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The Secret Game (1917) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Secret Game (1917) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1917 · 67 mins
Directed by
William C. deMille
Starring
Jack Holt, Sessue Hayakawa, Raymond Hatton, Charles Ogle, Florence Vidor, Mayme Kelso

A leak in Major Northfield’s quartermaster office threatens American troop transports. Japanese detective Nara‑Nara is sent because his nation guarantees the ships’ safety. He blames Northfield, but the culprit is his secretary Kitty Little, a woman who passes info to Dr. Ebell Smith, an agent. Nara‑Nara falls for Kitty, then learns she is the leak.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (4)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (4)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like The Secret Game
  7. 7 Every angle

4 main characters · contains spoilers

The Secret Game Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Secret Game (1917), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Maj. John Northfield (Jack Holt)

    A principled military officer who hires Kitty to obtain ship sailing dates while balancing suspicion and affection. He tests Kitty with a blank letter to gauge her loyalty, and his careful judgment is tested as trust and duty collide. His feelings for Kitty complicate his decisions, and by the end, Kitty becomes his fiancée.

    • 🎖️ Military
    • 💘 Romance
    • 🔎 Suspense
  • Nara-Nara (Sessue Hayakawa)

    A clever Japanese spy pursuing German agents, wary of Northfield's honesty, and growing to love Kitty. He struggles between his loyalties and a personal code to keep his sword clean, leading him to try to take Kitty with him. His pursuit ends when he is killed by one of Smith's accomplices while going to examine Smith's body.

    • 🕵️ Spycraft
    • ❤️ Loyalty
    • ⚖️ Honor
  • Dr. Ebell Smith (Charles Ogle)

    A German spy and physician who orchestrates the operation, directing Kitty's covert activities. He manipulates the situation to obtain the shipping information, but is killed in a struggle by Nara-Nara, revealing the perilous nature of espionage.

    • 🎭 Deception
    • 🧠 Strategy
    • ⚔️ Conflict
  • Kitty Little (Florence Vidor)

    A German spy under Smith's direction who uses her charm to gather information about transport ship schedules. She grows to love Northfield and ultimately becomes a true American, marrying him as his fiancée. Her arc moves from covert agent to patriotic alignment amid wartime pressure.

    • 🎯 Espionage
    • 🇺🇸 Transformation
    • 💖 Romance

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 00:09

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Setting

Where and When Does The Secret Game Take Place?

The setting of The Secret Game (1917): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

World War I era (1914-1918)

Set during the World War I era, roughly 1914–1918, a time when nations mobilized and espionage could influence naval and transport movements. Covert communications and the race to control sailing dates defined the danger around civilians and military plans. The atmosphere is saturated with suspicion, shifting loyalties, and deadly consequences.

Location

United States

Set in the United States during World War I, the story unfolds amid a wartime climate where espionage and maritime secrecy shape the plot. The pursuit of transport ship schedules drives the tension, hinting at coastal or harbor operations. Loyalty, deception, and national duty collide as spies maneuver to protect or reveal information.

  • 🌎 United States
  • ⚔️ Wartime setting
  • 🛥️ Espionage backdrop

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 00:09

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4 major themes

The Secret Game Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Secret Game (1917) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Espionage and Deception

    The plot centers on espionage, with Kitty acting as a German spy under Smith's direction while Northfield uses her to glean ship schedules. Deception, misdirection, and guarded trust drive the tension as characters conceal true loyalties. The narrative probes how far people will go to protect or expose secrets in a wartime context.

  • Love and Loyalty

    Love complicates loyalty as Kitty and Northfield's bond grows amidst suspicion. Kitty's arc moves from covert operative to a true American, highlighting how affection can influence decisions under pressure. Northfield's concern for Kitty clashes with his duty, making their romance a central emotional thread. The resolution elevates devotion as Kitty becomes Northfield's fiancée.

  • Honor and Duty

    Nara-Nara operates within a personal code, striving to keep his sword clean even as he navigates betrayals. Northfield wrestles with balancing professional duty and personal trust, especially as his judgments about Kitty are tested. Smith embodies calculated ruthlessness in service of his mission, exposing the costs of loyalty during war. The clash of ethical codes propels the dramatic arc.

  • Conflict and Consequence

    Violence erupts as Smith is killed in a struggle with Nara-Nara, and Nara-Nara himself dies at the hands of Smith's accomplice. The fate of Kitty's brother in the German trenches underscores the war's brutal reach. The pursuit of information yields fatal outcomes, revealing characters' true natures under pressure.

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 00:09

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Character & theme questions

The Secret Game Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Secret Game (1917): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Secret Game set?

The film is set in the United States during World War I, specifically in a quartermaster office handling troop transport logistics. The story unfolds in a wartime climate of espionage and maritime secrecy, with coastal or harbor operations serving as the backdrop for the investigation.

  • world war 1
  • united states
  • setting
  • espionage
  • quartermaster
Q2

What time period is The Secret Game set in?

The film is set during the World War I era, roughly between 1914 and 1918. This was a period when nations mobilized extensively and espionage could significantly influence naval and transport movements.

  • world war 1
  • 1917
  • time period
  • era
  • 1914-1918
Q3

What are the main themes in The Secret Game?

