Yellow Canary *** (1943, Anna Neagle, Richard Greene, Nova Pilbeam, Lucie Mannheim, Cyril Fletcher, Albert Lieven, Margaret Rutherford, Valentine Dyall, Ferdy Mayne) – Classic Movie Review 13,690  

Anna Neagle stars as a British socialite who poses as a Nazi supporter to track down spies and obtain secrets for the Allies in World War Two, in the 1943 British wartime drama film Yellow Canary.

Producer/ director Herbert Wilcox’s 1943 British wartime drama film Yellow Canary is based on a story by P M Bower, and stars Anna Neagle, Richard Greene, Nova Pilbeam, Lucie Mannheim, Cyril Fletcher, Albert Lieven, Margaret Rutherford, Valentine Dyall, and Ferdy Mayne.

Anna Neagle stars as British society girl Sally Maitland, who poses as a Nazi supporter to track down spies and obtain secrets for the Allies during the Second World War. She leaves England for Canada where a Royal Navy spy, Lieutenant Commander Jim Garrick (Richard Greene), is sent after her and she is embroiled in a German plot to blow up the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dame Anna goes briskly and capably through her paces, with a good cast to back her, in this decent, sturdy, often exciting espionage thriller, neatly directed by the star’s husband Herbert Wilcox, who keeps up the tension. Albert Lieven and Lucie Mannheim entertain as Polish officer Jan Orlock and Madame Orlock, leaders of a Nazi spy ring, and Nova Pilbeam is appealing as Betty Maitland. And, yes, Margaret Rutherford does some expert scene-stealing as Mrs Towcester.

It premiered in London on 19 October 1943.

Anna Neagle’s character has obvious similarities to the pro-Nazi British dilettante Unity Mitford.

Greene was in the armed forces and appeared in the film while on furlough.

Most of the film was shot at Denham Film Studios (D&P Studios), near Denham, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Neagle and Wilcox turned their professional relationship here into a personal one after filming and married on 9 August 1943.

Cast: Anna Neagle, Richard Greene, Nova Pilbeam, Albert Lieven, Lucie Mannheim, Cyril Fletcher, Margaret Rutherford, Valentine Dyall, Ferdy Mayne Claude Bailey, Patric Curwen, Marjorie Fielding, Aubrey Mallalieu, David Horne, George Thorpe, John Longden, David Ward, Eliot Makeham, Ian Fleming, Gerry Wilmot, Leslie Dwyer, Franklin Dyall, Sybille Binder, Grace Allardyce, Edgar Driver, Anthony Estrel, Gordon McLeod, Winifred Oughton.

Yellow Canary is directed by Herbert Wilcox, runs 96 minutes (US cut version 84 minutes), is made by Imperator [Herbert Wilcox Productions], is released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by DeWitt Bodeen and Miles Malleson, based on a story by P M Bower, is shot in black and white by Max Greene, is produced by Herbert Wilcox, and is scored by Clifton Parker.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,690

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