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Spies

Rudolf Klein-Rogge (Actor), Gerda Maurus (Actor), Fritz Lang (Director) | Rated: Unrated | Format: DVD
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Another great film by UFA, Sep 8 2010
By 
bernie "webviator" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Spies (DVD)
Script: Thea von Harbou - Writer (novel) (screenplay)
Direction: Fritz Lang
Sets: Otto Hunte, Kark Vollrecht
Camera: Fritz Arno Wagner
Original Music: Werner R. Heymann (238 titles)

This fill has all the trills and what now has become clichés from gangster car chases to where the man says I saw who did it and "bang!" AAaaaag. "I'd sooner die like a dog can become a traitor!" If I did not know any better, I would think this was the prototype for the 007 series. Only this time it is No. 326 "Det. Donald Tremaine, English version" (Willy Fritsch). In addition, our beautiful counter spy Sonya Baranilkowa (Gerda Maurus) who's purpose naturally is to reluctantly derail Donald.

I would be lost if it we not for the English subtitles. The only problem is that the many times cover the actual documents in German and it would be nice to see if we are missing something in the translation.

You may want to watch this several times to get all the nuances.

The UFA Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company 1918-1945
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 4.4 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Birth Of The Modern Spy Film., Nov 14 2004
By Chip Kaufmann - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Spies (DVD)
SPIES appropriately marks the beginning of the modern spy thriller as we know it today. It features an intrepid hero, a beautiful woman with divided loyalties and a cunning and diabolical villain. There is also international intrigue, bedroom politics, gadgets galore and spectacular stunts. What raises it above the ordinary is Fritz Lang's passion for detail and the emphasis on the principal woman character.

Women are the central focus of Lang's films during the 1920's from Kriemhild in DIE NIBELUNGEN to Maria in METROPOLIS and Friede in WOMAN IN THE MOON thanks to scriptwriter Thea von Harbou (Lang's wife at the time) whose stories concentrate on the power of love to redeem or destroy. Sonja in SPIES is no exception. Everything revolves around her. Put all this together and you have a film that is as compelling today as it was 75 years ago.

Rudolf Klein-Rogge (the inventor from METROPOLIS) stars as Haghi, the head of a powerful criminal network whose specialties are blackmail and espionage. Trying to catch him is Agent 326 (Willy Fritsch) of the German State Police where no one has a name only a number. Things are complicated by Haghi's #1 spy Sonja Barranikowa (Gerda Maurus) who is great at obtaining secrets but is haunted by her past. How these characters interact and how the plot resolves itself is what makes SPIES so captivating. There's also a real doozy of an ending.

The restoration work is remarkable adding more than 50 minutes to previous existing versions and the picture quality is superb. Add Donald Sosin's new score and you have a real winner on your hands. Even if you don't know or don't like silent films you'll be entertained. And if you do like them then you can't afford to miss out on this new release from Kino.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Fritz Lang's best!, Nov 25 2004
By Barbara (Burkowsky) Underwood - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Spies (DVD)
It's probably impossible to top "Metropolis", but "Spies" must surely rate as one of Fritz Lang's best films, and this brilliant KINO video DVD clearly shows why. Restored from the best footage from various sources to almost 2 1/2 hours in length, this epic can be watched again and again without ever a dull moment. This is mainly due to quite a complex and fast-moving storyline which demands considerable attention, but well worth the effort and it keeps getting better the more you watch it. Although a lot happens all around in the spy world, the focus is on two individuals who fall in love while assigned to spy out each other's network and activities. The criminal matermind whose spy network undermines the government has become the classic spy movie theme, and watching "Spies" reminded me of James Bond more than once. It is sophisticated and must have been cutting edge in its time, but it still packs a punch even today - much like Fritz Lang's previous great achievement, "Metropolis", of which "Spies" often reminded me. Besides excellent picture quality and easy-to-read intertitles, the musical score is simply brilliant and really caught my attention, such as authentic Japanese music accompanying the scenes of the Japanese head of Secret Service, while other parts feature nice orchestral and piano accompaniment. It is never overbearing however, and always perfectly suited to the mood of each scene, adding to the overall impact of the film. For a busy story with action, suspense, intrigue and an unexpected ending, you can't do much better than this restored version of "Spies".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly modern treatment, Jan 25 2011
By Steve Reina - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Spies (DVD)
The 1920s really was Fritz Lang's era. What Stanley Kubrick would later spend a lifetime doing, Lang managed in a mere decade...he remade every genre he touched.

Most prominently he re-made science fiction with Metropolis and later Woman on the Moon.

In terms of fantasy, he re-made that area with one my all time favorites Destiny as well as his Die Nieblinglun series.

And in this excellent film, Lang re-made the espionage movie impuing it with qualities that would remain very current into today's James Bond series.

First, he took a plausible uber spy with dashing looks played by Willy Fritsch. Then he added the arch nemesis played by Rudolph Klein Rogge (who also starred in Lang's Mabuse series as the title character). Finally, he gave them cool gadgets to use in their battles with each other.

As with all his films from the 1920s the writing was under the sure hand of Lang's then wife, Thea von Harbou.

What emerges is not only a very recognizable spy movie but one that actually became the template for all spy movies to follow.
› Go to Amazon.com to see all 17 reviews  4.4 out of 5 stars 
 
 
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