When we think of spy films, minds automatically gravitate to the heavy hitters created in our modern era, such as the later James Bond films, the Jason Bourne franchise, or Tom Cruise's take on Mission: Impossible. In truth, all of these film franchises got their start by utilizing the stepping stones created by classic spy films from Hollywood's Golden Age.
This particular age ran from around 1915 to 1963 and is trademarked by its classic values, set pieces and epic creativity. Spy films of this particular time period aren't nearly as explosion-filled, budget-fueled or franchise-driven as the spy films of today, but they're still riveting and fun to watch.
The Guns Of Navarone (1961)
The fate of 2,000 trapped British soldiers hangs in the balance in The Guns Of Navarone, starring super-iconic actors David Niven, Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. After repeated attempts to rescue the soldiers is thwarted by the presence of two immensely powerful German cannons on top of Navarone Island, a new plot is hatched.
A six-man team is sent to infiltrate the island disguised as fishermen to destroy the guns and effect a rescue op. But a number of obstacles stand in their way, from German patrols and harsh terrain to even a possible saboteur within their ranks.
Stalag 17 (1953)
Even the most comfortable prison is still a prison. That's the premise behind Stalag 17, a film about a German internment camp housing American P.O.W.s who always seem to be one step behind their captors when it comes to escape attempts.
They soon determine that a leaker is among their ranks who is feeding intel to the Germans, allowing them to throw a monkey wrench into each new escape plot. While they suspect an obvious candidate is to blame, it quickly becomes apparent that someone else has turned traitor and must be unmasked.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
John Frankenheimer's masterpiece, The Manchurian Candidate, was a big draw in '62, driven primarily by excellent performances from a stellar cast that included the iconic Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, and Above The Law's Henry Silva.
The premise was a simple, but frightening one, involving a P.O.W. who becomes brainwashed by Communists in an effort to turn him into an unwitting assassin. It's a nail-biting thriller with a plausible real-world premise, which is perhaps the scariest notion of all.
Ministry Of Fear (1944)
This is one spy tale with a very unique premise. It's a story about Stephen Neale, a man who was just released from an asylum following the events of World War II. Before heading home to London, Neale wins a large cake from a local village and takes it with him on a train.
He's soon robbed of it and surmises that something of great value was in the cake, which led to it being stolen. When he investigates, he discovers a Nazi spy ring operating in the shadows. However, having just been released from a psychiatric facility, he doubts anyone would take him seriously.
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
This classic spy film is a nail-biter that focuses its entire premise on one impossible decision: allow a murder to take place or risk the life of one's child? It happens when the father of a vacationing family witnesses a murder in a Moroccan market and learns of a plot to assassinate a politician.
In order to guarantee his silence, his eight-year-old son is kidnapped and used as a blackmailing chip. With time running out, it's up to him and his wife to decide how to save their son and prevent a political assassination at the same time.
Saboteur (1942)
Master thriller director Alfred Hitchcock strikes again with this 1942 thriller about a man wrongfully accused of firebombing an aircraft factory. He must race across the continental United States in an effort to clear his name by locating the real saboteur - an anti-American Nazi fascist.
It's notable for being one of the few films of the time to operate at such a high speed, with barely a breath taken before the chase ensues again. It's a cat/mouse caper where the lines are blurred between who is the hunter and who is being hunted.
The 39 Steps (1935)
Paranoia is the driving force behind this Hitchcock spy thriller. Richard Hannay ends up going on the lam when he receives intel from a counter-espionage agent who was attacked and left for dead in his London flat. The nature of the information is dubious at best, and Hannay's only lead is a reference to the "39 Steps."
As he tries to unravel the mystery of what's going on, he quickly discovers a bigger plot involving a national security breach and the theft of top-secret information. It's uncharacteristically tense for a film made in 1935, and a testament to Hitchcock's strength as a filmmaker.
Notorious (1946)
Hot on the heels of the end of WWII came this film that took full advantage of the events of the war to create a classic spy film. The film centers on the character of Alicia Huberman, a German-American woman who learns that her father was a spy for the Nazi regime.
She's approached by a government agent and recruited to spy on her father's Nazi colleagues hiding out in Brazil. It's one part love triangle and one part espionage thriller, as Alicia straddles the line between two worlds and two men vying for her affections.
North By Northwest (1959)
Still one of the greatest spy films ever made, North By Northwest is also one of Alfred Hitchcock's most nail-biting. It's memorable for that iconic chase scene involving the lead character, Roger Thornhill, being chased by a crop duster in an empty stretch of land, with nowhere to hide.
The film centers around Thornhill being mistaken for a government agent by a group of spies out to eliminate him. As he attempts to make sense of what's happening, he gets dragged farther and farther down the rabbit hole. Masterfully shot, this is a must-watch for spy geeks.
From Russia With Love (1963)
Dr. No might have been the first film to put James Bond on the map, but From Russia With Love is the one that cemented his secret agent status. It was leaner, more focused, and more sure of itself in comparison to its immediate predecessor, and gave actor Sean Connery more room to maneuver the character.
The film had everything, including lavish locales, helicopter chases, catfights, train brawls, and of course, the standard array of dazzling MI6 vehicles and gadgets. To date, it's the definitive Connery-era 007 film, and one of the last great spy films from the Golden Age.