Wilhelm von Brincken (May 27, 1881 – January 18, 1946), also known as Wilhelm L. von Brincken, William Vaughn, William von Brinken, and William Vaughan, was a German diplomat and spy during World War I, who went on to become an American character actor of the silent and

talkie A sound film is a motion picture A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, percep ...

eras.

Personal life

Von Brincken was born on May 27, 1881 in

Flensburg, Germany Flensburg (; Danish language, Danish, Northern Low Saxon, Low Saxon: ''Flensborg''; North Frisian language, North Frisian: ''Flansborj''; South Jutlandic: ''Flensborre'') is an independent city, independent town (''kreisfreie Stadt'') in the nor ...

. His father was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

diplomat from

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

, as well as being a

baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...

. While a student at Military Telegraph School in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

, he engaged in a sword duel. While he won, the event left him with a permanent facial scar. He graduated from the

University of Strasbourg The University of Strasbourg (french: Université de Strasbourg, Unistra) is a public research university located in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, with over 52,000 students and 3,300 researchers. The French university traces its history to the ea ...

, as well as the Potsdam War College. Von Brincken was an officer in the German cavalry, being a lieutenant in the Royal Saxon Cavalry. Von Brincken had a ranch near

Sunnyvale, California Sunnyvale () is a city located in the Santa Clara Valley in northwest Santa Clara County in the U.S. state of California. Sunnyvale lies along the historic El Camino Real and Highway 101 and is bordered by portions of San Jose to the nort ...

. In 1910, he married Alice Roedel of San Mateo, in Blankenburg, Germany. They had one child, a son, Hans Frederich Wilhelm. The couple split up in December 1912, when von Brincken left her. Alice finally filed for divorce October 1914, which as required by law, become official in October 1915. By 1915, von Brincken was the military attache to the German embassy in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

. Von Brincken was also a knight of the

Teutonic Order The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians on ...

. On October 27, 1915, von Brincken married again to

socialite A socialite is a person from a wealthy and (possibly) aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having traditio ...

Milo Abercrombie. Born in

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

, Milo was the niece of John W. Abercrombie, U.S. congressman from Alabama, and she was acclaimed by noted portraitist

Harrison Fisher Harrison Fisher (July 27, 1875 or 1877 – January 19, 1934) was an American illustrator. Career Fisher was born in Brooklyn, New York City and began to draw at an early age. Both his father and his grandfather were artists.Harrison & Carrin ...

as "California's greatest beauty". Their daughter was born in January 1917, and named Cecilie, after her Godmother, Crown Princess Cecilie. They also had a son, named after the father, Wilhelm Friedrich. She divorced von Brincken in 1919 during his imprisonment, and legally changed her, and her children's last name back to her maiden name, Abercrombie, so her children would not be "ashamed" of their name. She also changed the given names of both of the children, Wilhelm to John Milo Abercrombie and Cecilie to Maria Milo Abercrombie. Although by 1938, when he was in college, his son was once again using the name of Wilhelm F. In 1920, after he was released from prison, he legally changed his name to Roger Beckwith, and filed for U. S. citizenship. His citizenship became formal in 1927. In becoming a citizen, he renounced his claim to his German barony. In October 1920, von Brincken married for a third time, to Mrs. Ruth McConnell Swartz of Los Angeles, a widow. The two had several years earlier, and had recently reconnected after his release from prison, and were married in a small ceremony in Canada. Ruth filed for divorce in May 1922, which was granted the following September. Von Brincken remarried yet again, this time to 21-year-old Bertie Rogers, of

Eastman, Georgia Eastman is a city in Dodge County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,962 at the 2010 census. Named after one of the founders who contributed a site and paid for the county courthouse, the city was established in 1871, and is the county ...

, who was an actress in Los Angeles. The two divorced in January 1927. By 1933, von Brincken had married once again. While in Hollywood in January 1946, von Brincken suffered a ruptured artery. He was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he died on January 18, 1946.

