Secret Service

1931
Passed
1h 8m

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

114

YOUR RATING

Drama History Romance War Western

Lewis Dumont, a Northern officer in the American Civil War, works undercover behind Confederate lines in an attempt to lead Southern forces away from an area in which a Northern attack is pl... Read allLewis Dumont, a Northern officer in the American Civil War, works undercover behind Confederate lines in an attempt to lead Southern forces away from an area in which a Northern attack is planned. But Dumont falls in love with a Southern girl and when she proves useful to his pla... Read allLewis Dumont, a Northern officer in the American Civil War, works undercover behind Confederate lines in an attempt to lead Southern forces away from an area in which a Northern attack is planned. But Dumont falls in love with a Southern girl and when she proves useful to his plan, his conscience begins to tear at him.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

114

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
The play opened on Broadway, New York City, New York, USA on 5 October 1898. There were 3 Broadway revivals, the last in 1976.

Connections
Version of Secret Service (1919)

Soundtracks
(I Wish I Was in) Dixie's Land
(1860) (uncredited)
Written by Daniel Decatur Emmett
Part of a medley of Civil War songs played during the opening credits

User reviews6

Review

Featured review

10/10

Forgotten Civil War Film

Two brothers, both members of the Union's SECRET SERVICE, make their way behind Confederate lines to assist in the capture of Richmond.

Based on a play by the celebrated American stage actor William Gillette, this nearly forgotten Civil War film offers an interesting espionage plot and three actors worth watching.

Sturdy leading man Richard Dix provides a fine performance as a conflicted hero who would probably have gotten shot by both sides if captured. Even when the dialogue given him was substandard, Dix could always be counted on to instill some life into his character.

Gavin Gordon plays the Virginia official, consumed with jealousy, who engages Dix in a deadly war of wits. Wonderful Clarence Muse brings real heart to his portrayal of a friendly slave whose good nature gets him into terrible trouble.

The film has definite drawbacks. The romance Dix has with a Southern belle (Shirley Grey) is neither convincing nor compelling. The spy plot, dealing greatly with multiple coded telegraph messages, is rather difficult to follow. And the film fairly cries out for a background score to push the action along (Max Steiner, later one of the big names in cinematic music, provides the scant score).