“But your wife, she'll wonder what happened to her poor little General.” — Peter Lorre to John Gielgud

This most enjoyable film made in Britain before Hitchcock came to Hollywood certainly deserves more accolades than it has gotten over the years. It really isn't that far behind 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, and Young and Innocent in either quality or entertainment. Set during the first world war, Somerset Maugham’s novel of spies sent to ferret out and eliminate another spy has romance and humor, and some real excitement in Hitchcock’s hands.

John Gielgud comes home from the war and discovers he’s been reported dead. He discovers it was intentional; his cover so he can become Ashenden, and eliminate a very dangerous spy causing the good guys a lot of trouble. While it’s deadly serious business, it gets a bit more pleasant when he discovers in Switzerland that the beautiful and elegant Elsa Carrington (Madeleine Carroll) is to pose as his wife and help him in his mission.

Hitchcock counters the more serious business with a likable Robert Young as Marvin, pursuing romance with Elsa despite her marital status. It is handled with great charm and a sense of fun. Ashenden’s other partner is General, played in an over-the-top manner by Peter Lorre. He is more comical than sinister, spending most of his time trying to romance anything in a dress, and quite upset that Ashenden has the fake wife while he has none.

Elsa falls for her pretend husband, of course, and the General’s actions brings about a crisis of conscience occurs for both she and Ashenden. But when Ashenden and General discover who the real spy is, and must pursue him because of the great danger someone is in. The train station scene and everything that follows is classic Hitchcock. While it doesn’t have quite the tension of 39 Steps, or the sheer charm of Young and Innocent, it has a blend of the two which is very enjoyable.

Perhaps because it is set during WW I it doesn't connect as much as it should for some viewers. It is quite fabulous in its own way, however, and fans of Hitchcock’s early British films will certainly find it appealing. Fans of the lovely Madeleine Carroll will be pleased to discover she is much more in the center of things from the very beginning than in 39 Steps. A real winner. ( )

based on stories in Ashenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham ( )