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.

Listen, Watch, Discover

 

• 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.

The Movies We Discuss

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)

Tell us what you think about our 10 Classic Non-James Bond Spy Movies You MUST SEE!

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 [email protected].  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