Foreign Correspondent
Foreign Correspondent

Foreign Correspondent

1940Movie120 minEnglish

American crime reporter John Jones is reassigned to Europe as a foreign correspondent to cover the imminent war. When he walks into the middle of an assassination and stumbles on a spy ring, he seeks help from a beautiful politician’s daughter and an urbane English journalist to uncover the truth.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Google Users88%
Director: Alfred HitchcockGenres: Thriller, Mystery, War

Plot Summary

An ambitious American reporter, Johnny Jones, is sent to Europe to cover the escalating pre-war tensions. He infiltrates a peace organization to uncover a spy ring, getting entangled with a mysterious woman and a diplomat involved in espionage. As Johnny delves deeper, he uncovers a sinister plot that threatens international stability, forcing him to risk his life for the truth.

Critical Reception

Foreign Correspondent was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release, lauded for its thrilling plot, Hitchcock's masterful direction, and its prescient portrayal of the dangers of appeasement and espionage on the brink of World War II. It was a box office success and is considered one of Hitchcock's finest early American films.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its suspenseful and fast-paced narrative.
  • Hailed as a brilliant example of Hitchcock's signature style.
  • Noted for its timely and relevant themes of international intrigue.

Google audience: Audiences generally found the film to be a thrilling and engaging spy thriller with a compelling plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Many appreciate its historical relevance and Hitchcock's expert direction.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders), and Best Original Screenplay.

Fun Fact

During the filming of the assassination scene outside the windmill, Hitchcock insisted on using real sets of shattering glass, even though a special effect could have been used, to enhance the authenticity and impact of the scene.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

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 goi...
barrymost

barrymost

If you enjoy this review, please check out my blog, Old Hat Cinema, at https://oldhatcinema.medium.com/ for more reviews and other cool content. Alfred Hitchcock’s second American picture, Foreign Correspondent (1940), has quite literall...