

The Spider and the Fly
“A New British Thriller of Crime, Detection and Suspense!”
Synopsis
"The Spider and the Fly is set in Paris during the cloud-cuckoo days before WW I. The storyline intertwines the destinies of three people. Guy Rolfe plays Phillipe de Ledocq, a resourceful safecracker who always manages to elude arrest. Eric Portman is cast as police-chief Maubert, who will not rest until Ledocq is behind bars. And Nadia Gray is Madeleine, the woman beloved by both Ledocq and Maubert. Just as Maubert has managed to capture his man, Ledocq is released at the behest of the government, who wants him to steal secrets from the German embassy revealing the whereabouts of the Kaiser's secret agents. And just how does Madeleine figure into all of this? Spider and the Fly is a diverting precursor to the 1960s TV series It Takes a Thief." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Eric Portman
Fernand Maubert
Guy Rolfe
Philippe Lodocq
Nadia Gray
Madeleine Saincaize
George Cole
Marc, detective
Harold Lang
Belfort, the pickpocket
Edward Chapman
Minister for War
Maurice Denham
Colonel de la Roche
John Carol
Jean Louis / Alfred Louis
May Hallatt
Monique
Arthur Lowe
Town Clerk
Sebastian Cabot
Prefect
Jeremy Spenser
Jacques
Madge Brindley
Jacques' Grandmother
Hattie Jacques
Barmaid (uncredited)
John Salew
Minister's Secretary
James Hayter
Mayor
Keith Pyott
Father Pletsier
Natasha Sokolova
Nicole Porte
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Hamer
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Westerby
- Original Score
- Georges Auric
- Original Title
- The Spider and the Fly
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Studios
- J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Mayflower Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Hamer
Robert Westerby
Georges Auric
Geoffrey Unsworth
Seth Holt
Aubrey Baring
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Hamer
Director
Robert Westerby
Screenplay
Seth Holt
Editor
Geoffrey Unsworth
Director of Photography
Georges Auric
Original Music Composer
Aubrey Baring
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Spider and the Fly.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Spider and the Fly.
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Classic-era film noir, 1940 to 1959.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Spider and the Fly
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Spider and the Fly about?
"The Spider and the Fly is set in Paris during the cloud-cuckoo days before WW I. The storyline intertwines the destinies of three people. Guy Rolfe plays Phillipe de Ledocq, a resourceful safecracker who always manages to elude arrest. Eric Portman is cast as police-chief Maubert, who will not rest until Ledocq is behind bars. And Nadia Gray is Madeleine, the woman beloved by both Ledocq and Maubert. Just as Maubert has managed to capture his man, Ledocq is released at the behest of the government, who wants him to steal secrets from the German embassy revealing the whereabouts of the Kaiser's secret agents. And just how does Madeleine figure into all of this? Spider and the Fly is a diverting precursor to the 1960s TV series It Takes a Thief." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Who directed The Spider and the Fly?
The Spider and the Fly was directed by Robert Hamer.
Who stars in The Spider and the Fly?
The principal cast of The Spider and the Fly includes Eric Portman, Guy Rolfe, Nadia Gray, George Cole, Harold Lang.
When was The Spider and the Fly released and how long is it?
The Spider and the Fly was released in 1949 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
Who composed the musical score for The Spider and the Fly?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Spider and the Fly was composed by Georges Auric.
