Secret Agent (Gaumont, 1936). One Sheet (27" X 41").. ...

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Secret Agent (Gaumont, 1936). One Sheet (27" X 41").
In this, the second in director Alfred Hitchcock's "Spy" trilogy - including The 39 Steps and Sabotage - John Gielgud portrays British novelist Edgar Brodie who is surprised to learn that his death has been faked by a government agency. Under the assumed name of Richard Ashenden, he is then sent on a mission to kill a German agent stationed in Switzerland, accompanied by two intriguing companions: The General (Peter Lorre), a cold-blooded killer, and agent Elsa Carrington (Madeleine Carroll), who poses as his wife. When Ashenden and the General kill the wrong man, Elsa begins to question their mission, leading to a dramatic conclusion. Interestingly, this film marks a rare instance in which Hitchcock was pressured into substituting a lighter ending for the darker tone of the source material.
Made during the height of Hitchcock's pre-War British career, Secret Agent again utilizes some of the director's favorite plot devices, including those of mistaken identity and murder. The films Hitchcock made during this period would form the foundation for much of his later work, beginning in 1939 when he signed a seven-year deal with David O. Selznick and emigrated to America.
Based on the "Ashenden" stories of W. Somerset Maugham, paper from this title is so scarce as to be virtually non-existent; in nearly ten years of auctions, we have only ever offered a handful of pieces, and never a one sheet. The stone litho beauty offered here had a tear in the top left, wear with minor paper loss at the top fold, and trimmed borders, but expert professional restoration has returned this poster to its original glory. You'll want to get your bid in on this one now, as you may never have another chance to add this incredibly rare gem to your collection. Fine- on Linen.



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