# Foreign Correspondent

> 1940 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock

**Wikidata**: [Q848388](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q848388)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Correspondent_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/foreign-correspondent

## Summary
*Foreign Correspondent* is a 1940 American spy thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, produced and distributed by Walter Wanger Productions and United Artists. The film follows an American crime reporter sent to Europe to cover the looming war, who becomes entangled in espionage and assassination plots. It was Hitchcock's second Hollywood film and earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: August 16, 1940 (United States)
- **Director**: Alfred Hitchcock
- **Producer**: Walter Wanger
- **Production Company**: Walter Wanger Productions
- **Distributor**: United Artists
- **Runtime**: 120 minutes
- **Language**: English
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Genre**: Spy film, thriller, mystery, drama, war film
- **IMDb ID**: tt0032484
- **Rotten Tomatoes Rating**: 96% (Tomatometer), 89/100 (Metacritic)
- **Academy Award Nominations**: 6 (including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay)
- **Wikipedia Sitelinks**: 40 language editions
- **Wikidata Description**: "1940 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock"

## FAQs
**What is the plot of *Foreign Correspondent*?**
The film follows American crime reporter Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea), who is sent to Europe as a foreign correspondent to cover the growing tensions before World War II. He becomes embroiled in a spy ring, investigates the assassination of a Dutch diplomat, and uncovers a conspiracy involving enemy agents.

**Who are the main cast members?**
The film stars Joel McCrea as Johnny Jones (Huntley Haverstock), Laraine Day as Carol Fisher, Herbert Marshall as Stephen Fisher, and George Sanders as ffolliott. Albert Bassermann plays Van Meer, the Dutch diplomat whose assassination triggers the plot.

**What awards and recognition did the film receive?**
*Foreign Correspondent* was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Albert Bassermann), and Best Original Screenplay (Charles Bennett and Joan Harrison). It won the National Board of Review Award for Best Film and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2020.

**How does *Foreign Correspondent* fit into Hitchcock's filmography?**
It was Hitchcock's second American film, following *Rebecca* (1940). The film showcases his signature suspense techniques and themes of mistaken identity, espionage, and ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. It is considered one of his early Hollywood masterpieces.

## Why It Matters
*Foreign Correspondent* matters as a landmark in Alfred Hitchcock's transition to Hollywood and his development of the spy thriller genre. Released on the eve of World War II, it captured the global anxiety of the era and served as both entertainment and political commentary. The film's innovative cinematography, including the famous assassination scene filmed during a rainstorm, influenced future thrillers. Its six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, cemented Hitchcock's reputation in American cinema. The film's preservation in the National Film Registry underscores its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance, ensuring its legacy for future generations.

## Notable For
- **Hitchcock's Hollywood Debut**: Second American film, establishing his style in Hollywood
- **Academy Recognition**: Six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture
- **Historical Context**: Released just before U.S. entry into WWII, reflecting contemporary tensions
- **Cinematic Innovation**: Features groundbreaking cinematography, including the assassination scene in the rain
- **Cultural Preservation**: Selected for the United States National Film Registry in 2020
- **Genre Influence**: Helped define the modern spy thriller and suspense film
- **Star Power**: Features early performances by Joel McCrea and George Sanders
- **Political Commentary**: Addresses themes of neutrality, espionage, and the rise of fascism

## Body

### Production and Release
*Foreign Correspondent* was produced by Walter Wanger Productions and distributed by United Artists, premiering in the United States on August 16, 1940. The film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, marking his second Hollywood project after *Rebecca* (1940). It was written by Charles Bennett and Joan Harrison, with cinematography by Rudolph Maté and editing by Dorothy Spencer. The film's score was composed by Alfred Newman.

### Plot and Themes
The story follows Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea), an American crime reporter who is sent to Europe as a foreign correspondent to cover the growing tensions before World War II. In Europe, he becomes entangled in a spy ring and investigates the assassination of a Dutch diplomat, Van Meer (Albert Bassermann). The film explores themes of espionage, mistaken identity, and the moral complexities of neutrality during wartime. It reflects the anxieties of its era, as the United States was still officially neutral but increasingly aware of the global conflict.

### Cast and Characters
The film features a notable cast:
- **Joel McCrea** as Johnny Jones / Huntley Haverstock, the American reporter
- **Laraine Day** as Carol Fisher, the daughter of a peace activist
- **Herbert Marshall** as Stephen Fisher, Carol's father and leader of a peace organization
- **George Sanders** as ffolliott, a fellow journalist and ally
- **Albert Bassermann** as Van Meer, the Dutch diplomat whose assassination triggers the plot
- **Robert Benchley** as Stebbins, a comical American reporter

### Cinematic Techniques and Innovations
Hitchcock employed several innovative techniques in *Foreign Correspondent*. The assassination scene, filmed during a rainstorm, is particularly famous for its use of water and umbrellas to obscure and reveal action, creating suspense and confusion. The film also features a climactic plane crash sequence, which was groundbreaking for its time in terms of special effects and editing. Hitchcock's use of long takes, point-of-view shots, and dramatic irony are all on display, helping to establish his signature style.

### Critical Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, *Foreign Correspondent* was both a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Albert Bassermann), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Special Effects, and Best Film Editing. Although it did not win in any category, the nominations underscored its quality and impact. The film won the National Board of Review Award for Best Film and has since been recognized as a classic of the thriller genre.

In 2020, *Foreign Correspondent* was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." This honor reflects the film's enduring importance in American cinema and its influence on subsequent generations of filmmakers.

### Genre and Influence
*Foreign Correspondent* is a hybrid of several genres: spy film, thriller, mystery, drama, and war film. It helped define the modern spy thriller, influencing later works in the genre with its blend of suspense, political intrigue, and action. The film's portrayal of an ordinary person caught up in extraordinary circumstances became a recurring theme in Hitchcock's work and in thrillers more broadly.

### Connections to Other Works
The film is part of Hitchcock's broader body of work exploring themes of mistaken identity, espionage, and the innocent man accused. It shares thematic and stylistic elements with other Hitchcock classics such as *The 39 Steps* (1935), *Saboteur* (1942), and *North by Northwest* (1959). The film also reflects Hitchcock's ongoing interest in the moral ambiguities of war and the role of the individual in global events.

### Preservation and Availability
*Foreign Correspondent* has been preserved in multiple formats, including 35mm film and digital restorations. It is available for viewing on various streaming platforms and has been released on DVD and Blu-ray by the Criterion Collection, ensuring its accessibility to new audiences. The film's inclusion in the National Film Registry guarantees its continued preservation for future generations.

### Historical and Cultural Context
Released in 1940, *Foreign Correspondent* arrived at a pivotal moment in world history. Europe was engulfed in World War II, and the United States was still officially neutral. The film's themes of espionage, the threat of fascism, and the moral imperative to act resonated with contemporary audiences. Hitchcock, a British expatriate, brought an outsider's perspective to the American film industry, and *Foreign Correspondent* reflects both his European sensibilities and his engagement with American political and cultural concerns.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032484/)
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