Lancer Spy

Lancer Spy is a 1937 film about an Englishman (Sanders) who impersonates a German officer, receiving fame upon arriving in Germany. A female German spy (del Río) is instructed to check on him but falls in love with him instead.

Lancer Spy
Directed by	Gregory Ratoff
Produced by	Samuel G. Engel executive Darryl F. Zanuck
Written by	Philip Dunne
Based on	novel by Marthe McKenna
Starring	Dolores del Río George Sanders Peter Lorre Virginia Field Sig Ruman
Cinematography	Barney McGill
Edited by	Louis R. Loeffler
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	October 8, 1937
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Cast

• Dolores del Río as Dolores Daria Sunnel
• George Sanders as Baron Kurt von Rohback and Lt. Michael Bruce
• Peter Lorre as Maj. Sigfried Gruning
• Virginia Field as Joan Bruce
• Sig Ruman as Lt. Col. Gottfried Hollen
• Joseph Schildkraut as Prince Ferdi zu Schwarzwald
• Maurice Moscovitch as Gen. von Meinhardt
• Lionel Atwill as Col. Fenwick
• Luther Adler as Schratt
• Fritz Feld as Fritz Mueller
• Lester Matthews as Capt. Neville
• Carlos De Valdez as Von Klingen
• Gregory Gaye as Capt. Freymann
• Claude King as Captain

Production

It was based on a story by Marthe McKenna, a Belgian woman who was a spy for England in World War I. She previously wrote I Was a Spy.[1]

Gregory Ratoff signed a contract with 20th Century Fox to write, produce and direct. The film was originally to star Michael Whalen.[2] Eventually George Sanders took the part.

Germaine Aussey, the French actor, was to have made her American debut in the film.[3]

Peter Lorre was cast after his success in Think Fast, Mr Moto.[4] He gave up a contract to make a film with Gaumont British in England; Fox had to buy out this contract.[5]

Colin Clive was cast in early May[6] as Colonel Fenwick.

Filming started mid May 1937.[7] By the end of the month Aussey had been replaced by Dolores del Río.[8]

Colin Clive collapsed during filming and died.[9]

References

1. Shaffer, George (Apr 12, 1937). "Ratoff Writes Another Good Role for Self". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 15.
2. Schallert, Edwin (Apr 9, 1937). "GREGORY RATOFF WILL DIRECT ONE FEATURE AND ACT IN ANOTHER: Marion Claire Likely to Play Breen's Mother". Los Angeles Times. p. 17.
3. "TWO NEW PICTURES FOR ROLAND DREW". New York Times. Apr 12, 1937. p. 15.
4. DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (Apr 18, 1937). "HOLLYWOOD PICKET LINE: The Industry Watches the C. I. O.--Satisfaction--R. Halliburton Flynn". New York Times. p. 169.
5. Read, Kendall (26 June 1937). "Around and About in Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
6. Schallert, Edwin (May 5, 1937). "JACK BENNY TO BE ABSENT WHEN WIFE DEBUTS IN PICTURE: Comedians Name 'Fall Guys' as next Vehicle". Los Angeles Times. p. A10.
7. "NEW FILM PRODUCTIONS STARTED DURTNG WEEK". Los Angeles Times. May 16, 1937. p. C1.
8. Schallert, Edwin (May 28, 1937). "DRAMATIC STORY BY FULOP-MILLER PURCHASED TO STAR BOBBY BREEN: United Artists Assembling New Film Units". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.
9. "Stage and Film Career". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, Scotland. 26 June 1937. p. 17.

External links

• Lancer Spy at IMDb