Spy Training Film: House Search | WW2 Era OSS Film | ca. 1942 - ca. 1945

This classic video – originally titled as "House Search" – is a dramatized spy training film produced by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the intelligence agency of the United States during World War 2, and the predecessor of the modern Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It was released between circa 1942 and circa 1945. The film demonstrates proper and improper methods of searching houses, apartments, and hotel rooms for hidden information by contrasting the behavior of two fictional agents stationed in "a neutral capital in Europe." It shows creative ways to hide evidence of espionage activities, to trick counter agents so you know your place has been searched, to pass information to other agents in unsuspicious manner. It lists rules to follow during a house search, explains where to look for evidence, how to make it appear as if room has not been searched, what tools to have on hand and much more. Plot: The story begins with an American industrialist working in a neutral European country, who is working as an undercover OSS agent. He has hidden a purloined chemical sample and other info in his apartment, which is soon searched by an enemy agent, who knows a few things, but doesn&know enough to find what he&after. The tables are then turned and the enemy agent&rooms are searched by OSS operatives, who do a much better job finding secret information. BACKGROUND / CONTEXT Warrantless searches are searches and seizures conducted without search warrants. In the...