The Secret of Stamboul

1936 1h 33m EN

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 2

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A man travels to Istanbul to try and prevent a revolution.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Valerie Hobson
Tania
Frank Vosper
Kazdim
James Mason
Larry
Kay Walsh
Diana
Peter Haddon
Peter
Laura Cowie
Baroness
Cecil Ramage
Prince Ali
Robert English
Sir George

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Andrew Marton
Writers: Richard Wainwright
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

90 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Andrew Marton, shot by Henry Harris. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Allan Gray. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Inman Hunter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Valerie Hobson and Frank Vosper and James Mason carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0028233 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Andrew Marton directs. Henry Harris behind the camera. Allan Gray scores. Inman Hunter cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Andrew Marton, shot by Henry Harris. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Allan Gray. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Inman Hunter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Valerie Hobson and Frank Vosper and James Mason carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0028233 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Henry Harris
Original score: Allan Gray
Editing: Inman Hunter
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Secret of Stamboul (1936)

Also by

Andrew Marton

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-06-19
★ 6/10
James Mason is "Larry" - a British agent sent on a top secret mission to Turkey. He is soon amidst a conspiracy to dethrone the Sultan and he hasn't a clue whom he can trust. Valerie Hobson - "Tania", an aristocratic refugee from the Russian revolution; Frank Vosper - the superbly seedy "Kazdim" and/or Kay Walsh ("Diana") - take your pick. There are a few (fairly obvious) twists in the story, and the plot has little by the way of jeopardy, but the writing (adapted from the Wheatley novel "The Eunuch of Stamboul") is decent enough and Mason is on good form as the dapper and intrepid spy who has shades of the swashbuckler about him. It's all a bit formulaic, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Production companies