Espionage activity

In 1915, he was transferred to the West coast, and assigned to the consulate in San Francisco. While working at the San Francisco consulate, he was arrested at the beginning of World War I on espionage charges, due to his alleged involvement in a bomb plot with his co-conspirators, C.C. Crowley, who worked at the German consulate, and an agent of a German shipping line, Robert Capelle. In February 1916, he was indicted, along with dozens of others, including the German consul general and his vice-consul, Franz Bopp and Baron E.H. von Schack, respectively. Von Brincken was convicted and sentenced to serve two years in prison in the

Hindu–German Conspiracy Trial The Hindu–German Conspiracy Trial commenced in the District Court in San Francisco on November 12, 1917, following the uncovering of the :Hindu–German Conspiracy (also known as the Indo German plot) for initiating a revolt in India. It was pa ...

for plotting to foment an

insurrection Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...

against British

colonial rule Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...

in India, this sentence to run concurrently with a similar conviction for his alleged participation in bomb and dynamiting plots against the government of

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. Von Brincken served his two-year sentence at

Alcatraz Prison United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, also known simply as Alcatraz (, ''"the gannet"'') or The Rock was a maximum security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, off the coast of San Francisco, California, United States, the site of a fo ...

and

McNeil Island Penitentiary The McNeil Island Corrections Center (MICC) was a prison in the northwest United States, operated by the Washington State Department of Corrections. It was on McNeil Island in Puget Sound in unincorporated Pierce County, near Steilacoom, Washin ...

Film career

Von Brincken made his American film debut acting in ''The Redemption of David Corson'' (1914). After his release from prison in 1920, von Brincken became an American citizen in 1921. A fellow German expatriate,

Erich Von Stroheim Erich Oswald Hans Carl Maria von Stroheim (born Erich Oswald Stroheim; September 22, 1885 – May 12, 1957) was an Austrian-American director, actor and producer, most noted as a film star and avant-garde, visionary director of the silent era. H ...

, included him in a group of former German military men whom he invited to Hollywood to work on films. Due to his military background, he was called upon as military expert as a technical advisor on films, including the Academy Award-winning ''

All Quiet on the Western Front ''All Quiet on the Western Front'' (german: Im Westen nichts Neues, lit=Nothing New in the West) is a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental trauma du ...

'' (1930). Von Brincken returned to acting in Von Stroheim's 1928 film, ''

Queen Kelly ''Queen Kelly'' is an American silent film produced in 1928–29 and released by United Artists. The film was directed by Erich von Stroheim, starred Gloria Swanson, in the title role, Walter Byron as her lover, and Seena Owen. The film was pro ...

'', starring

Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most f ...

. Over the course of his career, he appeared under several different variants of his name, such as von Brinken, as well as going under Anglicized versions of his name, such as William Vaughn and Vaughan, when doing so was politically correct. In 1929 and 1930, he had small roles in several films before receiving featured roles such as in the

Eddie Foy Edwin Fitzgerald (March 9, 1856 – February 16, 1928Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; and McNeilly, Donald. ''Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America''. Routledge Press, September 2006, . pp. 406–410), ...

and

Irene Dunne Irene Dunne (born Irene Marie Dunn; December 20, 1898 – September 4, 1990) was an American actress who appeared in films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She is best known for her comedic roles, though she performed in films of other gen ...

film, ''

Leathernecking ''Leathernecking'' is a 1930 American musical comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline, from a screenplay by Alfred Jackson and Jane Murfin, adapted from the Broadway musical comedy '' Present Arms'', by Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and Herbert F ...

'', and playing the German ace, Baron

Manfred von Richthofen Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (; 2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen or the Red Baron, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of ...

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...

' 1930 classic, ''

Hells Angels The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) is a worldwide outlaw motorcycle club whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporatio ...

''. Most of the rest of the 1930s had him appearing in numerous films, in both minor and featured roles. With the outbreak of hostilities in Europe in 1939, von Brincken was often cast in the role of a Nazi, such as in 1939's ''

Confessions of a Nazi Spy ''Confessions of a Nazi Spy'' is a 1939 American spy political thriller film directed by Anatole Litvak for Warner Bros. It was the first explicitly anti-Nazi film to be produced by a major Hollywood studio, being released in May 1939, several m ...

'', the

Fay Wray Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress best known for starring as Ann Darrow in the 1933 film ''King Kong (1933 film), King Kong''. Through an acting career that spanned nearly six decades, Wray a ...

film ''Navy Secrets'' (1939), and 1941's ''

So Ends Our Night ''So Ends Our Night'' is a 1941 drama directed by John Cromwell and starring Fredric March, Margaret Sullavan and Glenn Ford. The screenplay was adapted by Talbot Jennings from the novel ''Flotsam'' by German exile Erich Maria Remarque, who rose ...

