Fritz Lang was a true great of European Cinema, creating genuine icons of the screen in movies such as the science fiction epic, Metropolis and the crime drama, M. With Spione (Spies), Lang tackles the spy thriller and in doing so presents the visual language that would go on to define the genre and inspire other iconic directors.
Spione is a complex and intriguing film, with so many twists and turns it is difficult to keep up. We are told the story of a beautiful Russian spy by the name of Sonja Baranikowa (Gerda Maurus), who seduces a German Colonel (Fritz Rasp), causing him to betray his country and divulge classified Secret Service information. Sonja works for a man called Haghi (Rudolf Klein-Rogge), who is looking to subvert a secret agent known as 326 and uncover a Japanese peace treaty. Unfortunately for Haghi, Sonja falls in love with 326 and a story of intrigue, blackmail and horror ensues.
The movie itself is a complicated watch. Lang appears to be working out the ideas that would later typify film noir and spy dramas, yet this is not a sketchbook of a film, but a fully realised espionage movie of the silent era. Spione is a highly influential work that other masters of cinema have drawn on, Stray Dog by Akira Kurosawa and Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps being two great examples. A run time of two and a half hours does hurt the picture, however, when a shorter, more succinct approach would have created a more memorable and enjoyable movie, despite its place in cinema history.
Unfortunately for modern movie going audiences, no original negatives of Spione survive. However, this DVD and Blu-ray restoration comes from a high quality nitrate copy that was restored in 2004, providing crisp and clear visuals that, despite the lack of an original print, make this release a worthwhile purchase for any Lang fans looking to delve deeper into his impressive catalogue.