A New York gangster finds his patriotism when he stumbles upon a nest of Nazi spies operating on his turf.
Broadway gambler “Gloves” Donahue (Humphrey Bogart) is drawn into a world of international espionage after the murder of a German friend. His amateur investigation leads him from shady bakeries to fifth-column auctions, where he discovers a network of Nazi saboteurs plotting an attack. Along the way, he encounters the sinister Pepi (Peter Lorre) and a collection of thugs and schemers. With his own crew in tow, Donahue must disrupt the spies’ plans before they can execute their deadly mission against an American battleship.
This wartime picture uses the machinery of a gangster film to create a unique patriotic comedy. The script delights in placing its streetwise protagonist in the unfamiliar world of spies, allowing stars Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre to send up their established hardboiled screen personas. The combination of suspense and broad comedy is played for laughs, with the criminals proving to be more effective defenders of the nation than the official authorities. The film is also notable for an early career performance from Phil Silvers as a frantic waiter.
Production Co: Warner / 107 minutes / 1942
Main Cast: Humphrey Bogart (‘Gloves’ Donahue), Conrad Veidt (Ebbing), Kaaren Verne (Leda Hamilton), Jane Darwell (Mrs. Donahue), Frank McHugh (Barney), Peter Lorre (Pepi), Judith Anderson (Madame), William Demarest (Sunshine), Jackie Gleason (Starchy), Phil Silvers (Waiter)
