Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)

Released in May of 1939, before the Second World War had even begun in Europe, Confessions of a Nazi Spy has the distinction of being the first blatantly anti-Nazi film to be produced by a major Hollywood film studio (Warner Brothers). Based on the true story of a Nazi spy ring uncovered in the U.S. by the FBI, acting on a tip from the British, the film feels more like an expose with dramatic reenactments then it does a typical movie of the period, at least until Edward G. Robinson shows up half way through to lead the Bureaus spy busting. In light of current debates over government domestic surveillance its interesting to note that at the time this Nazi spy ring came to light (1937-1938) the U.S. had essentially no domestic counter intelligence apparatus, with the FBI being brought in because there was no one else equipped to persue the case, and at least as depicted in the film not everyone in that agency felt that this was something they aught to be doing. Dramatically uneven the film benefits from having both historic and curio value, as well as Edward G Robinson whom I always enjoying seeing outsmart people in movies. **1/2