A Call to Spy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

A Call to Spy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 23, 2021

It’s not easy out there for a World War II story. English television and PBS productions have cornered the market on “lost” tales of heroism and struggle, especially when exploring female achievements during a devastating time. Writer/producer/star Sarah Megan Thomas tries to add something to the mix with “A Call to Spy,” which examines three real-world personalities involved in the Special Operations Executive, an organization committed to infiltrating France during WWII as a way to disrupt Nazi movement across Europe. Thomas has a vision to celebrate such courageous actions, but “A Call to Spy” isn’t much more than a miniseries compacted into one film, never cinematic enough to rise above the competition.

“A Call to Spy” examines the WWII experiences of British Intelligence officer Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), wireless operator Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte), and Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas), who joined the SOE to prove herself valuable to the war effort, facing rejection due her use of a prosthetic leg. The story details their experiences concerning the deployment of spies in France, creating a network of information during dangerous times, with the SOE turning to the use of women to help maintain position in the country as Nazi influence intensifies.

Director Lydia Dean Pilcher (“Radium Girls”) isn’t working with a large budget or a proven lead actress, playing it safe with “A Call to Spy,” which is mostly explored through conversations about agent placement and communication efforts, following Khan and especially Hall as they try to accomplish their missions while maintaining some form of cover. Atkins remains in England, dealing with her superior, Maurice Buckmaster (Linus Roache), and her own crisis of identity. It’s a juggling act Pilcher handles professionally but not always remarkably, keeping the feature small in scale as Thomas emphasizes the wars waged by the characters as they deal with a multitude of military and personal problems. Pilcher keeps the story moving through the years, and Thomas tends to favor her character in “A Call to Spy,” looking to highlight Hall’s remarkable contributions to the SOE and her physical challenges.

A Call to Spy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers strong detail throughout the viewing experience, exploring weathered faces and period costumes. Locations retain distances and interior offices are dimensional. Color retains a cooler palette for wartime visits, securing wintery weather and stone buildings. English activity offers warmer browns and yellows. Clothing provides crisp period hues, and greenery is distinct. Delineation is acceptable, but some evening sequences reveal mild banding.

A Call to Spy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix secures an engaging listening experience for "A Call to Spy," leading with sharp dialogue exchanges that explore various accents and dramatic intensity without slipping into distortive extremes. Scoring is supportive, offering a crisp, deep orchestral sound. Atmospherics are satisfactory, detailing outdoor expanse and office bustle. Some separation effects are present, and music often pushes out for emphasis. Low-end isn't challenged, but train movement and explosions provide some weight.

A Call to Spy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes (3:28, HD) is a short making-of that walks through the story of "A Call to Spy" with help from interviews featuring select cast members. The conversations are in salesperson mode, detailing the real-life personalities depicted in the picture and the importance of the war story, bringing new historical information to the screen. Perhaps most interesting is the reveal that Pennsylvania was used to depict English locations, and Budapest stood in for France. A tiny amount of BTS footage is used.

• And a Trailer (2:22, HD) is included.

A Call to Spy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Thomas's screenplay is an admirable achievement, exploring these women and their struggles, underlining their heroic actions as a way to expand the history of WWII and its many sacrifices. It's the film itself that's on the dry side, doing little to avoid expectations for this type of story. Screen energy is limited in "A Call to Spy," but there's certainly something here for students of history and fans of public television-style war dramas.