I Was an American Spy: The Song and The Story
The 1951 movie I Was
an American Spy may have been long forgotten, but its theme song, Because of You, is to date still being sung. It was Tony Bennett’s first major hit, reaching No. 1 on
Billboard and stayed there for 10 weeks. His soulful rendition of Because of You enhanced the film dramatizing the true story of Claire Phillips, an American of Filipino descent who spied on the Japanese in Manila during World War II.
After Bennett, many other singers recorded
Because of You, including Neil Sedaka’s version, released in 2005.
Here’s the timeless lyrics of the song.
Because of you there’s a song in my heart
Because of you my romance had its start
Because of you the sun will shine
The moon and stars will say you’re mine
Forever and never to part I only live for your love and your kiss
It’s paradise to be near you like this
Because of you my life is now worthwhile
And I can smile
Because of you
Ann Dvorak played Claire, who was captured, tortured and sentenced to death before being rescued by American soldiers. In the movie’s ad, Claire was billed ‘America’s Mata Hari of the South Pacific.’ She was known by several aliases, including ‘High Pockets’ for her ability to smuggle message by hiding them in her brassiere.
Claire created a new identity, Dorothy Clara Fuentes, as owner and dancer of Club Tsubaki, which was popular with Japanese officers in Manila. She obtained valuable information to support Philippine resistance and American forces in the Pacific.
For her war efforts, she received the Medal of Freedom in 1951 upon the recommendation of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Claire was married twice, first to a Filipino sailor, Manuel Fuentes, and then to Sgt. John Phillips. She died on May 22, 1960 in her hometown Portland, Oregon, at age 52. I Was an American Spy was based on her war memoirs titled Manila Espionage. Ann Dvorak (real name: Anna McKim) started as a dance instructor and was groomed to be a dramatic actress by no less than Howard Hughes. She appeared in Scarface with Paul Muni, Three on a Match with Joan Blondell and Bette Davis, opposite Spencer Tracy in Sky Devils. Noted for her style and elegance, she also acted on Broadway. One of her last films was I Was an American Spy. She retired in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1962 and died at 68 of stomach cancer.
—RKC