Before he was President of The United States of America, Ronald Reagan was Lt. Brass Bancroft, Secrete Service agent. In 1939 and 1940, the 40th President starred in four movies as the handsome undercover agent who protected his country from mobsters, counterfeiters and illegal aliens. Reagan’s tenure on screen readied him for a life in politics, and he’s just as charismatic on screen as he was in the Oval Office.
Brass Bancroft worked his way up through the Naval ranks to become a renowned pilot, flying the Orient express on a regular basis. His dreams of becoming a member of the secret service are finally realized when his old friend Tom Saxby (Jon Litel) recommends him for an undercover operation in Secret Service Of The Air. His time has come and he soon becomes the James Bond of the B-film world.
American pride runs throughout the plots of all four movies, and they almost feel like propaganda masked in a spy movie. In Secret Service Of The Air, Brass is tasked his first mission: infiltrating a prison gang to uncover a group that’s been smuggling illegal aliens across the U.S. border. He enters the spy world gracefully, getting so close to the gang that he’s offered a job on the outside piloting the plane that smuggles said illegal aliens. The first film ends with an American flag proudly blowing in the wind. Later we learn that “Patience is the creed of the Secret Service,” and these are the men who are keeping America safe on the path to righteousness. It’s indicative of the time and in fact quite genius, for just as our country was poised to enter WWII, these four films attempted to send a message about America’s strength couched in a fun-filled plot.
The Brass Bancroft movies are so reminiscent of some of Hitchcock’s works, that the films’ writers and directors clearly drew inspiration from the great auteur. Brass’s first film, Code Of The Secret Service, features so many Hitchcockian references it really stands out. Oddly enough, only one of these references is from a film Hitchcock had made before Brass’s films were germinated. Halfway through the film, Brass is handcuffed to a beautiful young woman whom he drags across the European countryside in order to complete his mission. Just as in The 39 Steps, Brass uses his charm and innocence to woo the woman who initially despised him. Other references appear later on, as Brass is pinned as “The Wrong Man,” and a “Stranger on a Train,” both of which were made in the 1950s. As Hitchcock proved, these storylines make for great action and suspense in a film, and Ronald Reagan heralded the genre in his own B-class way.
Throughout the four films, at Brass’s side was his best friend and first mate, Gabby Watters, played by Eddie Foy, Jr. Foy brings his character to life with physical humor and goofball moves, lightening the mood just when things are looking their darkest for Brass. He always manages to help Brass save the day, whether it’s taking a plummeting plane’s helm in Secret Service Of The Air, or shooting the bad guy who’s about to kill Brass in Smashing The Money Ring. Gabby provides just the right amount of lighthearted fun for these films.
Reagan’s notoriety as a B movie actor is spot on. He’s no Cary Grant, but he’s fun, handsome and a fairly decent actor. He’s great as Brass Bancroft, and while these four films about a charming Secret Service agent may not be Oscar-worthy, they’re certainly fun.
DVD Bonus Features
Nothing more than the privilege of watching the 40th President of The United States star in four fun-filled action movies.
"Brass Bancroft of the Secret Service Mysteries Collection" is on sale November 30, -0001 and is not rated. Action, Adventure, Mystery. Directed by Noel M Smith. Written by Lee Katz. Starring Eddie Foy Jr, Jon Litel, Ronald Reagan.
