Secret Command

Secret Command

Year: 1944

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: A. Edward Sutherland

WarActionDrama

Sam Gallagher returns to Los Angeles as a Navy undercover operative, taking a job at the shipyards where his brother Jeff works as a foreman. Jeff resents Sam’s past abandonment and fears Sam will win back Lea Damaron, Jeff’s girlfriend and Sam’s former love. While Sam hunts Nazi saboteurs in the plant, he grows closer to Jill McGann, an agent posing as his wife, deepening the intrigue.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Secret Command (1944)

Trace every key event in Secret Command (1944) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Sam joins the shipyard undercover

Sam Gallagher lands a position at the shipyard during World War II, with his brother Jeff reluctantly helping him secure the job. Unbeknownst to Jeff, Sam is actually an undercover intelligence officer assigned to root out saboteurs among the workers. The arrangement sets the stage for a clandestine operation under the guise of normal wartime labor.

Beginning of assignment Shipyard
2

Thane assigns a pretend family for cover

Thane orders Sam to present a cover family: Jill McGann as his wife and refugees Joan and Paul as his children. This ruse is meant to help Sam blend in and track suspects without arousing suspicion. The plan also uses Jill as part of the cover and complicates personal relationships.

Early in assignment Thane's office / shipyard
3

Miller warns of enemy agents and an imminent plan

Miller discloses that Lessing, the yard's boss, and the safety inspector are actual enemy agents. He warns that the saboteurs are plotting something significant the day after the carrier arrives. He also hints at the broader danger while proving he cannot fully trust the information.

Before the big day Shipyard
4

A saboteur loosens a crane bolt

One saboteur loosens a large bolt on a crane, undermining the machine as it moves a heavy piece of equipment. The unsecured bolt endangers workers and escalates the tension of the undercover operation. The act signals that a larger conspiracy is in play.

During crane operation Shipyard – crane area
5

Jeff falls, Sam rescues him from the water

As the crane operation continues, the bolt falls and Jeff struggles high above the water. Sam dives in and pulls his unconscious brother from the surge, risking his cover to save family. The rescue moment deepens the bond between brothers and raises the stakes for Sam's mission.

During crane incident Shipyard waterfront
6

Simms confronts Sam at his home

Simms, another saboteur, recognizes Sam from his past escape from a German camp. He follows Sam to his home and corners Sam and Jill at gunpoint. The confrontation exposes the danger of the ring and sets up the retaliatory action.

Night Sam's home
7

Jill kills Simms; death staged as accident

Jill strikes Simms with an object, killing him. The death is staged to look like a car accident and buys the team time to regroup. The dramatic event underscores the risk to Sam's cover and the imminent discovery by the spies.

Immediately after confrontation Sam's home
8

Espionage ring gathers; Brownie revealed as leader

The spy ring retreats to a remote location and considers their next move as they realize the danger is mounting. They confirm that their real leader is Gestapo Colonel Hugo Von Braun, nicknamed Brownie. This revelation shifts the focus to a single mastermind coordinating the network.

Before the big day Remote location
9

Von Braun silences Miller

Von Braun kills Miller before Miller can reveal crucial information about the ring or its plans. The deception continues as the mastermind tightens his grip over the operation. Sam loses a potential ally, heightening the tension ahead of the final act.

Shortly after the remote meeting Remote location
10

Red Kelly is shot; Brownie identity revealed

In the darkness at Sam's home, Von Braun shoots Red Kelly by mistake, who dies but manages to tell Jill that the shooter was Brownie. The misdirection intensifies the sense that the mastermind is close and dangerous. Jill now has a concrete lead on Brownie's identity.

Night Sam's home
11

Arrests at the shipyard; Brownie exposure

Thane and his men arrest the saboteurs they know are active just as they catch them in the act. Jill rushes to tell Sam that Brownie is among the conspirators. The net tightens around the ring as the day of the sabotage approaches.

Day of the capture Shipyard
12

Final showdown: Brownie activates the bomb

Von Braun activates a bomb as a final show of force, but Sam confronts him in a struggle that ends in the water. Sam drowns Brownie and prevents the explosion just in time. The shipyard's safety is saved and the operation is foiled.

Final act Harbor / shipyard waters
13

Sam and Jill: the pretend family becomes real

In the aftermath, Sam chooses to keep the pretend family and proposes to Jill, who accepts. The mission ends with a personal, hopeful resolution rather than just a professional victory. The war-time romance births a new family amid the danger they endured.

After events Sam's home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:38

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