Contraband (1940) - Full Film

AKA "Blackout".
Early in World War II, Danish sea captain Andersen, delayed in a British port, tangles with German spies.
www.imdb.com/ti...

[@LouiseOC1]

Great film, a nice change to see Conrad Veidt as a hero for once! Thanks for posting it.

[@rwolfson1935]

Michael Powell, one of the great directors! One of the best films I've seen in ages. Fantastic upload, utterly charming!

[@junheceta268]

Fantastic film!!! Rom-com espionage, I love it. Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson had great chemistry both here and in Spy in Black. It must be remembered that, besides being a superb actor, Veidt was a dedicated anti-Nazi who left his native Germany after refusing to divorce hiswife, who was Jewish. He spe t the rest of his life supporting the Allied war effort and caring for children orphaned or left homeless by the London blitz. Like most actors who often played villains, he was in real life a kind hearted man. Sadky he died too soon. The film, I think, was shot in darkness in several key scenes because of the real blackouts in effect in England at the time

[@rescuepetsrule6842]

Fun with Conrad. Forget about the film quality and enjoy a true classic from the days when such things actually happened, although in a grim way. TY for the post!

[@maggiesmith2600]

This has been described as " a cross between a Hitchcock thriller and a romantic comedy - with bondage". There's something in that, all right. When the Captain threatens to clap his difficult passenger in irons if she doesn't obey him, she smirks as though she might find that a turn on. I don't usually care for Valerie Hobson, who is too stiff and stately for my taste, except in the two films she made with Conrad Veidt. ( The other is The Spy In Black.) Working with him seemed to liberate something inside her. They had so much chemistry together that the fact that he was literally twice her age - 46 to her 23 - didn't matter.

[@Laura-Lee]

A Fun Film. Good plot; good acting, good World War 2 action, wonderful oerformance by Conrad Veidt and a lot of tongue in cheek humor too. Thanks for the upload. Enjoy, Everyone. I did. L-L

[@loribrom8389]

Delighted to see bits from this film with Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson. Althought I have a VHS of it, it's nice to view a bit on youtube. What I like so much about this film is the bits of humor that were in it, especially with Veidt. It's a shame the world lost this actor in 1943 from a heart attack (hereditary), who knows what he could have accomplished after Casablanca.

[@mumandauntyglad]

Yes a great actor, and very likable actor

[@cleona130]

It's a shame the world lost the art of making fun exciting films with interesting story lines, well written and good dialogue.

[@JarrodCook93]

I'd like think that if he lived to his 70s then he would have been in The Great Escape as a camp guard.

[@susannebass]

Veidt was one of the greatest German actors in all time. His films are classic masterpieces! Thanks very much for posting.

[@tommytwogloves16]

I loved Conrad! A real German Hero!

[@1LSWilliam]

I simply love this movie, exuding good taste at every turn. Who knew that Contraband might be so immediately satisfying and uncomplicated?

[@corriepitt7630]

Great fun, this film -- and Conrad Veidt is wunderbar, as always. Too bad he and Valerie Hobson only made two films. Great chemistry. The Spy in Black is also great - but (spoiler alert) not so great an ending for Conrad Veidt at the end. He and Hobson reportedly got along famously in person as well. Their ease with each other makes their scenes scintillate. Thanks for this! P.S. I vote for restoration of this film.........

[@paulcaron400]

Ja vol wunderbar

[@180mph9]

Wow, wasn’t expecting that, a bit fuzzy but a great movie. Thanks for posting.

[@tonymarzocco8962]

Veidt, such a great actor! He never got an Oscar but he sure deserves the Iron Cross! LOL

[@russellgrenning1317]

Conrad Veidt (1893 - 1943) appeared in more than 100 movies in his lifetime beginning with silent movies in Germany including the first movie to ever portray homosexuality sympathetically in 1919. During the 1920s in Germany he was one of the best paid and most popular actors and had no trouble moving smoothly into talkies. In 1933 when the Nazis came to power he and his Jewish wife fled to the UK where he resumed his career. In 1941 he went to the USA after donating his life savings to the British government to help finance the war effort. Realising that he would be typecast as a Nazi character in the USA - notably as Major Strasser in Casablanca (1942) - he insisted that his contract include the provision that all such characters should be villains.

