Foreign Correspondent

Alfred Hitchcock presides over quite a fast paced jigsaw-puzzle of a film with this gripping WII espionage thriller. Joel McCrae is the American reporter "John Jones" who is despatched by his editor to get decent news coverage of what's going on in war-threatened Europe. No sooner has he landed than he becomes embroiled in the affairs of the mysterious "Peace Party" leader "Van Meer" (Albert Bassermann) who may (or may not) have been gunned down and who may (or may not) have been party to a treaty that could change or even avert the course of war. Together with fellow journo George Sanders ("ffolliot") they become more deeply involved in this complex and intriguing mystery having to avoid just about everyone as they struggle to get to the truth. Herbert Marshall "Fisher" and his daughter "Carol" (Laraine Day) complete the quintet of principal characters ably as the whole story twists and turns in a structured and enthralling manner. There are red herrings, but they are not wasted - there is a thread to the story that ties them all together quite neatly as we begin to get to grips with who is to be relied upon - and who is not! The writing is not the most potent - too many contributors seem to lead, on occasion, to a battle of wordiness that I found just a little distracting; but Hitch is on form and there are plenty of tense scenarios to keep us all interested. Good stuff!