The Spy in Black

The Spy in Black

Year: 1939

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Powell

WarThrillerWar and historical adventureBravery in WarNazis and World War II

Today’s U-boat terror makes this the year’s timeliest picture! A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Spy in Black yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Spy in Black (1939)

Trace every key event in The Spy in Black (1939) 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

Orders issued and Scapa Flow mission

In March 1917, Captain Hardt is ordered to spy on the British Fleet at Scapa Flow. He rendezvouses with contacts near the Old Man of Hoy before sneaking ashore on the Orkney Islands. The mission is to observe fleet movements and identify a target for a German strike.

March 1917 Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands
2

Hardt meets Fräulein Tiel on Orkney

Hardt sneaks ashore on the Orkney Islands to meet Fräulein Tiel. Tiel has taken over the identity of a local schoolteacher, Miss Anne Burnett, to blend in with the islanders. Hardt is drawn to her, but Tiel shows little warmth.

March 1917 Orkney Islands
3

Ashington ally and Tiel’s claim

A disgraced Royal Navy officer, formerly Commander Ashington, agrees to aid the Germans. Tiel implies she has slept with Ashington to secure his cooperation. Their arrangement makes the operation look like a routine local contact rather than a spy ring.

March 1917 Island house
4

Burnett’s fiancé arrives and is captured

Burnett's fiancé, Rev. Harris, arrives unexpectedly and is captured by the Germans. A meddling local minister and his wife are deftly deflected away to avoid suspicion. The intrusion tests the operatives' cover and heightens the island's tension.

Early phase Island house
5

Crucial intelligence and plan to attack

Hardt, armed with crucial information about British fleet movements, returns to his submarine to coordinate an attack. He plans to deploy a fleet of U-boats to strike a sortie of two Royal Navy squadrons. The success hinges on keeping the deception hidden from the British.

Following intel collection Offshore near Scapa Flow
6

Romantic overture and discovery

Back at the house, Hardt makes a romantic overture to Tiel, but she rebuffs him and asserts control over the mission. She slips out, believing she has locked him in, while Hardt secretly follows to learn her movements. He discovers she is leaving to meet Ashington.

Evening House on the island
7

Revelation of imposters

Hardt overhears Tiel and Ashington plotting and realizes they are imposters. The British have turned his mission into a trap. Ashington is revealed to be RN Commander Blacklock, and Fräulein Tiel is his wife, Jill.

Evening House on the island
8

Disguised escape and ferry departure

Jill prepares to depart the island while Blacklock returns to arrest Hardt. Hardt escapes by disguising himself in Rev. Harris's clothes and boards the island ferry, which carries Jill, civilian passengers, and eight German POWs. A tense pursuit begins as the escape becomes public knowledge.

Night Island ferry, Orkney
9

Base learns of the German trap

Back at the base, Blacklock reports Hardt's escape to the commander. The base explains that the British had learned of the German plan when the real Anne Burnett briefly survived a failed attempt on her life.

Following escape British naval base
10

Ferry seized and U-boat ambush begins

At sea, Hardt frees the German prisoners and they seize the ferry. The Royal Navy pursues, but the ferry is intercepted by Hardt's submarine. Lieutenant Schuster orders the submarine to shell the ferry, creating chaos aboard.

Moment after escape Sea near Orkney
11

Revelation and signaling failure

Hardt realizes the shells are fired by his own submarine when it surfaces to engage. He frantically tries to signal his crew, but the moment escapes him. British ships arrive shortly after and begin depth-charge operations against the fleeing U-boat.

Moments after shelling Open sea around Orkney
12

Final sacrifice aboard the sinking ferry

Jill and the remaining passengers manage to abandon ship in lifeboats as the ferry sinks. Hardt accepts that all is lost and chooses to go down with the ship, staying with his crew to the end.

Final moments Sinking ferry, near Orkney

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:09

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Spy in Black

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