INTERNATIONAL LADY, released in the fall of 1941, is WWII espionage tale, produced by Edward Small, directed by Tim Whelan, and released by United Artists.
The story opens in London during the blitz. Glamorous Norwegian concert pianist/singer Carla Nillsson (Ilona Massey) has attracted the attention of FBI agent Tim Hanley (George Brent) and Scotland Yard investigator Reggis Oliver (Basil Rathbone). The two men believe that the lady is an agent somehow sending top secret info to her German controllers. Hanley and Oliver follow Carla to Lisbon, and then to America. On the way Tim and Carla fall for each other, despite their mutual suspicion of the other's motives. Carla finally risks her life for Tim--she realizes she's not as cold-blooded or as vicious as the men she's taking orders from.
INTERNATIONAL LADY is an okay spy tale, without a lot of suspense (the viewer is informed at every point who the bad guys are and what their plot is). This movie has a lighter tone than most other such tales made during the period, with George Brent and Basil Rathbone having a friendly and somewhat comedic rivalry. Rathbone is surprisingly peppy and jovial here, and he seems to be enjoying himself immensely. (Basil does get to use a Sherlock Holmes-style disguise at one point, and Brent even calls him "Sherlock" in an off-handed manner.) This tone also means that the story isn't as exciting or dramatic as it ought to be. It must be pointed out that this film was made before the U.S. officially entered the war--if it had been made after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, I'm sure it would have been much darker.
Ilona Massey, due to her engaging screen personality, just doesn't seem dangerous enough to be an Axis femme fatale--you just know that she isn't really that bad. The major villainy is provided by George Zucco, who of course was a master at the art. Here Zucco does way more than oversee events--he gets to do a lot of physical action as well. Martin Kosleck plays (what else?) another German agent, and future Lone Ranger Clayton Moore has a small role.
I've never understood how George Brent got to be a major Hollywood leading man--I've always thought he was rather drab. His performance here didn't change my opinion. When it comes to onscreen charisma, Brent falls way behind the likes of Rathbone, Zucco, and Massey. (In my opinion Rathbone and Massey would have been a much better romantic couple.)
INTERNATIONAL LADY isn't a low-budget B picture. It's a well-crafted production, but it is overlong at 102 minutes, and the climax isn't very thrilling. The main attraction here is for Universal horror buffs to see Rathbone, Massey, Zucco, and Martin Kosleck.
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