'', which stars

Fredric March Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel; August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American actor, regarded as one of Hollywood's most celebrated, versatile stars of the 1930s and 1940s.Obituary ''Variety'', April 16, 1975, p ...

Margaret Sullavan Margaret Brooke Sullavan (May 16, 1909 – January 1, 1960) was an American stage and film actress. Sullavan began her career onstage in 1929 with the University Players. In 1933, she caught the attention of film director John M. Stahl and had ...

Frances Dee Frances Marion Dee (November 26, 1909 – March 6, 2004) was an American actress. Her first film was the musical ''Playboy of Paris'' (1930). She starred in the film ''An American Tragedy'' (1931). She is also known for starring in the 1943 Va ...

, and

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was a Canadian-American actor who often portrayed ordinary men in unusual circumstances. Ford was most prominent during Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age as ...

. Not only did he appear in dramas and suspense films, but he also did comedies such as

The Ritz Brothers The Ritz Brothers were an American family comedy act who performed extensively on stage, in nightclubs and in films from 1925 to the late 1960s. A fourth brother, George, acted as their manager. Early life The four brothers were born to Austria ...

' 1939 film, '' Pack Up Your Troubles'', and ''

Once Upon a Honeymoon ''Once Upon a Honeymoon'' is a 1942 romantic comedy/drama starring Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, and Walter Slezak, directed by Leo McCarey, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Sound Recording (Stephen Dunn). ...

'' (1942), starring

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...

and

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

Wilhelm_Von_Brincken_marriage_to_Milo_Abercrombie

Filmography

(Per

AFI AFI may refer to: * ''Address-family identifier'', a 16 bit field of the Routing Information Protocol * Ashton Fletcher Irwin, an Australian drummer * AFI (band), an American rock band ** ''AFI'' (2004 album), a retrospective album by AFI rele ...

database) *''

The Redemption of David Corson ''The Redemption of David Corson'' is a lost 1914 silent film drama directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring William Farnum. It was produced by Daniel Frohman and Adolph Zukor. This story was based on a novel ''The Redemption of David Corso ...

'' (1914) *'' The Brute'' (1914) *''The Man Who Beat Dan Dolan'' (1915) *'' Sally, Irene and Mary'' (1925) as Party Reveler *'' The Prince of Pilsen'' (1926) as Captain of the Guard *''

Condemned Condemned or The Condemned may refer to: Legal * Persons awaiting execution * A condemned property, or condemned building, by a local authority, usually for public health or safety reasons * A condemned property seized by power of eminent domain ...

'' (1929) as Vidal's Orderly (uncredited) *''

General Crack ''General Crack'' is a 1929 American pre-Code part-talkie historical costume melodrama with Technicolor sequences which was directed by Alan Crosland and produced and distributed by Warner Bros. It was filmed and premiered in 1929, and released ...

'' (1930) as Capt. Schmidt *'' Hell's Angels'' (1930) as Von Richter (uncredited) *''

'' (1930) as Richter *'' Inside the Lines'' (1930) as Chief, Secret Service *'' The Lonesome Trail'' (1930) as Man in White Sombrero *''

Mamba Mambas are fast moving highly venomous snakes of the genus ''Dendroaspis'' (which literally means "tree Asp (reptile), asp") in the family Elapidae. Four Neontology, extant species are recognised currently; three of those four species are essen ...

'' (1930) as Major von Schultz *'' Three Faces East'' (1930) as Capt. Kugler (uncredited) *'' Command Performance'' (1931) as Capt. Boyer *''

The Unholy Garden ''The Unholy Garden'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Ronald Colman and Fay Wray. It was based on a story by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: ...

'' (1931) as Minor Role (scenes deleted) *''

Possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...

'' (1931) as Baron von Bergen - Party Guest (uncredited) *''

Surrender Surrender may refer to: * Surrender (law), the early relinquishment of a tenancy * Surrender (military), the relinquishment of territory, combatants, facilities, or armaments to another power Film and television * ''Surrender'' (1927 film), an ...

