Warner Brothers released its second spy and saboteur "B" movie, "Secret Enemies", on August 18, 1942. Essentially, the studio commissioned scenarist Raymond L. Schrock to rewrite Seton I. Miller's script for the seminal 1935 James Cagney thriller G-Man about how FBI obtained the right to arm themselves against trigger-happy hoodlums. Unlike G-Men, however, "Secret Enemies" is about a federal law enforcement agency called the Bureau of Investigation, obviously a veiled reference to J. Edgar Hoover's crime-stoppers. The day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a New York City motel owner of German ancestry, Henry Bremmer, worries about his wife. Apparently, Mrs. Bremmer has been sick and is in Germany. Bremmer fears that the Nazis will put his wife in a concentration camp, so implores his long-time friend and attorney Carl Becker (Craig Stevens) help him get her out of Germany before Hitler declares war. Becker flies to Washington, D.C., queries the State Department and talks to the German Embassy, but he gets nowhere. Meanwhile, Bremmer's chauffeur Fred informs his boss that he knows a man with influence. Desperately, Bremmer appeals to Dr. Woodford (Robert Warwick), alias Otto Zimmer, a notorious Nazi spy on the B.O.I.'s list of wanted men, to help him get his wife safely back to America. Zimmer strikes a bargain with Bremmer. He will get Bremmer's wife out of Germany in exchange for Bremmer letting Zimmer's spy ring headquarter themselves in Bremmer's motel. Later, Becker meets his old friend Jim Jackson (Charles Lang), who stops off at Becker's office and mentions in passing that he is on a spy manhunt with a B.O.I agent and that they are staying in a nearby Washington motel. Becker convinces Jackson to move into Bremmer's motel, so he can join later in the evening and he can meet Becker's girlfriend. The Nazi agent put Jackson into a room with its windows nailed shut and give him a special battery operated radio to listen to music during a practice blackout drill later in the evening. Jackson switches on the radio and the mechanism cracks a vial of deadly but odorless gas hidden in the radio. Jackson dies and Zimmer and his henchmen arrange Jackson body so that the coroner will rule his death a suicide. Carl Becker refuses to believe that his friend committed suicide. Jackson's partner John Trent (John Ridgely) suspects that Becker is in cahoots with the Nazi spies. Meanwhile, Becker contacts several authorities, but he gets nowhere. After speaking with a Bureau representative, a frustrated Becker decides to join the Bureau, something that Jackson had been pushing him to do. Initially, Trent does not trust Becker, but he changes his mind as he teachers the former attorney the ropes of being a Bureau agent. When another Bureau agent dies under mysterious circumstances, the agency dispatches Trent and the agent of his choice to investigate the death. Trent chooses Becker. Eventually, Becker learns that the Nazis have been blackmailing Bremmer. The Bureau arrests Zimmer, but later his henchman and he escape from their escort on the train. The German fifth columnists take refuge in the mountains at a cabin owned by Bremmer. Before Bremmer leaves against will to accompany the Nazis, he throws a photo of his hunting lodge on his bed. When Becker and Trent search Bremmer's bedroom, they find the photo and put two plus two together. The Bureau surrounds the lodge and shoots it out with the spies. While the Bureau agents are exchanging gunfire with the spies, Bremmer dies in a back room where he keeps a short-wave radio. Before he dies, he manages to contact the authorities about a U-boat off the Eastern coast and the Navy sinks the submarine. Again, the agile Zimmer escapes and take refuge with Paula Fengler, an attractive nightclub singer that Becker has been dating. Carl guns Zimmer down at Paula's room, and then he takes her into custody for being a member of the spy ring. Altogether, "Secret Enemies" is nothing compared with "G-Men, but it made for an interesting, fast-paced but ultimately disposable wartime thriller.
10 Reviews
An interesting, fast-paced, but ultimately disposable wartime thriller.
zardoz-1318 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Frantic Fighting the Nazis Stateside Film
Short and in Hyper-Drive
LeonLouisRicci6 May 2015
December 8, 1941 is the date as the Movie begins...
and Paced Like Lightning, this WB B-Movie makes for some Interesting Stateside Wartime Intrigue as the Nazi Spies are up to Their Evil Deeds in the Heart of New York City.
There are some Heil Hitlers and Heavy Accents but, obviously, since this is Spy-Stuff, No Swastikas or Paraphernalia to be seen.
Craig Stevens, leads a Game Cast as all are in Hyper-Drive to Catch These Vermin and the Film never lets up from the Opening Set-Up as Frank Reicher is Blackmailed into Helping the Nazis because He wants to get His Sick Wife out of Germany before Hitler Declares War.
There are Gas Masks, Poison Vapors, Blackouts, Fisticuffs, and Gunplay, along with Government Agents doing Pushups getting in Shape Quickly to go up Against the "Master Race".
