Arranged by theme from A to Z, this book offers an unprecedented panorama of spy films from the 1920s to today.

From the early days of cinema, espionage has been a favorite topic for filmmakers, revealing an entire era’s desire to lift the veil and reveal what was going on in the shadows.
Throughout the 20th century, spies and filmmakers were more closely linked than we realize. They had in their possession the most powerful technological innovations for observing reality and exploring the fine line separating truth from fantasy. This book questions their complex relationship by comparing film stills and archival documents, historical accounts and contemporary re-readings of spy legends.