Foreign Correspondent: A Review

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT

This review is part of the Summer Under the Stars Blogathon. Today's star is Joel McRae.

The Second World War was inching towards the United States when Foreign Correspondent was released. Blending suspense, romance, a dash of comedy and a bit of propaganda, Foreign Correspondent might be longer than needed but has enough positives to make it a worthwhile watching.

New York Morning Globe editor Mr. Powers (Harry Davenport) is convinced that Europe is on the edge of a powder keg. He also is irritated that his and other "foreign correspondents" cannot find the story if it walked in on them. Powers is convinced that he needs a crime reporter willing to pound the pavement (and maybe a few policemen) to get the truth. For that, he summons crime beat reporter Johnny Jones. Rechristening Jones as "Huntley Haverstock" (Joel McRae), he tells Jones/Haverstock to get him actual news.

Haverstock immediately falls into a dynamite story. He is tasked to interview Dutch diplomat Van Meer (Albert Basserman). He has been instrumental in attempting to avoid a new European war with knowledge of a major treaty. He is also working with the Universal Peace Party, headed by Stephen Fisher (Herbert Marshall). The elegant, sophisticated Fisher seems desperate to stop any war. He might be better suited in stopping Jones/Haverstock from eyeing his pretty daughter Carol (Laraine Day). Haverstock is instantly smitten, to where he barely listens to anything anyone other than Carol have to say. 

There is however, a most curious thing. When Haverstock reencounters Van Meer in Amsterdam where the final negotiations have shifted, Van Meer does not recognize Haverstock. This is most bizarre since they had literally shared a cab the day before. Things do not get cleared up when someone assassinates Van Meer in front of Haverstock and others. Haverstock's efforts to catch the killer fail despite his best efforts. Those efforts also include Carol and her friend Scott ffollitt (George Sanders) (ffollitt insisting that his surname is all lowercase letters). It looks like despite their chase it is a dead end to find the killer. Or is it?

Jones is on the case. He finds that Van Meer is still alive, with Van Meer's double being the one gunned down. Why all this deception? It is all part of an elaborate plot to not stop war, but to bring it about. Now, Jones/Haverstock is the man who knows too much. Those holding Van Meer prisoner must now stop Haverstock at all costs. These scheming Europeans, however, have not counted on the street-smart American. They also haven't counted on Huntley and Carol falling in love.

Huntley is in danger of falling in more ways than one. There is an inside man in the Universal Peace Party who wants war. This figure thinks that war will save his country. He also knows that Van Meer knows of Clause 27, a secret clause in the treaty known only to two people. Will Van Meer break? Who is the traitor within the Universal Peace Party? Things reach a fiery conclusion once war does begin, but will Huntley's message break through to the American people?

Foreign Correspondent even then was thinly veiled propaganda to persuade reluctant Americans to enter the war on the Allied side. Huntley's final broadcast could not have been clearer had it been spoken by Winston Churchill himself. As bombs fall on London, Haverstock calls on America to "keep the lights on". "Hello, America, hang on to your lights. They're the only lights left on in the world". It is clear that Foreign Correspondent used the espionage angle to show the dangers that Europe and later America were facing.

It also helped that Alfred Hitchcock got the best cast for Foreign Correspondent. Joel McCrae has a breezy manner and a very American attitude towards things. He handles the action and humor with equal adeptness. Johnny Jones is relaxed, even a bit contemptuous of things initially. He is not exactly happy-go-lucky but someone who does not abide falseness. McCrae makes Jones/Haverstock into a man of action and humor. The scene where he is attempting to communicate with a Latvian diplomat is one of wry humor. Shortly afterwards, the massive grin McCrae has when seeing the beautiful Carol shows that Foreign Correspondent is not afraid of making Haverstock look downright goofy if it gets a chuckle.

McCrae does not, however, shrink from action. Several times in Foreign Correspondent do we see Haverstock in danger. McCrae is more than up to the task. Hitchcock teases tension when Haverstock comes close to being discovered in the windmill and when escaping hitmen at the Hotel Europe. Even here though, the various screenwriters (Charles Bennett, Joan Harrison, James Hilton and costar Robert Bechley) manage to inject sly humor. As Haverstock is escaping in his undergarments via the roof, he accidentally knocks out two letters from the Hotel Europe sign. Looking at the high angle (Hitchcock here was fond of high angles), we see that Haverstock is in "Hot Europe".

A good amount of humor comes from Robert Benchley as the Morning Globe's London reporter. Benchley has a droll, somewhat resigned and cynical manner as Stebbins. Bemoaning how he is on the wagon despite offering Haverstock some scotch when the latter arrives, he looks longingly at it. "Twenty years and I end up on milk," Stebbins remarks. Benchley's presence is small, but he makes the most of his screentime. I do not know if Benchley or the other writers came up with something of a running gag in Foreign Correspondent where Haverstock kept losing his bowler. Once the film became more serious, the gag was dropped. However, seeing the very American Johnny Jones attempt to wear British hats brought a bit of lightness to things.

The highlights of Foreign Correspondent are the action scenes. The apparent assassination of Van Meer was excellently filmed. Haverstock chasing the assassin with a cacophony of black umbrellas covering everyone is a brilliant sequence. His narrow escape in the windmill is also well-filmed. The concluding action scene in the airplane is a thrilling sequence, the chaos and confusion mixed in with the awful randomness of death. 

Foreign Correspondent shows a group of actors doing fine work. The previously mentioned McCrae and Benchley had absolutely wonderful performances. George Sanders as the suave potential rival ffollitt made the blend of snide sarcasm with genuine concern for Van Meer work well. Herbert Marshall balanced the father's concern with a more dubious manner. Albert Basserman received one of the film's six Oscar nominations as Van Meer (it lost all six, including Best Picture). I think his final scene got him the recognition, his mix of confusion and defiance on his mental and emotional state being a strong performance.

In his small role, Edmund Gwynn as the hitman Rowley takes viewers by surprise. He made this Cockney killer into a dangerous figure behind the avuncular manner. 

I would say that Laraine Day as Carol was the weakest role. She was not terrible. Day was fine as Carol, the loving woman and dutiful daughter. I think it is less the actress than the part.

One thing that did surprise me in Foreign Correspondent is Alfred Newman's score. I found it, especially the opening music, very upbeat and jolly. Newman's opening music suggests that Foreign Correspondent is a romantic comedy rather than a thriller with some romance and humor in it. 

I also thought that at two hours, Foreign Correspondent ran a bit longer than needed. The various escapes and near-escapes were maybe one too many. I do not know if we needed to see Jones/Haverstock say goodbye to his family in his suite on the Queen Mary. I also think ending the film with a choir singing The Star-Spangled Banner might make modern audiences chuckle to outright laugh now. Foreign Correspondent did lay it on a bit thick in the "join the Allies" manner.

Overall, though, Foreign Correspondent worked well as an action picture with a bit of humor and romance. That is thanks to its director, writers and cast. It also is a bit of a time capsule on film meant to move audiences' minds as well as hearts. Granted, it is a bit dated today. However, Foreign Correspondent works on most of its levels. 

DECISION: B-