Product Description

Featuring Meryl Streep, John Lithgow, and Mary Beth Hurt in one of their earliest television appearances, this 1895 thriller by William Gillette tells the tale of a Union spy working to seize control of the telegraph office in Richmond, Virginia in 1864. Posing as a wounded Confederate captain named Thorne, the spy's false orders to a Confederate Army commander raise the suspicions of a southern agent, who uses a local girl in love with Thorne as his reluctant accomplice to set a trap. "...more turns then a corps de ballet in frenzied heat." --The New York Times

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #96341 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-06-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 117 minutes

Amazon.com
Meryl Streep and John Lithgow star in this Broadway revival of an 1895 thriller. The action is set in Richmond in 1864 as the South is making one final stand in the Civil War. Demure but headstrong belle Edith (Streep) is determined to keep her dashing beau, Captain Thorne (Lithgow), at home and away from the front lines. She manages to win him a commission running the Confederacy’s telegraph office just as word gets out that there’s a Yankee traitor trying to infiltrate that very post. The man running the investigation is--oh, no!--Edith’s bitter rejected suitor. Fun as that would be as a standard melodrama, Secret Service actually has a few twists in store that turn it into quite a good potboiler. Mary Beth Hurt adds humor and charm in a terrific performance as the flighty young Caroline, and sharp-eyed film fans will notice a young Jeffrey Jones playing a soldier. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews

Better than I remembered!
Many years ago I had the pleasure of seeing this filmed stage play on PBS and am delighted to see it was finally released on video. Based on the William Gillette play, this Civil War spy story features (VERY young) John Lithgow, Meryl Streep, and Charles Kimbrough (best known for his work in 'Murphy Brown') in the lead roles. (Look quickly for Jeffrey Jones of 'Ferris Buller' fame in a bit as a Southern soldier.)

Lithgow is especially wonderful as the Northern spy passing for Southern officer who loves Southern belle, Streep, but cannot (or can he/) let that interfere with his work. Kimbrough plays the rather smarmy suitor to Streep with great panache.

The old-fashioned plot offers no surprises, but just sit back and enjoy. I think you'll find this one is worth it.