
Produced bySamuel G. Engel
executive
Darryl F. Zanuck
StarringDolores del Río
George Sanders
Peter Lorre
Virginia Field
Sig Ruman
CinematographyBarney McGill
Edited byLouis R. Loeffler
Music byArthur Lange
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • October 8, 1937 (1937-10-08)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Lancer Spy is a 1937 American thriller film directed by Gregory Ratoff 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

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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. She had previously written the 1932 memoir I Was a Spy, the basis of a 1933 film of the same title.[1]

Gregory Ratoff signed a contract with 20th Century Fox to write, produce and direct. The film was originally to star Michael Whalen[2] 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.[3][4][5]

Peter Lorre was cast after his success in Think Fast, Mr Moto.[6] Fox bought his contract from the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation.[7]

Colin Clive, who had been cast in the film, collapsed during filming and died.[8]

References

  1. ^ Shaffer, George (Apr 12, 1937). "Ratoff Writes Another Good Role for Self". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 15.
  2. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Apr 9, 1937). "GREGORY RATOFF WILL DIRECT ONE FEATURE AND ACT IN ANOTHER: Marion Claire Likely to Play Breen's Mother". Los Angeles Times. p. 17.
  3. ^ "TWO NEW PICTURES FOR ROLAND DREW". New York Times. Apr 12, 1937. p. 15.
  4. ^ Schallert, Edwin (May 28, 1937). "DRAMATIC STORY BY FULOP-MILLER PURCHASED TO STAR BOBBY BREEN: United Artists Assembling New Film Units". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.
  5. ^ "NEW FILM PRODUCTIONS STARTED DURTNG WEEK". Los Angeles Times. May 16, 1937. p. C1.
  6. ^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (Apr 18, 1937). "HOLLYWOOD PICKET LINE: The Industry Watches the C. I. O.--Satisfaction--R. Halliburton Flynn". New York Times. p. 169.
  7. ^ Read, Kendall (26 June 1937). "Around and About in Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
  8. ^ "Stage and Film Career". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, Scotland. 26 June 1937. p. 17.

External links


Darryl F. Zanuck
Films directed by Gregory Ratoff
Categories