Acting
Powell's effortless wit, Russell's rapid-fire banter.
Costume
Binnie Barnes's villainous glamour steals scenes.
Director
William K. Howard
William Powell
Lt. William 'Bill' Gordon / Anson Meridan
Rosalind Russell
Joel Carter
Binnie Barnes
Olivia Karloff
Lionel Atwill
Maj. William Brennan
Cesar Romero
Capt. Nicholas 'Nikki' Nieterstein
Samuel S. Hinds
John Carter, Assistant Secretary of War
Henry Stephenson
Russian Ambassador Gregory
Frank Reicher
Dr. R.A. Jackson
Charley Grapewin
Prof. Martin
Leonard Mudie
Roberts
Howard Hickman
G-Man
Charles Trowbridge
Secretary of War Baker
Murray Kinnell
de Segroff
Margaret Dumont
Mrs. Hendricks (uncredited)
Mary Forbes
Lady Cavendish (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sam Wood took over directing mid-production after William K. Howard fell behind schedule, yet the film maintains surprising visual coherence.
Released as Europe headed toward war, this glib treatment of espionage now reads as either escapist fantasy or willful naivety—your call.
US
