| Lancer Spy | |
| Director: | Gregory Ratoff |
| Producer: | Samuel G. Engel executive Darryl F. Zanuck |
| Based On: | novel by Marthe McKenna |
| Starring: | Dolores del Río George Sanders Peter Lorre Virginia Field Sig Ruman |
| Music: | Arthur Lange |
| Cinematography: | Barney McGill |
| Editing: | Louis R. Loeffler |
| Studio: | 20th Century Fox |
| Distributor: | 20th Century Fox |
| Runtime: | 78 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Lancer Spy is a 1937 American thriller film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Dolores Del Rio and George Sanders. Its plot concerns an Englishman who impersonates a German officer and a female German spy who falls in love with him.
Lancer Spy was based on a story written by Marthe McKenna, a Belgian woman who was a spy for England during World War I. She had previously written the 1932 memoir I Was a Spy, the basis of a 1933 film of the same title.[1]
Gregory Ratoff signed a contract with 20th Century Fox to write, produce and direct. The film was originally to star Michael Whalen[2] in the part that was eventually played by George Sanders.
French actor Germaine Aussey was to have made her American debut in the film but was replaced by Dolores del Río soon after filming began in May 1937.[3] [4] [5]
Peter Lorre was cast after his success in Think Fast, Mr Moto.[6] Fox bought his contract from the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation.[7]
Colin Clive, who had been cast in the film, collapsed during filming and died.[8]