Confessions of a Nazi Spy

Confessions of a Nazi Spy is a 1939 American spy thriller film and the first blatantly antiNazi film produced by a major Hollywood studio prior to World War II. The film stars Edward G. Robinson, Francis Lederer, George Sanders, and a large cast of German actors, including some who had emigrated from their country after the rise of Adolf Hitler. Though the film can be seen as propaganda, it was based on the articles of former FBI agent Leon G. Turrou, who had been active in investigating Nazi spy rings in the United States prior to the war, and lost his position at the Bureau when he published the articles without permission.

Dr. Karl Kassel Paul Lukas comes to America to rally support for the Nazi cause among German Americans. He instructs his audience at a German restaurant that the Fhrer has declared war on the evils of democracy and that, as Germans, they should carry out his wishes. Kurt Schneider Francis Lederer, an unemployed malcontent, joins the cause and eventually becomes a spy for the group. A letter written by Schneider to a liaison in Scotland is intercepted by a British Military Intelligence officer James Stephenson, leading to the rings downfall.FBI Agent Ed Renard Edward G. Robinson is assigned to the case and is able to capture Schneider and extract a confession by flattering his ego. Through Schneider, Renard is led to Hilda Kleinhauer Dorothy Tree, then Kassels mistress Erika Wolff Lya Lys, and eventually the ringleader himself. While the FBI manages to capture many members of the ring and their accomplices, several, including Kassel, are secretly spirited back to Germany, but some ultimately face a worse fate there. ........

Source: Wikipedia