[@1LSWilliam]

Finely executed movie-making. Hopefully this excellent film can be restored.

[@cleona130]

Great film, way misunderstood! It only received a 1.5 star rating by TCM. Valerie Hobson is so elegant and wonderfully convincing as Mrs. Sorenson . A thoroughly entertaining performance by Hay Petrie, as Axel/Eric Skold! If you ever worked in a restaurant owned by a chef, you get twice the enjoyment! The musical score was amazing for this production. The only problem with the film is the quality of the filming. However, it was filmed during the war and very likely a black-out. I'd give the film 3.5 stars. Each time I watch it I find more to enjoy. Very clever. Thank you so much for the posting!

[@angela5783]

+Cleona Harrot as i read what you, cleona, wrote, i feel as if you pealed the words right off my tongue. you keep writing & i won't need to; just to read you. muah

[@cleona130]

+Angie Pelavinoo hi I just saw your post. another favorite of mine with Valerie Hobson is Adventures of Tartu starring Robert Donat. FYI if you haven't seen it

[@emmettecraft]

Conrad Veidt was an awesome actor....Germany's best ever!

[@morganjones1966]

Great not seen this film in ages I love the old ones

[@1LSWilliam]

"Vikings do not need a reason to fight," a perfect justification for what happens next.

[@k.g.j.2404]

Überhaupt gibt's ja keine Männer mit Klasse mehr, aber Conrad der war super schön und ahhhh traumhaft

[@michaelmatthewkomaromigabr9588]

ANOTHER GOOD MOVIE FROM THE PAST

[@bruceghent8776]

Wonderfully witty film. Suspense and comedy.

[@thatguyinelnorte]

"H11" was not HMS Leopard. It was HMS Basilisk, a B-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy around 1930. Initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, she was transferred to the Home Fleet in 1936. The ship escorted convoys and conducted anti-submarine patrols early in World War II before participating in the Norwegian Campaign. Basilisk was sunk by German aircraft during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. So essentially right after the film was released...

[@1LSWilliam]

Imagine the Viking blood still flowing in a "very tough" Danish captain. Love it.

[@akarpowicz]

Wouldn't it have been faster to send the message via airmail or encrypted cable? Of course, then we wouldn't have needed Veidt and all those great character actors. Great movie.

[@maggiesmith2600]

I have never cared for Valerie Hobson. She's too stiff and stately for my taste, except in the two movies she made with Conrad Veidt: Contraband and The Spy in Black. He somehow brought out something playful and sexy in her. Their chemistry was so intense that the fact that he was literally twice her age ( 46 to her 23) doesn't matter . Contraband has been described as " a cross between a Hitchcock thriller and a screwball comedy - with bondage." which just about sums it up. Notice that when Veidt threatens to clap Hobson in irons, she smirks, as though she might find that a turn-on ; - ) .

[@Macmark]

Great stuff...fun to see Conrad "Major Strasser" Veidt as a good guy. Just watched Night Train to Munich with Paul "Victor Lazlos" Henreid as a Nazi. Thanks for the upload!

[@jrcadet4]

It's interesting to recall that Conrad Veidt was resolutely anti-Nazi, and fled to England a week after marrying Illona Prager (she was Jewish). But while back in Germany to finish a film, Veidt was detained by the Gestapo until his British manager could arrange to get him safely out. It readily explains why he gave such powerful performances playing Nazi villains---he'd seen the real thing at terrifyingly close range.

[@cleona130]

Mark I loved Mr. Veidt in "Dark Journey" with Vivian Leigh. Love it.

[@jimclark6256]

If you want the passengers to wear a life jacket, then you need your crew to wear them. It's called leading by example . Loses any creditably quickly when the captain goes to hunt the passengers. He has no authority off his ship.

