Yellow Canary

Yellow Canary

Year: 1943

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Herbert Wilcox

WarDramaThriller

Blonde and Beautiful…Despised and Hated!… A socialite poses as a Nazi spy to mask her activities as a British agent.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Yellow Canary 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 & Setting – Yellow Canary (1943)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Yellow Canary (1943). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II era (1939-1945)

Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, the film centers on covert operations, Nazi espionage, and the strategic importance of Atlantic convoys. London endures bombing raids, while port towns like Halifax become focal points of intelligence activity. The narrative uses wartime secrecy and urgent missions to drive the plot.

Location

Atlantic Ocean, Halifax, Nova Scotia, London

Most of the action unfolds aboard a passenger liner crossing the Atlantic toward Canada. The ship is intercepted near Halifax, exposing a tense web of espionage among the passengers and crew. The story then shifts to wartime London as Sally and Jim confront the consequences of the mission and return home to her family.

🗺️ Wartime Settings 🚢 Sea Voyage 🎭 Espionage Atmosphere

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

Main Characters – Yellow Canary (1943)

Meet the key characters of Yellow Canary (1943), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sally Maitland (Anna Neagle)

Sally is a deep-cover British agent posing as a Nazi sympathizer to shadow Jan Orlock. She uses wit and nerve to navigate a dangerous network while maintaining her cover. Her quick thinking, courage, and capacity to assume risk drive the investigation and lead to critical revelations.

🕵️‍♀️ Spy 🎭 Deception 💪 Courage

Jim Garrick (Richard Greene)

Jim is a British intelligence officer who becomes a protective ally for Sally. He works from the shadows to uncover the conspiracy and rescue Sally when danger peaks. His loyalty and improvisational skill help avert catastrophe and advance the mission.

🕵️‍♂️ Intelligence 🤝 Loyalty 🔎 Investigation

Jan Orlock ( Albert Lieven)

Jan is a Polish officer embedded with the Nazis, posing a true threat as Sally’s target. He is capable, secretive, and driven by a hidden agenda, revealing the depth of the spy ring he funds and leads. His alliances shift as the plot unfolds and exposes the conspiracy.

🕵️‍♂️ Spy ⚔️ Antagonist 🧭 Manipulation

Madame Orlock (Sybille Binder)

Madame Orlock leads the covert spy ring and is revealed to be the mastermind behind the plot, not the invalid mother she pretends to be. She orchestrates the explosive plan and coordinates other conspirators, demonstrating ruthless strategic thinking. Her leadership is the central axis of the espionage network.

🕵️‍♀️ Mastermind 🧭 Manipulation 💼 Authority

Lady Maitland (Marjorie Fielding)

Lady Maitland is Sally Maitland’s noble mother, grounding the personal stakes of Sally’s family life. She embodies the domestic front of wartime Britain and provides social context to Sally’s dual existence. Her presence highlights the costs of espionage on loved ones.

🎖️ Family 🏰 Aristocracy 🕊️ Domestic

Admiral (David Horne)

The Admiral is a naval authority figure connected to the intelligence operations in the narrative. He represents the formal military structure within which Sally and Jim operate, and the urgency of protecting convoy routes. His role underscores the wartime command environment.

⚓ Military Authority 🧭 Command 🛡️ Strategy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

Major Themes – Yellow Canary (1943)

Explore the central themes of Yellow Canary (1943), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Espionage

The story revolves around undercover work, double identities, and the danger of exposure. Sally pretends to align with the Nazis to uncover the spy network, while Jim maneuvers within intelligence circles to protect her. The tension comes from deciphering who among the passengers and staff can be trusted.

🤝 Loyalty

Loyalty is tested as allies balance personal risk with national duty. Jim’s commitment to Sally supersedes initial professional distance, while Sally’s allegiance shifts as she uncovers the scope of the conspiracy. The film explores where true loyalty truly lies under pressure.

❤️ Romance Amid War

Amid danger, a romance blooms between Sally and Jim, complicating their professional roles. The relationship provides emotional stakes that intersect with espionage and deception. Their marriage at the end signals a personal victory within a war-torn world.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Spy Thrillers with Deep-Cover Deception like Yellow Canary

Thrillers where deep-cover operatives live a dangerous lie among enemies.If you enjoyed the high-stakes deception in Yellow Canary, explore more movies like it. This collection features similar wartime thrillers and espionage stories where agents operate under deep cover, navigating a precarious web of lies and loyalties to complete a dangerous mission.

suspensefulclaustrophobicanxiousprecariouscalculatinghigh-stakesparanoid

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a lone agent or a small team as they embed themselves within an enemy organization. The plot is driven by close calls, suspicions from antagonists, and the moral complexities of the deception. The climax often revolves around a final, high-risk operation or a moment of ultimate exposure, testing the agent's resolve and ingenuity.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the double agent archetype, the constant high tension generated by the undercover premise, and the fast-paced succession of perilous events that define the spy mission narrative.

Thrillers with Bittersweet Endings like Yellow Canary

Stories where success is achieved, but at a significant personal cost.For viewers who appreciated the complex resolution of Yellow Canary, this list highlights similar movies with bittersweet endings. Discover other thrilling stories where the mission is accomplished, but the characters are forever changed by the sacrifices and dangers they endured.

bittersweettensesoberingcostly victoryemotional scarsthoughtfulresolved but wounded

Narrative Summary

The narrative journey in these films builds towards a climactic success—completing a mission, surviving an ordeal, or achieving a goal. However, the path to this success involves severe trials, betrayals, or personal losses. The conclusion acknowledges the win but spends significant time on the aftermath, showing how the characters are indelibly marked by their experiences, creating a resonant and emotionally nuanced finale.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their shared emotional arc: a blend of narrative triumph and emotional sacrifice. They deliver the satisfaction of a resolved plot while maintaining a sober, thoughtful tone about the real costs of conflict and danger, providing a more realistic and weighty conclusion.

Unlock the Full Story of Yellow Canary

Don't stop at just watching — explore Yellow Canary in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Yellow Canary is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Yellow Canary Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Yellow Canary, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Yellow Canary Summary

Yellow Canary Timeline

Track the full timeline of Yellow Canary with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Yellow Canary Timeline

Yellow Canary Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Yellow Canary that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Yellow Canary Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Yellow Canary

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Yellow Canary: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Yellow Canary

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