Plot: What’s it about?
Films like “Foreign Correspondent” should be required viewing for everyone growing up in the generation of diminishing cinematic returns. I’ll be honest – I began this movie with more than a little apprehension. How much tension could a spy film made in 1940 really provide for someone raised on the kind of high octane, pulse-pounding action roller coasters of the past quarter of a century? I am pleased on so many levels to say that not only were my worries unfounded, but that they were quickly forgotten as I was swept away by a great film. I am so thankful to have been introduced to this movie. There’s more story, character development, and plot twists in this film’s first half hour than in most pictures coming out today, and I was astounded at how effortlessly it reeled me in right from the start. You won’t find a single uninteresting character or an extraneous plot point anywhere in this movie, and it’s a testament to Hitchcock that this one holds up so well for today’s impatient audiences (of which I am admittedly an occasional member). Political intrigue, international spies, government conspiracies…it’s all here and more in one of the best early action films I’ve ever seen.
To delve too deeply into the plot would only serve to undermine the film, as so much of its effectiveness relies on its many twists, turns and surprises. I must admit that I found myself fully immersed in the action – and even the more subdued scenes – of this film. The performances are phenomenally well executed by everyone involved, particularly given the nature of this movie’s dialogue, which is in the rapid-fire style made more common in today’s films. In “Foreign Correspondent”, though, this was unexpectedly innovative, making things move much more realistically throughout. There are countless episodic adventures sprinkled through the film’s 120 minute running time, and I got the distinct sense while watching that I was witnessing something very special. Not only does this film keep one’s interest, but it also gives one the impression its being highly influential in later years, particularly in today’s action movies. The main character’s name is even Jones, which had the natural side effect of making me think of a more contemporary correspondent of sorts. Of course, all of this suspense depends upon good direction and a solid peripheral story. Well, I’m happy to say that this film doesn’t disappoint in that regard, either.
There are plenty of things going on here, from the intrepid reporter turned hero in prewar Europe determined to get his story to a love story that I never felt was contrived or forced in any way. Several plots are interspersed here, and it more than maintains the intended sense of kinetic fluidity without bogging the film down in its own complexity. Everyone is given something interesting to do onscreen, and no one is wasted for the sake of filler or needless information. This is storytelling at its best, and I was consistently fascinated throughout that such a balance could be executed so expertly. But then again, we’re talking about a Hitchcock film here, and his stamp is on every exchange, every set piece, and indeed in every scene. Special mention should be made of the incredible cinematography in this picture, which holds up very well even by today’s standards. It’s amazing to me what was accomplished back before filmmakers had the technical advances of today at their disposal. It would be quite educational to see a master like Hitchcock direct a movie without limitations. I never felt for a moment that this film was hampered by a lack of production value. “Foreign Correspondent” makes me realize why I believe so strongly that films have gone downhill in recent years. Just look at what can be accomplished with real skill and vision. It’s on display here for all to see.
Video: How does it look?
Presented here in a full frame aspect ratio of 1.37:1, “Foreign Correspondent” looks rather good, all things considered. The contrast problem of other films in this collection is thankfully gone, and detail level is excellent for a film of this age. I noticed no edge enhancement to detract from the viewing experience, and compression problems seem to have been handled very well. The only problem here is the rather obtrusive level of debris present in the film print itself. Though no fault of the transfer, these are more prevalent than one would hope for and do serve to distract quite a bit. I also noticed one other problem. At roughly 65 minutes into the film, a jittering problem occurs in the frame that lasts over five minutes of screen time. This is extremely annoying and must have been overlooked in the mastering process. Other than the few problems noted here, however, this is a decent effort here from Warner.
Audio: How does it sound?
All right, I must say on a personal note that I’m finding it a creative challenge to find new and better ways describe the limited effectiveness of the Dolby Digital 2.0 mono soundtracks in this collection. Suffice it to say that, although this is an action-oriented film, the story speaks for itself and will make you forget that you’re hearing mono in the first place. The dialogue comes in crisp and clean with minimal distortion even in the score, which can be overwhelming at times. This track does what it sets out to do: it presents the film in its original audio format without detracting from the experience. There’s nothing to disappoint fans of the film here. Of course, there’s nothing to blow your hair back, either. Short of a future 5.1 remix, this is the best this film will likely ever sound at home.
Supplements: What are the extras?
If you’ve picked up any of the films in the Hitchcock Collection, then you know about what to expect here. A documentary, “Personal History: Foreign Hitchcock”, is included here, and it’s quite good for what it is. Running a bit longer than the other documentaries that have been included in this collection, this one delves a bit deeper into the personal reasons why Hitchcock made the film and how his real life may have influenced certain scenes. Again, a very well made documentary that won’t disappoint anyone but the most knowledgeable Hitch fanatics. As a nice bonus, the quite effective original theatrical trailer is also included.
