Three Faces East | 1930 | Spy, Drama

Описание: Title: Three Faces East | 1930 | Spy, Drama
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Starring: Constance Bennett, Erich von Stroheim, Anthony Bushell, William Courtenay, Charlotte Walker, Ullrich Haupt, Paul Panzer
Release Date: August 26, 1930
Runtime: 71 minutes
Format: Black and white; sound film
Country: United States
Language: English
Genres: Spy, Drama, War

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Chapters:
00:00:00 British estate and wartime intrigue
00:12:00 Nurse arrives with coded intentions
00:24:00 Butler’s hidden allegiance
00:36:00 Suspicion and double play
00:48:00 Love and deception
01:00:00 Climactic reveal and finale

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Summary:
Set during World War I, Three Faces East follows Frances Hawtree, a German spy sent to England under the guise of a British nurse to infiltrate the household of a high-ranking naval official. While there, she seeks to uncover secret information that could tip the balance in favor of Germany. Unknown to the family, their seemingly loyal butler, Valdar, is also a German agent. As Frances navigates her assignment, shifting loyalties, hidden identities, and romantic tensions complicate her mission. The coded phrase “three faces east” ties the web of espionage together amid deception and counter-intelligence maneuvers, ultimately leading to revelations that reshape trust and strategy.

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Background:
Produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Three Faces East was directed by Roy Del Ruth and released in 1930. The screenplay, adapted from a popular 1918 Broadway play about espionage during the Great War, reflects early sound cinema’s engagement with spy narratives and stage-influenced dialogue. The film exemplifies the pre-Code era’s willingness to blend suspense, romance, and wartime intrigue against the backdrop of global conflict.

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Trivia:
The story is based on a 1918 Broadway play of the same name and had previously been filmed in 1926 as a silent picture.

Erich von Stroheim portrays a seemingly humble butler whose true identity as a spy adds tension and ambiguity to the narrative.

Constance Bennett’s role as Frances Hawtree positions her as a complex female agent whose true allegiance unfolds over the course of the story.

The title refers to a coded counter-sign used among operatives to signal recognition and allegiance.

The film was later remade in 1940 under the title *British Intelligence*.

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Public Domain / Rights:
Original Release: August 26, 1930
Original Studio / Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Copyright Status: Public Domain
Renewal: Unknown

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Hashtags:
ThreeFacesEast1930 PublicDomain ConstanceBennett ErichVonStroheim WarnerBros SpyDrama ClassicFilm FilmHistory