[@diabolomenthe4921]

Nice movie and actors

[@1LSWilliam]

You could not beat the Brits, until today. They are beaten, cowed into sumission, and have lost their way.

[@1LSWilliam]

"Submission." I make too many typos and I apologize.

[@jimclark6256]

The only thing the British could beat was people armed with spears. They certainly did not beat anyone in ww1 and 2.

[@GrumpyYank26]

I wish there was a remastered version avail somewhere?

[@cleona130]

Oh yes, the floor shows were hardly Busby Berkeley, very funny to a classic movie watcher. Be sure to watch the scene where the fight begins. The ladies in the band stand up and their legs stay sitting with legs crossed! I didn't notice it until I had watched it the third time.

[@davidnorcross1384]

+Cleona Harrot yes, it's great, about 1:16:17

[@gerrygeorge1468]

Dear Cleona, that was *deliberate*; novelty-sets like that being common-place decor in good-class night clubs, then, as opposed to now, and particularly before WWII, when the predominantly upper-class clientele were very different to the cosmopolitan multifarious classes of people who patronise today's understanding of night clubs. The girls in the band were merely sitting in front on this *fence*-type, painted-plywood façade. Best wishes. Gerry.

[@chriscaraway3625]

Veidt and Hobson are great, as are the supporting players. TCM hasn't a clue.

[@cleona130]

of course, but I think it was in part Michael Powell's sense of humor that included that scene as was the cleverness of his direction of the restaurant scene. I worked in a very fine restaurant very similar years ago and it was just like that. I wonder if he worked in a restaurant before becoming a director?

[@BoPeep8]

The images are too blurry for comfortable viewing. What a pity! Perhaps the film has been restored elsewhere?

[@WJack97224]

Thanks for posting this movie. BTW, what is the name of that tune that is repeated throughout the movie?

[@abhijitmukherjee720]

Old is Gold always

[@1LSWilliam]

Delightfully malicious equally to all.

[@emilyr8668]

That was so cute!

[@kathykang1123]

HELL YRAH IT WAS

[@emilyr8668]

@@kathykang1123 you didn't even finish it yet stfu

[@sarge505050]

This movie was filmed in Fuzzovision

[@ralphshelley9586]

Even better.

[@kennethbooker4955]

Another British film good cast romance

[@Maria-ej5hh]

Gracias 👌🏾

[@philipinchina]

Wonderful fun but a sad ending.

[@1LSWilliam]

Where to? "The Vikings," of course, that is, "The Three Vikings" for those who know London. One delightful bit of British humour after the next.

[@Moronvideos1940]

I downloaded this

[@davidnorcross1384]

+Moronvideos1940 congrats

[@MrUhwoody]

A-1 Flick.

[@bluefish4580]

Great film! Shame about the period stereotypes at the night club but that was 70 years ago now!!

[@luisabosso8591]

entertaining but lousy resolution.

[@voicequest]

seems to me that claud rains played a small role in this movie?

[@maggiesmith2600]

I didn't see him, but Peter Bull and Leo Genn play The Brothers Grimm.

[@michaeldanello3966]

A few friends of mine frequently confuse Claude Raines with Leo Genn, who played Grimm in this film. Personally I think there is more of a resemblance to Robert Newton -- side profile

[@mancerayder3382]

I thought it was Rains the whole time I was watching the film. The accent is different but sometimes actors are good at disguising their voices.

[@Wotdermatter]

Pennant H11 was designated to a submarine, not a surface vessel. H.M.S. Leopard, pennant F14 was an anti aircraft frigate. Strange how film makers get away with so much poetic licence.

[@holmanrw]

How could I not have thought of that before, they could have even found some excuse to list all RN ships with there recognition codes. Just the job in the middle of a war.

[@thatguyinelnorte]

H11 was HMS Basilisk, a B-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy around 1930. Initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, she was transferred to the Home Fleet in 1936. The ship escorted convoys and conducted anti-submarine patrols early in World War II before participating in the Norwegian Campaign. Basilisk was sunk by German aircraft during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.