Foreign Correspondent (1940)

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Foreign Correspondent (1940) – A. Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock’s second American picture (just after the Oscar-winning Rebecca, also 1940) is more of a thriller in line with his best British films (The 39 Steps, 1935; The Lady Vanishes, 1938) – which means there is a MacGuffin (the secret clause in the treaty between Holland and Belgium that relates to what happens if they are invaded by the Nazis) and everyone is trying to find it or to prevent someone from finding it.  In this case, the secret clause is known by Mr. Van Meer, a Dutch diplomat, who is variously kidnapped or shot dead by those who wish to disrupt any peace process.  Joel McCrea is the newspaper reporter of the title, sent to Europe to interview Van Meer and to get a story.  He falls in with the leader of an organisation pushing for peace, led by Herbert Marshall, and falls in love with Marshall’s daughter, played by Laraine Day.  George Sanders (also in Rebecca) is on hand as a rival reporter who supports McCrea in tracking down the villains who have kidnapped Van Meer.  Of course, Hitchcock uses all of his powers to make this adventure an exciting one, creating suspense and excitement, even while offering next to no detail about the MacGuffin (his own term for the thing that drives the plot dynamics).  He gives us the clichés about Holland – windmills chiefly (but with a few mentions of cheese) and when the setting moves to England, he pokes a bit of fun at his own culture too.  McCrea is likeable as always and, although a bit of a dolt at times, he manages to be in the right place at the right time to deliver the happy ending required.  Hitch dazzles with a tremendous airplane crash, as well as a few other set-pieces (those umbrellas in the rain); he’s already a master of his craft by this point in his career.  The ending, a monologue by McCrea seeking to encourage Americans to get involved in the War, was tacked on afterward, just before release and just around the time the Nazis started bombing London.  A real period piece, then, and while not in the highest echelon of Hitch’s films, still very enjoyable and worth your time.