Movie Type: Unglamorized Spy Film, Psychological Thriller
Themes: Traitorous Spies/Double Agents, Double Life
Main Cast: Bob Hoskins, Patricia Arquette, Gérard Depardieu, George Spelvin, Robin Williams, Jim Broadbent
Release Year: 1996
Country: UK
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In this adaptation of the novel by Joseph Conrad, Mr. Verloc (Bob Hoskins) runs a shabby corner shop in London that serves as a front for his more profitable sideline, selling pornography. However, selling sex photos is not Verloc's main order of business; he is a member of an anarchist organization, and he holds meetings in his apartment where he and his fellows plot the violent overthrow of the government. Verloc does not actually share the beliefs of his fellows -- he is in fact a double agent working with the Russians to sabotage the actions of revolutionary exiles while passing information about the anarchists along to Police Inspector Heat (Jim Broadbent). Verloc is married to Winnie (Patricia Arquette), a pretty but dour young woman who doesn't care for her husband and has married only in hopes that she would be able to afford a decent home for her brother Stevie (Christian Bale), who is mentally retarded. Inspector Heat informs Verloc that the anarchists must commit some sort of major violent action soon if the police are ever going to put any of them behind bars, so Verloc persuades the Professor (Robin Williams) to help him plant some bombs, which leads to tragedy for everyone involved. Robin Williams appears unbilled in The Secret Agent; in some listings, his role is credited to George Spelvin. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Frank Walsh - Art Director, Janey Fothergill - Casting, Joyce Herlihy - Co-producer, Anushia Nieradzik - Costume Designer, Guy Travers - First Assistant Director, Christopher Hampton - Director, George Akers - Editor, Bob Hoskins - Executive Producer, Philip Glass - Composer (Music Score), Philip Glass - Songwriter, Caroline Amies - Production Designer, Denis Lenoir - Cinematographer, Norma Heyman - Producer, Peter Lindsay - Sound/Sound Designer, Christopher Hampton - Screenwriter, Joseph Conrad - Short Story Author
