A notorious but secretive Nazi is known to be hiding in the US, but the authorities are stumped because there are no photographs of him (even though he was apparently the mastermind behind the concentration camps). A plan is concocted to release one of his former henchmen Meinike (Konstantine Shayne) who then heads to the US to a small town. Following him is Agent Wilson (Edward G Robinson) but unfortunately he is in capacitated and thus does not know that Meinike has met local teacher Professor Rankin (Orson Welles). Cooly Rankin disposes of Meinike in the woods, and then goes ahead with his marriage to Judge Longstreet's (Philip Merivale) daughter Mary (Loretta Young). Rankin's plan is complete, now he can hide deep in the respected US establishment and await the Fourth Reich...
Or can he? Wilson quickly has his suspicions and begins to investigate Rankin who enters a game of wits with the agent. Mary is told of her husband's real identity but refuses to believe it. Can Rankin be stopped before he flees, and adds to his murder toll?
This is a superb film, which continually builds the tension. It also has great cinematography as you would expect from Welles. The ending on the clock tower is astonishing. Really the only criticism one can make about this film is that the story is a little far fetched.
