Secret Enemies (1942)

Too much of everything

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Wartime flick from Warner Brothers... the U.S. had JUST gotten into the war in December. when a man's wife is stuck in germany, he has to decide if he will help the germans to get his wife out. An american lawyer is knocked off, and that kicks everyone into action. Some U.S. intelligence agents set a trap to figure out who is knocking off americans. and there's a den of nazi spies right in their town. Adventures, escapes, and shoot-outs. It's all neatly done in 57 minutes, so things have to move right along. Directed by Ben Stoloff. this was towards the very end of his career; he had started in the silents in the 1920s, and only directed a couple more films and a TV show after this. It's all quite well done, even if no big names are in this one. almost like an episode of dragnet, but no-one is narrating. Good stuff. Turner Classics.

James Cagney's classic film G-Men is reworked for a World War II era plot about a man who joins the FBI to find the people responsible for the death of his friend Charles Lang who was on the trail of a Nazi spy ring. Craig Stevens, TV's future Peter Gunn, is our protagonist stepping into the role that Cagney originated.What Stevens does not know is that the man who helped raise him as an orphan Frank Reicher is being forced to work for some of our domestic Nazis. He owns a hotel in New York out of which the spy ring operates. Stevens is also dating the lounge singer from the hotel Faye Emerson.If you've seen G-Men then you generally know how this film comes out. Of course there are some changes including one major change involving one of the main characters.Secret Enemies is not likely to get a remake for modern times, it's strictly propaganda. One thing I thought was extremely dumb was the way the Nazis tried to use the same gimmick to get Stevens the way they got Jackson. You would think that since they know the FBI is on to them they'd try something different. But Nazis during World War II era films were a pretty dumb lot. If you see this check out G-Men and you'll how the first is light years better than the remake. Might have had a lot to do with the dynamic James Cagney in the cast.

From Warner Brothers in 1942 is a short programmer, "Secret Enemies," starring Craig Stevens as Carl Becker, a young attorney who joins the FBI after an agent friend is murdered. The ruling is suicide, but Becker knows this is not the case.He soon learns that a hotel he frequents to see his girlfriend, a performer there, is a base for Nazi spies. It's where he was staying the night his friend, also staying there, was killed. It's up to him to find out who the Nazis are and capture them.Faye Emerson plays Carl's girlfriend, Paula, in this large cast, along with Robert Warwick as the head Nazi, Monte Blue, Ray Teal, and Ruth Ford in smaller roles. This is a fast-moving film with okay acting, and it's entertaining. Craig Stevens had his major success in television. He starred in many series, but the one he is most remembered for is "Peter Gunn." Faye Emerson did a great deal of stage work which is noticeable here, as she's a little over the top. She was married to Elliot Roosevelt.Pretty good, and it's over before you know it.

December 8, 1941 is the date as the Movie begins...and Paced Like Lightning, this WB B-Movie makes for some Interesting Stateside Wartime Intrigue as the Nazi Spies are up to Their Evil Deeds in the Heart of New York City. There are some Heil Hitlers and Heavy Accents but, obviously, since this is Spy-Stuff, No Swastikas or Paraphernalia to be seen.Craig Stevens, leads a Game Cast as all are in Hyper-Drive to Catch These Vermin and the Film never lets up from the Opening Set-Up as Frank Reicher is Blackmailed into Helping the Nazis because He wants to get His Sick Wife out of Germany before Hitler Declares War.There are Gas Masks, Poison Vapors, Blackouts, Fisticuffs, and Gunplay, along with Government Agents doing Pushups getting in Shape Quickly to go up Against the "Master Race". The Film is so Short and Full of Energy that One can Feel the 1942 Angst Dripping from the Screen. It is not so much Propaganda as a Starting Gun Rallying the Citizens with this Frantic Film.It's got a Good Cast, but Faye Emerson is Wasted. Also of Interest is a Look at some of the "New" Technology that was Manifesting for the World War. Secret Radio Broadcasts, Submarines (off the East Coast), hidden Gas Pellets as well as Undercover Infiltrators, Working as Doormen, Chauffeurs, and maybe Even Torch Singers.