The Spider and the Fly (1949): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1949, The Spider and the Fly is a thriller, crime and romance film directed by Robert Hamer, running about 94 minutes. “A New British Thriller of Crime, Detection and Suspense!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. "The Spider and the Fly is set in Paris during the cloud-cuckoo days before WW I. The storyline intertwines the destinies of three people. Guy Rolfe plays Phillipe de Ledocq, a resourceful safecracker who always manages to elude arrest. Eric Portman is cast as police-chief Maubert, who will not rest until Ledocq is behind bars. And Nadia Gray is Madeleine, the woman beloved by both Ledocq and Maubert. Just as Maubert has managed to capture his man, Ledocq is released at the behest of the government, who wants him to steal secrets from the German embassy revealing the whereabouts of the Kaiser's secret agents. And just how does Madeleine figure into all of this? Spider and the Fly is a diverting precursor to the 1960s TV series It Takes a Thief." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Who’s in it. The Spider and the Fly stars Eric Portman as Fernand Maubert, Guy Rolfe as Philippe Lodocq, Nadia Gray as Madeleine Saincaize and George Cole as Marc, detective, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, The Spider and the Fly has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Spider and the Fly page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Spider and the Fly tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.