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Post by Salzmank on Dec 26, 2017 20:47:18 GMT
Just wanted to kick in with another Florey gem, The Face Behind the Mask. An especially effective vehicle for Peter Lorre, it's a wonderful demonstration of his range, finding him going from wide-eyed, eager to please immigrant to desperate outcast to ruthless crime boss to tender suitor, doting husband and, ultimately, dealer of cold, calculating vengeance. Accomplishing quite a lot in under 70 minutes, it weaves an unconventional tale that's epic in its own modest way, and full of twists and turns while infused with sensitivity throughout. With The Beast With Five Fingers, it fills out a twin package of Florey-Lorre glory. Haven't seen The Florentine Dagger; its thumbnail synopsis sounds thematically similar to Mad Love (speaking of Lorre), released only four months later. I'll have to seek that one out. I haven’t actually seen The Face Behind the Mask, Doghouse, but it sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation. As for The Florentine Dagger, it’s a fun whodunit with a good horror streak; the atmospherics are particularly good (as they are in Murders in the Rue Morgue). Also some plotting similarities with Castle in the Desert, one of the better late Chans. Mad Love is one of my long-time favorite horror flicks, but I’ve never actually thought that there were that many similarities… I’m going to have to look again. |
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