DVD- Confessions of a Nazi Spy

In the wake of a trial that convicted four Nazi agents of spying against the U.S., Warner Bros. became the first Hollywood studio to fire a salvo at Hitler's Germany.

Months before World War II erupted it released this thriller based on revelations that emerged from the trial and other real-life sources.

The story is a brisk connect-the-dots tale that ties German-American Bund operatives (Francis Lederer, George Sanders and Paul Lukas among others) to Berlin.

Chief among those connecting the dots:

FBI Agent Edward Renard (Edward G. Robinson).

The drama wasn't limited to the screen.

Production personnel received threats and violence erupted

at some screenings.

Directed with hard-hitting verve by Anatole Litvak, Confessions of a Nazi Spy struck a nerve in its era.

It remains a milestone of filmmaking commitment today.

Runtime: 1 hour and 29 minutes.