Subpar adaptation of minor Somerset Maugham: Pacifist British teacher in WWII England marries Austrian war refugee, unaware the ‘enemy alien’ he’s saved from internment is a secret Nazi spy! Yikes! Actually, while the book sounds like a crock (late commercial pap that did Maugham’s rep no favors), as movie plot, it's not so bad. Franchot Tone is the main saving grace as Conscientious Objector, his Mid-Atlantic purr far more acceptable than the starchy uppercrust accents heard elsewhere in the pic from the Hollywood British Colony. But a real career wreck hits Veronica Lake as the alluring Fifth Columnist, gargled Austrian accent more twisted than the blonde braids supplanting her famous ‘peekaboo’ hairdo. Director Frank Tuttle offers her little help, his staging equally disinterested. A distressing debut for producer William Dozier, moving up from Story Department. Did he look at the ‘dailies?’ A pity, as hiding in plain sight are a few well-handled scenes: a nicely argued Pacifist plea to the local Draft Board; some impressive exploding pyrotechnics at the climax, presumably second-unit work. Just not enough to make up for the rest.
WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/LINK: A month later, Maugham had better luck in Robert Siodmak’s adaptation of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY/’44, a dark change of pace for Deanna Durbin & Gene Kelly. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2020/01/christmas-holiday-1944.html
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