The Film is so Short and Full of Energy that One can Feel the 1942 Angst Dripping from the Screen. It is not so much Propaganda as a Starting Gun Rallying the Citizens with this Frantic Film.
It's got a Good Cast, but Faye Emerson is Wasted. Also of Interest is a Look at some of the "New" Technology that was Manifesting for the World War.
Secret Radio Broadcasts, Submarines (off the East Coast), hidden Gas Pellets as well as Undercover Infiltrators, Working as Doormen, Chauffeurs, and maybe Even Torch Singers.
and Paced Like Lightning, this WB B-Movie makes for some Interesting Stateside Wartime Intrigue as the Nazi Spies are up to Their Evil Deeds in the Heart of New York City.
There are some Heil Hitlers and Heavy Accents but, obviously, since this is Spy-Stuff, No Swastikas or Paraphernalia to be seen.
Craig Stevens, leads a Game Cast as all are in Hyper-Drive to Catch These Vermin and the Film never lets up from the Opening Set-Up as Frank Reicher is Blackmailed into Helping the Nazis because He wants to get His Sick Wife out of Germany before Hitler Declares War.
There are Gas Masks, Poison Vapors, Blackouts, Fisticuffs, and Gunplay, along with Government Agents doing Pushups getting in Shape Quickly to go up Against the "Master Race".
The Film is so Short and Full of Energy that One can Feel the 1942 Angst Dripping from the Screen. It is not so much Propaganda as a Starting Gun Rallying the Citizens with this Frantic Film.
It's got a Good Cast, but Faye Emerson is Wasted. Also of Interest is a Look at some of the "New" Technology that was Manifesting for the World War.
Secret Radio Broadcasts, Submarines (off the East Coast), hidden Gas Pellets as well as Undercover Infiltrators, Working as Doormen, Chauffeurs, and maybe Even Torch Singers.
Nazi hunter programmer
blanche-26 May 2015
From Warner Brothers in 1942 is a short programmer, "Secret Enemies," starring Craig Stevens as Carl Becker, a young attorney who joins the FBI after an agent friend is murdered. The ruling is suicide, but Becker knows this is not the case.
He soon learns that a hotel he frequents to see his girlfriend, a performer there, is a base for Nazi spies. It's where he was staying the night his friend, also staying there, was killed. It's up to him to find out who the Nazis are and capture them.
Faye Emerson plays Carl's girlfriend, Paula, in this large cast, along with Robert Warwick as the head Nazi, Monte Blue, Ray Teal, and Ruth Ford in smaller roles.
This is a fast-moving film with okay acting, and it's entertaining. Craig Stevens had his major success in television. He starred in many series, but the one he is most remembered for is "Peter Gunn." Faye Emerson did a great deal of stage work which is noticeable here, as she's a little over the top. She was married to Elliot Roosevelt.
Pretty good, and it's over before you know it.
He soon learns that a hotel he frequents to see his girlfriend, a performer there, is a base for Nazi spies. It's where he was staying the night his friend, also staying there, was killed. It's up to him to find out who the Nazis are and capture them.
Faye Emerson plays Carl's girlfriend, Paula, in this large cast, along with Robert Warwick as the head Nazi, Monte Blue, Ray Teal, and Ruth Ford in smaller roles.
This is a fast-moving film with okay acting, and it's entertaining. Craig Stevens had his major success in television. He starred in many series, but the one he is most remembered for is "Peter Gunn." Faye Emerson did a great deal of stage work which is noticeable here, as she's a little over the top. She was married to Elliot Roosevelt.
Pretty good, and it's over before you know it.
Enjoyable but a bit silly...like so many of the Bs.
planktonrules30 October 2016
Carl Becker (Craig Stevens) is going to meet a government agent friend. However, a group of Nazi spies get to this friend first and murder him using poison gas hidden in a radio(???). The death is ruled a suicide...and Becker knows his friend was not depressed and loved life...so he fights to get someone to investigate the case further. Eventually, his path crosses that of the Secret Service. They not only believe him but he joins the service...and spends the rest of the film trying to capture these wicked Nazis.
This is a B-movie from Warner Brothers--hence it looks a lot better than the typical B. It's also more enjoyable. However, like most B- films. this one has some lulls in the quality of the writing--with a few scenes that didn't make any sense whatsoever (such as the escape from custody from the train). Still, it is, like the best of the Bs, enjoyable and packs a lot into only about an hour.