The film explores several interconnected themes: espionage and deception as characters conceal true loyalties; love and loyalty as affection complicates wartime duties; honor and duty as characters wrestle with ethical codes; and conflict and consequence where pursuit of information yields fatal outcomes.

  • espionage
  • deception
  • love
  • loyalty
  • honor
  • duty
  • themes
Q4

Who is Nara-Nara in the movie?

Nara-Nara is a Japanese detective and spy sent to investigate the leak threatening American troop transports. His nation guarantees the ships' safety, driving his involvement. He operates within a personal code of honor, striving to keep his sword clean as he navigates betrayals.

  • nara-nara
  • japanese spy
  • detective
  • protagonist
Q5

Who is Kitty Little in The Secret Game?

Kitty Little is the secretary in Major Northfield's quartermaster office who becomes central to the espionage plot. Originally a German spy operating under Dr. Ebell Smith's direction, she uses her charm to gather information about transport ship schedules.

  • kitty little
  • secretary
  • spy
  • character
Q6

Who is Major Northfield?

Major John Northfield is a principled military officer who heads the quartermaster office where the security leak occurs. He hires Kitty Little to obtain ship sailing dates while balancing suspicion and affection. His careful judgment is tested as trust and duty collide throughout the investigation.

  • major northfield
  • military officer
  • quartermaster
Q7

What is the espionage story about in The Secret Game?

The plot centers on a leak in Major Northfield's quartermaster office that threatens American troop transports. Japanese detective Nara-Nara investigates, initially suspecting Northfield, but discovers the culprit is Kitty Little, a German spy passing information to Dr. Ebell Smith. Deception and misdirection drive the tension as characters conceal true loyalties.

  • espionage
  • leak
  • spy
  • german agent
  • investigation
Q8

How does love and loyalty play into The Secret Game?

Love complicates loyalty throughout the film. Kitty's relationship with Northfield evolves from espionage cover to genuine affection, ultimately leading her to abandon her spy duties. Nara-Nara also falls for Kitty, adding to the emotional complexity. The narrative explores how affection influences decisions under wartime pressure.

  • love
  • loyalty
  • romance
  • kitty northfield relationship
Q9

What is Nara-Nara's code of honor?

Nara-Nara operates within a personal code striving to keep his sword clean, that is, to act with honor even amid betrayals. This code reflects his Japanese background and shapes his decisions throughout the investigation, distinguishing him from the ruthless agents he pursues.

  • honor
  • code
  • nara-nara
  • japanese
  • sword
Q10

Who is Dr. Ebell Smith in The Secret Game?

Dr. Ebell Smith is a German spy and physician who orchestrates the espionage operation, directing Kitty's covert activities to obtain shipping information. He manipulates the situation to control the flow of secret transport schedules.

  • dr ebell smith
  • german spy
  • physician
  • mastermind
Q11

What is the tone of The Secret Game?

The film has a dominantly tense tone due to the espionage plot and constant suspicion surrounding characters. The atmosphere is saturated with shifting loyalties and deadly consequences. The emotional weight is medium, stemming from tragic deaths and Kitty's moral reformation, creating a bittersweet conclusion.

  • tone
  • tension
  • espionage
  • wartime
  • emotional
Q12

Why is the World War I setting important to the story?

The World War I era establishes the stakes and atmosphere driving the espionage plot. Covert communications and the race to control sailing dates defined real dangers around civilian and military plans. The wartime context creates the suspicion, shifting loyalties, and deadly consequences that shape every character's decisions.

  • world war 1
  • wartime
  • importance
  • setting
  • espionage

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Secret Game, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Secret Game tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Espionage and Moral Conflict Movies like The Secret Game

Spy thrillers where personal loyalties clash with duty. For viewers who enjoyed the spy drama and moral dilemmas of The Secret Game, this collection features movies about agents caught between duty and desire. Find similar tense thrillers where hidden identities and divided loyalties drive the plot.

  • espionage
  • suspenseful
  • moral dilemma
  • betrayal
  • deceptive
  • tragic
  • Tone: tense, morally complex
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow an agent or investigator whose mission becomes complicated by a personal connection to a suspect or target. The plot unfolds as they grapple with their conscience, often culminating in a resolution that sacrifices personal happiness for a greater good or results in poignant loss.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the moral complexities of espionage, blending the steady pacing of an investigation with the emotional weight of forbidden relationships. The tone is consistently tense, with a bittersweet undercurrent.

Bittersweet Redemption Stories like The Secret Game

Stories of characters who find redemption through personal sacrifice. If you liked the themes of loss and redemption in The Secret Game, explore these movies about characters who find a hopeful future only after enduring significant personal tragedy. Discover similar poignant dramas with bittersweet emotional arcs.

  • redemption
  • tragic
  • melancholic
  • sacrifice
  • hopeful
  • emotional conflict
  • Tone: melancholic, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a flawed character whose actions cause harm. Their path to redemption is paved with loss—often of loved ones or their own former life. The ending is bittersweet, acknowledging the cost of their moral growth and the hope that emerges from tragedy.

Why they belong together: These movies share a powerful emotional core centered on sacrifice and redemption. They balance sadness with hope, creating a specific bittersweet mood. The pacing is character-driven and steady, focusing on internal transformation amid external conflict.

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Movies Like The Secret Game

Similar movies to The Secret Game: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

The Secret Game (1917) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Secret Game in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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