Dive into a curated list of 10 Classic Non-James Bond Spy Movies. This list is handpicked by Dan and Tom of Cracking the Code of Spy Movies. We spotlight hidden gems, wartime operas, Hitchcock staples, and movies that directly influenced later Cold War movies.

• Quick takes on ten movies you should add to your watchlist, including plot hooks, historical context, key performances, and why each movie matters to the spy movie lineage.
• Notes on influences linking early spy movies to Bond, Thunderball, The IPCRESS FILE, and more.
• Links to full episode discussions on each of these movies.

These are the movies we discuss. Each one is linked to our full episode on the movie. So, if after listening to this episode, if you want to hear a deep-dive on the movie, just click the link.

• THE SILENT ENEMY (1958)
• Q PLANES / CLOUDS OVER EUROPE (1939)
• THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1934 & 1956)
• THE 39 STEPS (1935)
• SECRET AGENT (1936)
• SABOTAGE (1936)
• THE LADY VANISHES (1938)
• THE ADVENTURES OF TARTU (1943)
• NOTORIOUS (1946)
• 5 FINGERS (1952)
  
  

Did we miss your favorite? Tell us which one. Do you have any comments on any of these movies to share with the community?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you think of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/46wSUuh

Join Dan Tom as they decode SPY – the movie from 2015. Find out if this spy comedy movie holds up. It has a great cast. But does it work as a comedy?

This movie is written and directed by Paul Feig. It stars Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Allison Janney, Miranda Hart, and others. But it is a comedy spy movie and there is a hit-or-miss track record for these movies.

Can this writer, director, actors and crew pull this off? Listen to find out!

· The cast – does it work?

· How much of this movie was improvisation?

· Jason Statham’s role was originally going to be different that it ended. How is it different?

· Melissa McCarthy has to carry much of this movie. Does she succeed?

· Did Aldo have a backstory we never saw?

· What are some of the common spy movie tropes that we see?

· Why do Elektra King and Madeleine Swann from the James Bond series get mentioned?

· Rats!

· Will there be a SPY 2?

· Do Dan and Tom think this spy movie is worth watching?

· And of course, there are more.

So, take a listen to hear what works and what doesn’t work in this movie.

Had you seen this movie before listening to this episode? If not, will you now? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you think of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.

Episode Webpage: http://bit.ly/3VlyK17

Join Dan and Tom as they decode the 1965 spy movie, OPERATION CROSSBOW. Find out if this spy movie, based on a real World War II operation, is worth watching.

This movie, which stars George Peppard, Sophia Loren, Trevor Howard, and more tells us the story of the real-life Operation Crossbow operation from World War II. This operation was created to try to stall or eliminate Germany’s efforts to create the V-1 and V-2 missiles.

So, this movie is part a war movie and part a spy movie. Does that work?

· The cast – does it work?

· A couple of nice cameo appearances

· What is the marketing gimmick that was used to promote this movie?

· What title did it get in the U.S.A and why?

· Is the cinematography picture perfect?

· And is the soundtrack music to your ears?

· Does Richard Johnson’s portral of Winston Churchill work?

· Also, what are some of the corellations between what we see in OPERATION CROSSBOW and what is happening in the world today?

· Did you know about the test pilots for the pilotless rockets?

· How was the balance of “spy movie” vs. “war movie”?

· Do Dan and Tom think this spy movie is worth watching?

· And of course, there are more.

So take a listen to hear what works and what doesn’t work in this movie.

Had you seen this movie before listening to this episode? If not, will you now? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you think of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be! We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.

Episode Webpage: http://bit.ly/4m7ZDAq