This is a B-movie from Warner Brothers--hence it looks a lot better than the typical B. It's also more enjoyable. However, like most B- films. this one has some lulls in the quality of the writing--with a few scenes that didn't make any sense whatsoever (such as the escape from custody from the train). Still, it is, like the best of the Bs, enjoyable and packs a lot into only about an hour.
pretty good WW II flicker
ksf-221 May 2018
Wartime flick from Warner Brothers... the U.S. had JUST gotten into the war in December. when a man's wife is stuck in germany, he has to decide if he will help the germans to get his wife out. An american lawyer is knocked off, and that kicks everyone into action. Some U.S. intelligence agents set a trap to figure out who is knocking off americans. and there's a den of nazi spies right in their town. Adventures, escapes, and shoot-outs. It's all neatly done in 57 minutes, so things have to move right along. Directed by Ben Stoloff. this was towards the very end of his career; he had started in the silents in the 1920s, and only directed a couple more films and a TV show after this. It's all quite well done, even if no big names are in this one. almost like an episode of dragnet, but no-one is narrating. Good stuff. Turner Classics.
Somewhat involving espionage movie during WWII
jordondave-2808513 April 2023
(1942) Secret Enemies
THRILLER/ ESPIONAGE
Adapted from the story by Seton I. Miller called "Mr Farrell", the movie made during WWII starring Craig Stevens as an attorney or a lawyer for a hotel, Carl Becker stumbling onto an espionage ring, motivating him to join the 'Department of Justice' or the 'department of counter espionage' after learning about the murder of his best friend, agent Jim Jackson (Charles Lang).
Although, routine it's purpose is to promote paranoia or caution, considering the fact that it was made in 1942 while we were still at war against Hitler's Nazi regime or Nazi sympathizers.
Adapted from the story by Seton I. Miller called "Mr Farrell", the movie made during WWII starring Craig Stevens as an attorney or a lawyer for a hotel, Carl Becker stumbling onto an espionage ring, motivating him to join the 'Department of Justice' or the 'department of counter espionage' after learning about the murder of his best friend, agent Jim Jackson (Charles Lang).
Although, routine it's purpose is to promote paranoia or caution, considering the fact that it was made in 1942 while we were still at war against Hitler's Nazi regime or Nazi sympathizers.
This sobering alarm was rushed to American movie fans during the early days of . . .
oscaralbert19 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
. . . World War Two by the prophetic prognosticators of the always eponymous Warner Bros. These Warner seers warn the USA about its SECRET ENEMIES trying to pose as the friendly sauerkraut chompers next door. SECRET ENEMIES reveals that the average U.S. big city hotel employed at least a dozen Fifth Columnist Swastika collaborators, ranging from doormen to bellhops to desk clerks to lounge singers. Then, as Today, most if not all of these pernicious traitors formed the backbone of the perfidious Pachyderm Political Party (i.e., that conglomeration of Corrupt Capitalist Corporate Communist "Conservative" Organized Crime mobsters). Warner suggests that America will never be safe from this base of SECRET ENEMIES until each and every one of these nefarious core supporters is rooted out, shot, hung, electrocuted, gassed, Guillotined or otherwise dispatched to the nether world Down Below.
A pretty dumb lot
bkoganbing25 October 2016
James Cagney's classic film G-Men is reworked for a World War II era plot about a man who joins the FBI to find the people responsible for the death of his friend Charles Lang who was on the trail of a Nazi spy ring. Craig Stevens, TV's future Peter Gunn, is our protagonist stepping into the role that Cagney originated.
What Stevens does not know is that the man who helped raise him as an orphan Frank Reicher is being forced to work for some of our domestic Nazis. He owns a hotel in New York out of which the spy ring operates. Stevens is also dating the lounge singer from the hotel Faye Emerson.
If you've seen G-Men then you generally know how this film comes out. Of course there are some changes including one major change involving one of the main characters.
Secret Enemies is not likely to get a remake for modern times, it's strictly propaganda. One thing I thought was extremely dumb was the way the Nazis tried to use the same gimmick to get Stevens the way they got Jackson. You would think that since they know the FBI is on to them they'd try something different. But Nazis during World War II era films were a pretty dumb lot.
If you see this check out G-Men and you'll how the first is light years better than the remake. Might have had a lot to do with the dynamic James Cagney in the cast.
What Stevens does not know is that the man who helped raise him as an orphan Frank Reicher is being forced to work for some of our domestic Nazis. He owns a hotel in New York out of which the spy ring operates. Stevens is also dating the lounge singer from the hotel Faye Emerson.
If you've seen G-Men then you generally know how this film comes out. Of course there are some changes including one major change involving one of the main characters.
Secret Enemies is not likely to get a remake for modern times, it's strictly propaganda. One thing I thought was extremely dumb was the way the Nazis tried to use the same gimmick to get Stevens the way they got Jackson. You would think that since they know the FBI is on to them they'd try something different. But Nazis during World War II era films were a pretty dumb lot.
If you see this check out G-Men and you'll how the first is light years better than the remake. Might have had a lot to do with the dynamic James Cagney in the cast.
Saving the Day But Not This Movie
boblipton6 May 2015
This high-speed, competent Warner B movie of how Craig Stevens becomes a G-Man, hunts down American Nazis and courts Faye Emerson in fifty-seven minutes is a rote effort that has not aged particularly well.
