British Agent Reviews

In this technically and artistically terrific yarn about espionage during the early days of the Russian revolution, Leslie Howard and Kay Francis handle their curious star roles with power and conviction. Howard is British consul-general in Russia just before the Bolshevik takeover of the Czarist government. Russia wanted to break away from the Allies in WW I and sign a separate peace treaty with the Germans, who would then help fight the revolutionaries. Howard is so determined in his belief that Russia must remain an ally that, against his government's orders, he wages a one-man war on Bolshevism. Enter Francis, secretary to Lenin (Tenen Holtz). Howard accidentally saves her life and they fall in love. The romance continues through the revolution, although Francis is pitted against Howard politically, but she finally gives him information that is supposed to lead to his death. In a contrived finish--the only lapse in the story--Francis joins Howard in a building which is to be blown up, and both of them with it; they are saved when soldiers drop everything to celebrate the news that Lenin, who has been shot by a fanatic, will live. Howard's performance is superb, and good work is performed by the supporting cast; William Gargan, in a comic role, is outstanding.