Cipher Bureau (film)

Cipher Bureau is a 1938 American action film directed by Charles Lamont. The film stars Leon Ames, Joan Barclay, and Don Rowan. The plot centers around a government agency tasked with decoding enemy messages and preventing sabotage. Ames plays a federal agent working to uncover a ring of foreign spies who are using coded messages to disrupt national defense. Barclay plays the female lead, possibly a love interest or an ally within the story. The film is considered a B-movie, typical of the lower-budget productions prevalent during the era, and features themes of espionage, patriotism, and government intrigue. It reflects the rising concerns about international conflict and the need for national security in the years leading up to World War II. While not a major cinematic achievement, it provides a glimpse into the popular anxieties and heroic narratives of the time.