Product Details

• Actors: Edward G. Robinson, Francis Lederer, George Sanders, Paul Lukas, Henry O'Neill
• Directors: Anatole Litvak
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: WB
• DVD Release Date: January 25, 2010
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003552QTU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,408 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Warner Bros. Digital Dist Release Date: 06/22/2011

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ~ Edward G. Robinson hunts Nazi Spies in America~VERY good~, December 30, 2009

By 

Molly "Wazoo Books" (Goshen, IN, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

PLOT: Nazi 5th columnists are busy stealing secrets. GREAT spy made before World War 2 Started~

G Man (FBI) Edward G. Robinson is very good as Ed Renard who is following the clues to Nazi 5th Columists (HIDDEN SPIES) who are busy stealing military secrets. We see the Nazi Network here in the USA~ busy promoting Prapaganda but also recruting German spies and PRO German Americans especially those connected with US war and military secrets under the clever guise of a German Social Network led by Dr. Kassell~ (Paul Lukas). He soon recruites Kurt Schneider (EXCELLENT FRANCIS LEDERER) as spy for hire who will do anything for money. Soon Schneider has his best friend a military officer stealing codes and plans and he passes them to his contact Franz Schleiger (George Sanders). We see how the German Propaganda Ministry sends phamplets, and spies on one ship and they circulate to pass on messages and pick up plans and ship them back to Germany. Mean while Dr. Kassell continues to rally more Nazi Sympathizers in meetings. We see how the spy net works and they cleverly use money, intimidation and FEAR to minpulate Americans to spy for them. The scenes of A Nazi Rally in Madison Square Garden that was actual footage blended in makes us very aware OF THE extent of the Pro German rallys. Renard (Robinson) shows how the FBI ferrited out the Nazis and American Spies. VERY good movie but the scene stealer here is Frances Lederer who has the SPY for hire down PERFECT. also EXCELLENT is DOROTHY TREE as Hilda Keinhauer~the VERY NAZI hairdesser who is busy spying on passengers and transporting Nazi Plans to and from Germany~ Told in a docudrama style it moves along and we see both the German Activities begin in German and how they cleverly move them to the USA~ glad they finally come out on DVD with this~
TRIVIA: Hitler swore he would excute everyone connected with this movie AFTER he invaded the USA~ security was tight during filming some actors slept on the Warner Brothers lots for safety and several German American actors delined roles in it fear reprisals for their familiy yet in Germany at the time. 5 STARS~ and staying there~ excellent docudrama filmed before the start of WW2~ based on actual event.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good crime drama..., March 27, 2010

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Confessions of a Nazi Spy (DVD)

...but if you watch this expecting Edward G. Robinson to be front and center during most of the film you will be disappointed. Robinson doesn't show up until two-thirds of the way into the movie, and even then he is not the center of attention. He is just the biggest star in this film as an F.B.I. agent trying to break up a Nazi spy ring in America.

Some people try to compare this film with the propaganda films of the HUAC era of the early 1950's, but there is one big difference - many of the incidents mentioned here are based on actual cases, and the Nazis did actually declare war on the U.S. In fact, American indifference to the growing Nazi menace in the late 1930's might have been the cause for the overreaction and Communist witch hunts of the early 1950's. Ironically, Edward G. Robinson himself was an object of those witch hunts.

With few well known stars, this film manages to spin an interesting and rather complex tale of Nazis in 1930's America, their strategy, and their individual weaknesses. In the case of Paul Lukas' Dr. Kassel, part of his problem is he wants to impress a young lady with whom he is involved. Being a Nazi leader makes him important in her eyes. In the case of Francis Lederer's Kurt Schneider, he thinks he is too important and too smart to be bogged down in the every day routine of making a living, although it is ironic that accumulating capital seems to be his central goal.

It's true that this film goes over the top at times, but it is still a fine example of film-making in that golden year of Hollywood, 1939. Highly recommended.

Do note that this is a Warner Archive DVD-R product, that there are no extra features, and that there are no chapter stops. You may only go forwards and backwards in ten minute increments. The video and audio are in very good shape, with no pixelation at least in my copy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "party" doesn't want criticism only total obedience!, July 9, 2010

By 

Skyhawk (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Confessions of a Nazi Spy (DVD)

Even though this is a documentary of real events, the film never forgets that it is a film and must entertain as well as teach. The story illustrates how insidious treachery is and how the enemy always comes disguised as a friend.

Old movies, like old photographs, should spark that "shock of recognition," reminding us that what we have been, we can be again.