'' (1931) as Konrad Reichendorf (uncredited) *''

'' (1932) as Prince Wolfram's Adjutant (uncredited) *'' A Passport to Hell'' (1932) as Officer *''

Six Hours to Live ''Six Hours to Live'' is a 1932 American pre-Code science fiction drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Warner Baxter, Miriam Jordan and John Boles.Solomon p.336 Cast * Warner Baxter as Capt. Paul Onslow * Miriam Jordan as Ba ...

'' (1932) as Reporter (uncredited) *''

The Night Club Lady ''The Night Club Lady'' is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Adolphe Menjou, Mayo Methot and Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher.Backer p.187 It was followed by a sequel '' The Circus Queen Murder'' in 1933 wi ...

'' (1932) as Dr. Emil Lengle (uncredited) *''

Shanghai Madness ''Shanghai Madness'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code drama film directed by John G. Blystone and starring Spencer Tracy, Fay Wray, Ralph Morgan, and Albert Conti. It was released by Fox Film Corporation. Plot After attacking and destroying a Chin ...

'' (1933) as von Uhlenberg *''

Private Jones ''Private Jones'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Russell Mack and written by Prescott Chaplin, Bill Cohen, George Jessel, William N. Robson and Sam Spewack. The film, which stars Lee Tracy, Gloria Stuart, Donald Cook, Emma ...

'' (1933) *''

Crimson Romance ''Crimson Romance'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by David Howard (director), David Howard and written by Milton Krims and Doris Schroeder. The film stars Ben Lyon, Sari Maritza, Erich von Stroheim, James Bush (actor), James Bush, Willia ...

'' (1934) as Von Gering *''

Fugitive Road ''Fugitive Road'' is a 1934 American comedy drama film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Erich von Stroheim, Wera Engels and Leslie Fenton. It is set a border post in Austria following World War I. A variety of different people trying to c ...

'' (1934) as Lt. Berne *''

Flirting with Danger ''Flirting with Danger'' is a 1934 American comedy adventure film directed by Vin Moore and starring Robert Armstrong, Edgar Kennedy and William Cagney ( James Cagney's lookalike brother). The picture was released by Monogram Pictures and has a ...

'' (1934) as Von Kruger *''

King Kelly of the U.S.A. ''King Kelly of the U.S.A.'' is a 1934 American romantic musical film directed by Leonard Fields. The film stars then popular singer Guy Robertson in his only feature film appearance.https://earlysoundguy.com/2018/07/22/where-did-you-go-guy-robe ...

'' (1934) as Stranger *''

Viva Villa ''Viva Villa!'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by Jack Conway and starring Wallace Beery as Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. The screenplay was written by Ben Hecht, adapted from the 1933 book ''Viva Villa!'' by Edgecumb Pinchon an ...

'' (1934) as German Reporter (scenes deleted) *''

The Gay Bride ''The Gay Bride'' is a 1934 black-and-white gangster screwball comedy starring Carole Lombard as a wisecracking gold-digger and Chester Morris as the poor man she despises. It was directed by Jack Conway and written by the husband-and-wife team ...

'' (1934) as German Official (uncredited) *'' I'll Tell the World'' (1934) as Joseph *'' The Melody Lingers On'' (1935) as Austrian Officer (uncredited) *''

Dracula's Daughter ''Dracula's Daughter'' is a 1936 American vampire horror film produced by Universal Pictures as a sequel to the 1931 film '' Dracula''. Directed by Lambert Hillyer from a screenplay by Garrett Fort, the film stars Otto Kruger, Gloria Holden in ...

'' (1936) as Policeman (uncredited) *'' Crack-Up'' (1936) as Spy (uncredited) *''

Espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangibl ...

'' (1937) as Legation Officer (uncredited) *''

They Gave Him a Gun ''They Gave Him a Gun'' is a 1937 American crime drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, and Franchot Tone. The picture bears a resemblance to later films noir in its dark theme regarding the struggles a ...

'' (1937) as German Captain (uncredited) *''

Charlie Chan at the Olympics ''Charlie Chan at the Olympics'' (1937) is possibly the most topical Charlie Chan film, as it features actual footage from the 1936 Berlin Olympics. There is also a scene where Charlie crosses the Atlantic in the '' Hindenburg.'' This is the 14th ...

'' (1937) as Polizei Officer (uncredited) *''

The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in order ...

