On Secret Service

An Alliance picture, produced in England and released here by First Division, this film has an occasional note of suspense, and a fair portion of action, against a background of secret service intrigue during the World War. The romance of an Italian woman spy and an Austrian officer rather unfortunately ends in tragedy, as the Austrian officer does his duty for his country. The cast is headed by Greta Nissen, as the Italian spy; Don Alvarado, as the chief of the Italian service, and Carl Diehl as the Austrian officer. With the possible exception of Miss Nissen, the names will mean comparatively little to the average American screen audience. Miss Nissen falls in love with Diehl and learns that incriminating evidence has been planted on him to save her by her superior. Diehl is stripped of his rank, re-enlists and seeks permission to vindicate himself. He is sent to Rome by the Austrian secret service, to discover the identity of an Italian spy who is seriously damaging the Austrian cause. There follows the major part of the film's suspense, as Miss Nissen on several occasions saves Diehl from the Italian service because she loves him. Finally, when she tries to prevent him from flying across the line with the needed information, he shakes her off his plane and she is killed, while, vindicated, he is restored to his rank in the Austrian army.