Wartime flick from Warner Brothers... the U.S. had JUST gotten into the war in December. when a man's wife is stuck in germany, he has to decide if he will help the germans to get his wife out. An american lawyer is knocked off, and that kicks everyone into action. Some U.S. intelligence agents set a trap to figure out who is knocking off americans. and there's a den of nazi spies right in their town. Adventures, escapes, and shoot-outs. It's all neatly done in 57 minutes, so things have to move right along. Directed by Ben Stoloff. this was towards the very end of his career; he had started in the silents in the 1920s, and only directed a couple more films and a TV show after this. It's all quite well done, even if no big names are in this one. almost like an episode of dragnet, but no-one is narrating. Good stuff. Turner Classics.

***SPOILERS*** Right after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor it was a given that Hitler, binded by the German Italian & Japanese axis mutual defense pact, will declare war on the USA. With German/American Henry Bremmer, Frank Riiecher, desperate to gets his wife and family out of Nazi Germany before the ax drops he get his lawyer friend Carl Backer also a German American, played by future TV private eye Peter Gunn Craig Stevens, to get the papers to get them out before war is declared. The person who is to help Bremmer in all this is unknown to Becker Nazi spy and undercover NYC hotel manager Dr. Woodford allies Otto Zimmer,Robert Warwick.Blackmiled by the Nazis to serve the "Fatherland" in order to prevent his family from ending up in a Nazi concentration camp Bremmer as their radio operator is involved in directing Nazi U-boats to attack and sink allied shipping. It's not long that Becker, now a US secret agent, gets the jump on Woodford & Co. and has them busted by the FBI and sent to be tried and later, no doubt about the outcome, executed by the US Government for espionage & treason. Unknow to everyone involved included Secret Agent Becker the singer at Woodford's hotel Paula Fengler, played by Faye Emerson was was to later marry FDR Jr, is secretly married to Woodford as well as a fanatical Nazi like himself:It takes one to like one. Sneaking a number of Nazis on the train bound to D.C with Woodford aboard they killed those government agents guarding him and take off to their secret hideout a deserted hunting lodge in the far off and land locked Adirondacks Mountains.***SPOILERS*** With everything set to sneak Woodford and later Paula out of the country by German U-Boat It's Bremmer who alerts, vis short wave radio, their plans that has Becker and company of US Government Agents storm the place and in a wild gun battle the slippery as an ell Woodford again escapes from justice with Becker hot on his tale. The final shoe to drop on Woodford AKA Otto Zimmer is when his plan to escape is foiled by Becker & the by now late, he was killed by Woodford's men, Bremmer. That with Woodford's mode of escape the Nazi U-Boat sunk before it surfaced by the US Coast Guard and Paula, who was putting on an act as a loyal American, exposed as a Nazi spy. As for Woodford he was beaten to the punch with Becker, having a hidden gun under his broken arm cast, blasting him before he could get a shot off.

From Warner Brothers in 1942 is a short programmer, "Secret Enemies," starring Craig Stevens as Carl Becker, a young attorney who joins the FBI after an agent friend is murdered. The ruling is suicide, but Becker knows this is not the case.He soon learns that a hotel he frequents to see his girlfriend, a performer there, is a base for Nazi spies. It's where he was staying the night his friend, also staying there, was killed. It's up to him to find out who the Nazis are and capture them.Faye Emerson plays Carl's girlfriend, Paula, in this large cast, along with Robert Warwick as the head Nazi, Monte Blue, Ray Teal, and Ruth Ford in smaller roles. This is a fast-moving film with okay acting, and it's entertaining. Craig Stevens had his major success in television. He starred in many series, but the one he is most remembered for is "Peter Gunn." Faye Emerson did a great deal of stage work which is noticeable here, as she's a little over the top. She was married to Elliot Roosevelt.Pretty good, and it's over before you know it.

December 8, 1941 is the date as the Movie begins...and Paced Like Lightning, this WB B-Movie makes for some Interesting Stateside Wartime Intrigue as the Nazi Spies are up to Their Evil Deeds in the Heart of New York City. There are some Heil Hitlers and Heavy Accents but, obviously, since this is Spy-Stuff, No Swastikas or Paraphernalia to be seen.Craig Stevens, leads a Game Cast as all are in Hyper-Drive to Catch These Vermin and the Film never lets up from the Opening Set-Up as Frank Reicher is Blackmailed into Helping the Nazis because He wants to get His Sick Wife out of Germany before Hitler Declares War.There are Gas Masks, Poison Vapors, Blackouts, Fisticuffs, and Gunplay, along with Government Agents doing Pushups getting in Shape Quickly to go up Against the "Master Race". The Film is so Short and Full of Energy that One can Feel the 1942 Angst Dripping from the Screen. It is not so much Propaganda as a Starting Gun Rallying the Citizens with this Frantic Film.It's got a Good Cast, but Faye Emerson is Wasted. Also of Interest is a Look at some of the "New" Technology that was Manifesting for the World War. Secret Radio Broadcasts, Submarines (off the East Coast), hidden Gas Pellets as well as Undercover Infiltrators, Working as Doormen, Chauffeurs, and maybe Even Torch Singers.