I Was an American Spy
“The startling TRUE story of America's "Mata Hari" of the South Pacific!”
Synopsis
An American nightclub singer in 1940's Singapore becomes a spy for America in an effort to get back at the invading Japanese army. Based on a true story.
Top Cast
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Ann Dvorak
Mrs. Claire 'High Pockets' Phillips
Gene Evans
Cpl. John Boone
Douglas Kennedy
Sgt. John Phillips
Richard Loo
Col. Masamato
Leon Lontoc
Pacio
Chabing
Lolita
Philip Ahn
Capt. Arito
Marya Marco
Fely
Nadine Ashdown
Dian
Lisa Ferraday
Dorothy Fuentes
Howard Chuman
Kamuri
Fred Revelala
Zig Zag (as Freddie Revelala)
James B. Leong
Ho Sang
Mark W. Clark
Himself / Authenticator in Prolog (as General Mark Clark)
William Tannen
American Captain (uncredited)
Jerry Fujikawa
Japanese Guard (uncredited)
Lane Bradford
Jeep Driver (uncredited)
Suzanne Ridgway
Girl at Ho Sang's Club (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 14, 1951
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lesley Selander
- Screenplay & Story
- Samuel Roeca
- Original Score
- Edward J. Kay
- Original Title
- I Was an American Spy
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Allied Artists Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lesley Selander
Samuel Roeca, Claire Phillips, Myron B. Goldsmith
Edward J. Kay
Philip Cahn
David Diamond
Department Leadership Roster
Lesley Selander
Director
Samuel Roeca
Screenplay
David Diamond
Producer
Philip Cahn
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for I Was an American Spy.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring I Was an American Spy.
War: World War II
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Spy-Thriller
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WW2
World War II films
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Frequently Asked Questions About I Was an American Spy
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is I Was an American Spy about?
An American nightclub singer in 1940's Singapore becomes a spy for America in an effort to get back at the invading Japanese army. Based on a true story.
Who directed I Was an American Spy?
I Was an American Spy was directed by Lesley Selander.
Who stars in I Was an American Spy?
The principal cast of I Was an American Spy includes Ann Dvorak, Gene Evans, Douglas Kennedy, Richard Loo, Leon Lontoc.
When was I Was an American Spy released and how long is it?
I Was an American Spy was released in 1951 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for I Was an American Spy?
The original motion picture soundtrack for I Was an American Spy was composed by Edward J. Kay.
Is I Was an American Spy based on a book or true story?
I Was an American Spy is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Claire Phillips", Novel: "Myron B. Goldsmith".
What is the age rating and content advisory for I Was an American Spy?
I Was an American Spy holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).