''The Face Behind the Mask'' is a 1941 American film noir crime film directed by

Robert Florey Robert Florey (14 September 1900 – 16 May 1979) was a French-American director, screenwriter, film journalist and actor. Born as Robert Fuchs in Paris, he became an orphan at an early age and was then raised in Switzerland. In 1920 he worked a ...

and starring

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, first in Europe and later in the United States. He began his stage career in Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before movin ...

. The screenplay was adapted by Paul Jarrico, Arthur Levinson, and

Allen Vincent Allen Leffingwell Vincent (August 28, 1903 – November 30, 1979) was an American actor and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. He started as a stage actor in New York City before moving to acting in motion pictures in the late 1920s, then tra ...

from the play ''Interim'', written by Thomas Edward O'Connell.

Plot

Janos Szabo (

) is a hopeful new Hungarian immigrant who, on his first day in New York City, is trapped in a hotel fire that leaves his face hideously scarred. He is refused employment due to his appearance and, though possessing tremendous skill as a watchmaker, is willing to do any work. In extreme poverty, and despite believing that dishonesty can never bring happiness, he resorts to safecracking to obtain food, medicine, and a warm bed for his only friend, Dinky ( George E. Stone). Eventually he becomes the leader of a gang of thieves and raises money to commission and wear a realistic latex mask of his own face. Janos then falls in love with Helen (

Evelyn Keyes Evelyn Louise Keyes (November 20, 1916 – July 4, 2008) was an American film actress. She is best known for her role as Suellen O'Hara in the 1939 film ''Gone with the Wind''. Early life Evelyn Keyes was born in Port Arthur, Texas, to Omar Do ...

), a blind woman who perceives only the good in him, and attempts to leave his life of crime behind him. Unfortunately, his gang come to believe that he has betrayed them to the police, and attempt to kill him by car bomb, an attempt on his life that he survives but which kills Helen. In retaliation, Janos disguises himself as the pilot of the private plane in which the gang plans to fly out of the country. He lands the plane in the Arizona desert and lets out the fuel, suicidally stranding both the gang and himself without food or water, dooming them all to a slow death. At the film's end, Janos's body and those of his enemies are discovered by the police.

Cast

as Janos "Johnny" Szabo *

as Helen Williams *

Don Beddoe Donald Theophilus Beddoe (July 1, 1903 – January 19, 1991) was an American character actor. Early years Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Beddoe was the son of Dan Beddoe, a Welsh classical singer, and his wife Mary. He graduated from the ...

as Lt. Jim O'Hara * George E. Stone as Dinky * John Tyrrell as Watts * Stanley Brown as Harry * Cy Schindell as Benson (as Al Seymour) *

James Seay James Seay (September 9, 1914 – October 10, 1992) was an American character actor who often played minor supporting roles as government officials. Early years Seay demonstrated an interest in acting at an early age, as he and his mothe ...

as Jeff Jeffries * Warren Ashe as Johnson, Reporter * Charles C. Wilson as Chief O'Brien (as Charles Wilson) * George McKay as Terry Finnegan

Production

''The Face Behind the Mask'' was directed by French-American director

, and written by Paul Jarrico, and Allen Vincent. The film is based on the

radio play Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...

''The Interim'' by Thomas Edward O'Connell. Florey previously made contributions to

Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

' 1931 film ''

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ...

'' before

James Whale James Whale (22 July 1889 – 29 May 1957) was an English film director, theatre director and actor, who spent the greater part of his career in Hollywood. He is best remembered for several horror films: ''Frankenstein'' (1931), '' The O ...

was brought on as director, and he had directed '' Murders in the Rue Morgue''. The film's script was specifically written with

in mind for the film's lead role, with parallels to Lorre's own life, as co-writer Jarrico recalled "The script was 'tailored', as I recall, in a sense Lorre had already been cast." Lorre was cast in the film's lead role of Janos "Johnny" Szabo as the first of a two-picture deal that he was contracted to make for Columbia Pictures.

, who had starred in Victor Fleming's ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'', was cast as Janos' love interest Helen Williams. Actors

, George E. Stone, John Tyrrell, and Cy Schindell were cast in secondary roles for the film. Tyrell and Schindell were both regulars at Columbia Pictures and were well-known for starring in the studio's

Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeare ...

short films. Principal photography began on November 6, 1940, lasting for 20 days.

Release

Theatrical release

''The Face Behind the Mask'' had its official premiere on January 16, 1941.

Reception

''The Face Behind the Mask'' was poorly received during its initial release. In its 1941 review of the film, ''The New York Times'' was critical of the film, writing "Despite a certain pretentiousness toward things psychological, ''The Face Behind the Mask'' may safely be set down as just another bald melodramatic exercise in which the talents of Peter Lorre again are stymied by hackneyed dialogue and conventional plot manipulations." Later reviews of the film have been more positive. Blockbuster Inc.'s ''Guide to Movies and Videos'' rated the film three out of four stars, praising the film's direction, premise, and performances. Leonard Maltin awarded the film three out of a possible four stars, calling the film "Extremely well done on slim budget". Dennis Schwartz from ''Ozus' World Movie Reviews'' gave the film a "B+" on an A+ to F scale, calling it "a horror story in that it offers a vision of the American Dream turning ugly and wrong." ''TV Guide'' rated the film two out of four stars, calling it "A stylish film about human suffering".

Citations

Sources

Books

* * * * * * * * * *

Websites

* * * *

External links

* * * * *
Online article from Turner Classic Movies
{{DEFAULTSORT:Face Behind The Mask, The 1941 films 1941 crime drama films 1941 horror films American black-and-white films American films based on plays American horror films Columbia Pictures films 1940s English-language films Films about immigration to the United States Films directed by Robert Florey Film noir Films set in New York City Films set in Arizona Films shot in California 1940s American films