'' (1937) as Krafstein *''

Wallaby Jim of the Islands ''Wallaby Jim of the Islands'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Bennett Cohen and Houston Branch. The film stars George F. Houston, Ruth Coleman, Douglas Walton, Wilhelm von Brincken, Mamo Clark and Col ...

'' (1937) as Adolph Richter, Pearl Hunter *'' Thank You, Mr. Moto'' (1937) as Schneider *''

Bulldog Drummond in Africa ''Bulldog Drummond in Africa'' is a 1938 American adventure crime film. This was the 13th of 25 in the Bulldog Drummond film series from 1922 to 1969. Plot summary Again on the eve of his wedding, Captain Hugh Drummond (John Howard) has more pre ...

'' (1938) as Dr. Stern (uncredited) *''

The Mexicali Kid ''The Mexicali Kid'' is a 1938 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Robert Emmett Tansey. The film stars Jack Randall (actor), Jack Randall, Wesley Barry, Eleanor Stewart, Wilhelm von Brincken, Chester Ga ...

'' (1938) as Frederick Gorson *''

Navy Secrets ''Navy Secrets'' is a 1939 American espionage film. Directed by Howard Bretherton, the film stars Fay Wray, Grant Withers, and Dewey Robinson. It was released on February 8, 1939. The screenplay by Harvey Gates was based on the short story "Shore ...

'' (1939) as Cronjer - Spy Ring Chief *''

Panama Patrol ''Panama Patrol'' is a 1939 American drama film. Directed by Charles Lamont, the film stars Leon Ames, Charlotte Wynters, and Adrienne Ames, it was released on May 20, 1939. The film was known during production by the working titles of ''Curio Ci ...

'' (1939) as Marlin *''

'' (1939) as Captain von Eichen *''

Conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agree ...

'' (1939) as Second-Mate Wilson *''

Espionage Agent ''Espionage Agent'' is a pre–World War II spy melodrama produced by Hal B. Wallis in 1939. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, ''Espionage Agent'', like many Warner Bros. movies, clearly identifies the Germans as the enemy. This was unlike many other mov ...

'' (1939) as Foreign Official (uncredited) *'' Pack Up Your Troubles'' (1939) as Mueller *''

Hidden Enemy ''Hidden Enemy'' is a 1940 American thriller film directed by Howard Bretherton and starring Warren Hull, Kay Linaker and Wilhelm von Brincken.McCarty p.159 Synopsis A newspaper reporter encounters a gang of German spies attempting to steal indust ...

'' (1940) as Professor Werner *'' Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet'' (1940) as Officer (uncredited) *''

Four Sons ''Four Sons'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed and produced by John Ford and written for the screen by Philip Klein from a story by I. A. R. Wylie first published in the ''Saturday Evening Post'' as "Grandmother Bernle Learns Her ...

'' (1940) as Gortner *''

'' (1941) as German Official *'' Man Hunt'' (1941) as Harbor Police Chief (uncredited) *''

Underground Underground most commonly refers to: * Subterranea (geography), the regions beneath the surface of the Earth Underground may also refer to: Places * The Underground (Boston), a music club in the Allston neighborhood of Boston * The Underground (S ...

'' (1941) as Capt. Bornsdorff (uncredited) *'' The Deadly Game'' (1941) as Nazi Agent *''

Miss V from Moscow ''Miss V from Moscow'' is a 1942 American spy thriller film directed by M789 and DJ_Z, Noel Madison and Paul Weigel.Fetrow p.313 Synopsis The Miss V of the title is Vera Marova, a Soviet spy sent to Paris to impersonate her lookalike, a Germ ...

'' (1942) as Capt. Richter *''

'' (1942) as German Colonel with American Consul (uncredited) *''

Berlin Correspondent ''Berlin Correspondent'' is a 1942 American film. Plot Dana Andrews portrays an American radio correspondent reporting from within Nazi Germany, whose principal source of information is an elderly philatelist. His reports prove so embarrassing ...

'' (1942) *''

Counter-Espionage Counterintelligence is an activity aimed at protecting an agency's intelligence program from an opposition's intelligence service. It includes gathering information and conducting activities to prevent espionage, sabotage, assassinations or o ...

