Counterspy Goes to the Movies

 

The radio show Counterspy ran from 1942 to 1957. Right smack in the middle of that run, there was a movie version made. 

During World War II, the radio Counterspy usually had David Harding (who ran a fictional anti-espionage bureau) chasing down Axis spies. After the war, the show took on a Cold War vibe. Interesting, the movie--a Cold War-era product released in 1950--flashes back to World War II, with Harding's men working to take out a spy ring set up in a factory making newly designed torpedoes.

Harding is pretty sure the accidental death of a Naval officer wasn't so accidental. He has another officer assigned to him--a guy who knew the dead man and was, in fact, an old flame of the man's widow.

That could be good or bad, depending on whether the widow is working with the Nazis.

David Harding Counterspy sometimes plods along too slowly, especially considering it only runs for 67 minutes. But it still manages to entertain. It has an effective Film Noir look to it and the plot does unfold in a logical manner. Willard Parker is essentially the lead as the Navy guy, but Howard St. John shines as Harding. In several scenes, he feels obligated to bawl out one or more of his men. And he is fun to listen to when he's mad--provided you are not the person being yelled at. Also, the movie has more fun showing off some then-modern surveillance equipment. 

Character actor John Dehner, who plays an agent good at accents and imitating voices, adds another level of fun to the movie.

So if you get a chance to see David Harding Counterspy, go for it.