Robert Warwick, who had been a leading star in the 1910s and later a member of Preston Sturges' stock company, offers an engaging performance as the suave Nazi mastermind and James Van Trees' camera-work suggests that the noir influence was catching on -- although that may have been studio head Jack Warner's cheapskate habit of turning out lights. However Raymond Schrock's screenplay from a Seton Miller story does not offer much, nor do the use of montage and newspaper headlines to move the plot. This is one time-waster you needn't waste your time on.
Robert Warwick, who had been a leading star in the 1910s and later a member of Preston Sturges' stock company, offers an engaging performance as the suave Nazi mastermind and James Van Trees' camera-work suggests that the noir influence was catching on -- although that may have been studio head Jack Warner's cheapskate habit of turning out lights. However Raymond Schrock's screenplay from a Seton Miller story does not offer much, nor do the use of montage and newspaper headlines to move the plot. This is one time-waster you needn't waste your time on.
Nazis in America
kapelusznik189 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Right after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor it was a given that Hitler, binded by the German Italian & Japanese axis mutual defense pact, will declare war on the USA. With German/American Henry Bremmer, Frank Riiecher, desperate to gets his wife and family out of Nazi Germany before the ax drops he get his lawyer friend Carl Backer also a German American, played by future TV private eye Peter Gunn Craig Stevens, to get the papers to get them out before war is declared. The person who is to help Bremmer in all this is unknown to Becker Nazi spy and undercover NYC hotel manager Dr. Woodford allies Otto Zimmer,Robert Warwick.
Blackmiled by the Nazis to serve the "Fatherland" in order to prevent his family from ending up in a Nazi concentration camp Bremmer as their radio operator is involved in directing Nazi U-boats to attack and sink allied shipping. It's not long that Becker, now a US secret agent, gets the jump on Woodford & Co. and has them busted by the FBI and sent to be tried and later, no doubt about the outcome, executed by the US Government for espionage & treason. Unknow to everyone involved included Secret Agent Becker the singer at Woodford's hotel Paula Fengler, played by Faye Emerson was was to later marry FDR Jr, is secretly married to Woodford as well as a fanatical Nazi like himself:It takes one to like one. Sneaking a number of Nazis on the train bound to D.C with Woodford aboard they killed those government agents guarding him and take off to their secret hideout a deserted hunting lodge in the far off and land locked Adirondacks Mountains.
***SPOILERS*** With everything set to sneak Woodford and later Paula out of the country by German U-Boat It's Bremmer who alerts, vis short wave radio, their plans that has Becker and company of US Government Agents storm the place and in a wild gun battle the slippery as an ell Woodford again escapes from justice with Becker hot on his tale. The final shoe to drop on Woodford AKA Otto Zimmer is when his plan to escape is foiled by Becker & the by now late, he was killed by Woodford's men, Bremmer. That with Woodford's mode of escape the Nazi U-Boat sunk before it surfaced by the US Coast Guard and Paula, who was putting on an act as a loyal American, exposed as a Nazi spy. As for Woodford he was beaten to the punch with Becker, having a hidden gun under his broken arm cast, blasting him before he could get a shot off.
Blackmiled by the Nazis to serve the "Fatherland" in order to prevent his family from ending up in a Nazi concentration camp Bremmer as their radio operator is involved in directing Nazi U-boats to attack and sink allied shipping. It's not long that Becker, now a US secret agent, gets the jump on Woodford & Co. and has them busted by the FBI and sent to be tried and later, no doubt about the outcome, executed by the US Government for espionage & treason. Unknow to everyone involved included Secret Agent Becker the singer at Woodford's hotel Paula Fengler, played by Faye Emerson was was to later marry FDR Jr, is secretly married to Woodford as well as a fanatical Nazi like himself:It takes one to like one. Sneaking a number of Nazis on the train bound to D.C with Woodford aboard they killed those government agents guarding him and take off to their secret hideout a deserted hunting lodge in the far off and land locked Adirondacks Mountains.
***SPOILERS*** With everything set to sneak Woodford and later Paula out of the country by German U-Boat It's Bremmer who alerts, vis short wave radio, their plans that has Becker and company of US Government Agents storm the place and in a wild gun battle the slippery as an ell Woodford again escapes from justice with Becker hot on his tale. The final shoe to drop on Woodford AKA Otto Zimmer is when his plan to escape is foiled by Becker & the by now late, he was killed by Woodford's men, Bremmer. That with Woodford's mode of escape the Nazi U-Boat sunk before it surfaced by the US Coast Guard and Paula, who was putting on an act as a loyal American, exposed as a Nazi spy. As for Woodford he was beaten to the punch with Becker, having a hidden gun under his broken arm cast, blasting him before he could get a shot off.
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