'' (1942) as Von Ruhoff (uncredited) *''

Desperate Journey ''Desperate Journey'' is a 1942 American World War II action and aviation film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan. The supporting cast includes Raymond Massey, Alan Hale Sr., and Arthur Kennedy. The melodramati ...

'' (1942) as Gate Sentry (uncredited) *''

Joan of Ozark ''Joan of Ozark'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and starring Judy Canova, Joe E. Brown and Eddie Foy Jr. It was one of thirteen films Canova made with Republic Studios.Hurst p.233 It is also known by the alternative ti ...

'' (1942) as German Radio Operator *''

Joan of Paris ''Joan of Paris'' is a 1942 war film about five Royal Air Force pilots shot down over Nazi-occupied France during World War II and their attempt to escape to England. It stars Michèle Morgan and Paul Henreid, with Thomas Mitchell, Laird Cregar ...

'' (1942) as Schultz - Funk's Secretary (uncredited) *''

The Navy Comes Through ''The Navy Comes Through'' is a 1942 American World War II film directed by A. Edward Sutherland. It stars Pat O'Brien, George Murphy and Jane Wyatt. Vernon L. Walker and James G. Stewart were nominated for an Oscar for Best Special Effects. Th ...

'' (1942) as Captain of 'Odin' (uncredited) *''

Reunion in France ''Reunion in France'' is a 1942 American war film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Joan Crawford, John Wayne, and Philip Dorn in a story about a woman in occupied France who, learning her well-heeled lover has German connections, aids ...

'' (1942) as Major (uncredited) *''

Where Trails End ''Where Trails End'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Robert Emmett Tansey and written by Robert Emmett Tansey and Frances Kavanaugh. The film stars Tom Keene, Frank Yaconelli, Joan Curtis, Don Stewart, Charles King and Wilhelm vo ...

'' (1942) as Tip Wallace *''

A Yank in Libya ''A Yank in Libya'' is a 1942 American war thriller film directed by Albert Herman and starring H. B. Warner, Walter Woolf King, Parkyarkarkus and Joan Woodbury.Casaregola p.24 Plot American correspondent Mike Malone uncovers a Nazi plot for ...

'' (1942) as Yussof Streyer *'' Chetniks!'' (1943) *'' The Purple V'' (1943) as Col. von Ritter *''

The Boy from Stalingrad ''The Boy from Stalingrad'' is a 1943 American war film directed by Sidney Salkow. Plot Five Russian youngsters and an English boy form a guerilla band which harasses the Germans stationed in their village. Cast * Bobby Samarzich as Kolya * Con ...

'' (1943) as German General *''

Background to Danger ''Background to Danger'' is a 1943 World War II spy film starring George Raft and featuring Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre. Based on the 1937 novel ''Uncommon Danger'' by Eric Ambler and set in politically neutral Turkey, ...

'' (1943) as German Official (uncredited) *''

Assignment in Brittany ''Assignment in Brittany'' is a 1943 war film directed by Jack Conway and starring French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont and Swedish actress Signe Hasso, both in their American film debuts. Also starring was American actress Susan Peters. The film w ...

'' (1943) as German Major (uncredited) *''

Action in the North Atlantic ''Action in the North Atlantic'', also known as ''Heroes Without Uniforms'', is a 1943 American black-and-white war film from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Jerry Wald, directed by Lloyd Bacon, that stars Humphrey Bogart and Raymond Massey a ...

'' (1943) as German Sub Captain (uncredited) *''

The Cross of Lorraine ''The Cross of Lorraine'' is a 1943 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer war film about French prisoners of war escaping a German prison camp and joining the French Resistance. Directed by Tay Garnett, starring Jean-Pierre Aumont and Gene Kelly, was partly base ...

'' (1943) as German Officer in Car (uncredited) *'' Around the World'' (1943) as German (uncredited) *''

The Hitler Gang ''The Hitler Gang'' is a 1944 American pseudo-documentary film directed by John Farrow, which traces the political rise of Adolf Hitler. Described as a "documentary-propaganda" film by its studio, Paramount Pictures, the historical drama is based ...

'' (1944) as Police Official (uncredited)

References

External links

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Article on German spy rings in the United States during World War I
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brincken, Wilhelm von 1881 births 1946 deaths American male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors American male film actors 20th-century German male actors World War I spies for Germany German emigrants to the United States People from Flensburg