David Harding, Counterspy (1950)

A taut Cold War-era spy thriller where a Navy Commander goes undercover to root out a saboteur threatening national security.

David Harding, Counterspy - Movie Information

  • Release Year: 1950
  • Directed by: Ray Nazarro
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Action, Adventure
  • Age Rating (US): NR
  • Runtime: 1h 11m
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • Release Date (Theatrical): July 13, 1950 (United States - NR)
  • Production Companies: Columbia Pictures
  • Production Countries: United States of America

David Harding, Counterspy - Plot

A Counterspy in the US military is killed under suspicious circumstances. His friend, Jerry Baldwin, a Navy Commander, is assigned to replace him and stop a saboteur in a torpedo factory.

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David Harding, Counterspy - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Ray Nazarro

Main Cast

  • Willard Parker
  • Audrey Long
  • Raymond Greenleaf
  • Howard St. John
  • Alex Gerry
  • Harlan Warde
  • Anthony Jochim
  • John Dehner
  • Fred F. Sears

Writers

  • Clint Johnston
  • Tom Reed

Producers

  • Milton Feldman

David Harding, Counterspy - FAQs

What is David Harding, Counterspy about?

David Harding, Counterspy follows Navy Commander Jerry Baldwin, who steps in after a military counterspy is killed under mysterious circumstances. Assigned to infiltrate a torpedo factory, Baldwin races to unmask a dangerous saboteur before more damage can be done, blending espionage tension with wartime intrigue.

Who are the main actors in David Harding, Counterspy?

Willard Parker leads the cast as Commander Jerry Baldwin, with Audrey Long playing Betty Iverson. They're joined by Raymond Greenleaf, Howard St. John as the titular David Harding, John Dehner, and Fred F. Sears, among others rounding out this compact ensemble.

Is David Harding, Counterspy based on a true story?

The film draws its inspiration from the real-life David Harding, a figure associated with the popular American radio series Counterspy, which aired from 1942 onward. While the specific plot is fictional, the show's premise was rooted in wartime counterintelligence themes that resonated with Cold War-era audiences.

When was David Harding, Counterspy released?

David Harding, Counterspy was released on July 13, 1950, in the United States. It arrived during a particularly fertile period for spy and espionage films, as Cold War anxieties were shaping Hollywood's appetite for stories about sabotage, treachery, and covert operations.

Who directed David Harding, Counterspy?

Ray Nazarro directed David Harding, Counterspy. A prolific Columbia Pictures contract director, Nazarro was known for his efficient, fast-paced filmmaking style across westerns and genre pictures throughout the late 1940s and 1950s, making him a natural fit for this tight espionage thriller.

What genre is David Harding, Counterspy?

David Harding, Counterspy sits squarely in the Action and Adventure genres, with strong undercurrents of espionage and film noir. It blends the shadowy atmosphere of postwar spy thrillers with the brisk pacing typical of B-movie programmers from Columbia Pictures in the early 1950s.

How long is David Harding, Counterspy?

David Harding, Counterspy runs for 71 minutes, making it a lean, no-frills spy thriller that wastes no time getting to the action. Its compact runtime is characteristic of the B-movie programmers Columbia Pictures produced during this era, designed to entertain efficiently without overstaying their welcome.

What are some movies similar to David Harding, Counterspy?

If you enjoy David Harding, Counterspy, you might also like Illegal Entry (1949), a fellow postwar espionage thriller, or The Eiger Sanction (1975) for Cold War spy action. The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) shares a similar wartime sabotage premise, while Central Intelligence (2016) offers a more modern, comedic spy spin.

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