The Secret of Stamboul

The Secret of Stamboul
Directed byAndrew Marton
Written by
Based onThe Eunuch of Stamboul by Dennis Wheatley
Produced byRichard Wainwright
Starring
CinematographyHenry Harris
Edited byInman Hunter
Music byAllan Gray
Production
company
Richard Wainwright Productions
Distributed byGeneral Film Distributors
Release date
  • 6 October 1936 (1936-10-06)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Secret of Stamboul (also known as The Spy in White[1]) is a 1936 British thriller film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Valerie Hobson, James Mason and Frank Vosper.[1] It was written by Laslo Benedek, George A. Hill, Noel Langley, Andrew Marton, Richard Wainwright and Howard Irving Young, based from the 1935 novel The Eunuch of Stamboul by Dennis Wheatley. It was made at Shepperton Studios. The screenplay concerns a British agent who tries to thwart a revolution.

After the success of The Spy in Black, also starring Valerie Hobson, the film was re-released as The Spy in White.

Plot

A British agent travels to Istanbul (Stamboul) to try to thwart a revolution.[2]

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The story is simply and clearly developed. There are two good performances: Valerie Hobson as Tania gets right inside her somewhat tedious role; and Frank Vosper as Kazdim, in a remarkable make-up, embodies a terrifying, macabre villain. ... The film will thrill all types of audience. Never dull, often sinister, it is fragrant with the triumph of good over evil."[3]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Cast in the old Lyceum mould, this melodrama is many years behind the times in sentiment, character-drawing and treatment. The idea that all Guards officers are true-blue and that every person by the name of Ali is a lecherous cut-throat, died a lingering death soon after the story first saw the light of day in the 'nineties. Its theatrical histrionics and artless flamboyancy may, however, thrill the industrial element, but outside of un-sophisticated circles it is too much of a museum piece to be regarded as other than a doubtful booking proposition."[4]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Presented on hearty lines, with hero emerging triumphant even after being thrown down dizzy depths of oubliette to ocean-bed, action introduces kidnapping, black-jacking and garrotting, and culminates in vigorous shots showing suppression of revolt by power-thirsty potentate. Superbly photographed Stamboul exteriors make attractive canvas, with acting on suitably 'heroic' plane. "[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Secret of Stamboul". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "The Secret of Stamboul (1936)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009.
  3. ↑ "The Secret of Stamboul". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 3 (25): 170. 1 January 1936. ProQuest 1305798914.
  4. ↑ "The Secret of Stamboul". Kine Weekly. 236 (1539): 31. 15 October 1936. ProQuest 2339735790.
  5. ↑ "The Secret of Stamboul". The Daily Film Renter (2978): 6. 8 October 1936. ProQuest 3303351017.
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