The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Eric Ambler (novel)
Frank Gruber (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 July 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery

Tagline:

The Fabulous Tale OF A MAN OF MYSTERY!

Plot:

A mystery writer named Leyden is intrigued by the tale of notorious criminal Dimitrios Makropolous,...

Plot Keywords:

Istanbul | Writer | Criminal | Flashback Sequence | Belgrade

Cast

Sydney Greenstreet	...	Mr. Peters
Zachary Scott	...	Dimitrios Makropoulos
Faye Emerson	...	Irana Preveza
Peter Lorre	...	Cornelius Leyden
Victor Francen	...	Wladislaw Grudek
Steven Geray	...	Karel Bulic
Florence Bates	...	Madame Elise Chavez
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Marukakis (as Edward Ciannelli)
Kurt Katch	...	Colonel Haki
Marjorie Hoshelle	...	Anna Bulic
Georges Metaxa	...	Hans Werner
John Abbott	...	Mr. Pappas
Monte Blue	...	Abdul Dhris
David Hoffman	...	Konrad
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Andre	...	French Train Conductor (uncredited)
Vince Barnett	...	Card Game Kibitzer (uncredited)
Felix Basch	...	Vazoff (uncredited)
John Bleifer	...	Coach Driver (uncredited)
Hella Crossley	...	Bulgarian Hostess (uncredited)
Carmen D'Antonio	...	Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
Ray De Ravenne	...	French Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Fred Essler	...	Mr. Bostoff (uncredited)
Eddie Fields	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Antonio Filauri	...	Man Across Table (uncredited)
Gregory Golubeff	...	Yugoslav Doorkeeper (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Man Shadowing Peters and Leyden (uncredited)
Peter Helmers	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Rita Holland	...	Girl on Beach (uncredited)
Eddie Hyans	...	Turkish Man (uncredited)
Frank Lackteen	...	Turkish Soldier (uncredited)
Mary Landa	...	Flower Girl (uncredited)
Adolf E. Licho	...	Bulgarian Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Roulette Croupier (uncredited)
Lal Chand Mehra	...	Turkish Servant (uncredited)
Louis Mercier	...	Bulgarian Policeman (uncredited)
Jules Molnar	...	Servant with Tray (uncredited)
John Mylong	...	Druhar (uncredited)
Carl Neubert	...	Druhar's Secretary (uncredited)
Alfred Paix	...	Card Player (uncredited)
Lotte Palfi Andor	...	Yugoslav Receptionist (uncredited)
Walter Palm	...	Butler (uncredited)
Nino Pipitone	...	Hotel Clerk in Istanbul (uncredited)
Pedro Regas	...	Turkish Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
Georges Renavent	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
Philip Rock	...	Boy on Beach (uncredited)
Leonid Snegoff	...	Stambulisky (uncredited)
Rola Stewart	...	Girl on Beach (uncredited)
Nick Thompson	...	Porter on Train (uncredited)
Albert Van Antwerp	...	Bulgarian Landlord (uncredited)
Michael Visaroff	...	Bulgarian Policeman (uncredited)
Marek Windheim	...	Hotel Clerk in Paris (uncredited)

Directed by
Jean Negulesco

Writing credits
Eric Ambler		(novel "A Coffin for Dimitrios")
Frank Gruber		(screenplay)

Produced by
Henry Blanke	....	producer
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Adolph Deutsch

Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frederick Richards

Art Direction by
Ted Smith

Set Decoration by
Walter F. Tilford		(as Walter Tilford)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Sullivan	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Oliver S. Garretson	....	sound

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Jerome Moross	....	music arranger: orchestral arrangements (as Jerome Morross)
Julius Klein	....	musician (uncredited)

Other crew
Herschel Daugherty	....	dialogue director
Michael D. Kadri	....	technical advisor
Jack L. Warner	....	presenter
Louanne Hogan	....	humming voice: Faye Emerson (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (as Warner Bros.-First National Pictures)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1944) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #9821) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

For a scene taking place in the Parisian subway,which was rebuilt and filmed on Warner sound stage,the name of subway station "Balard" is misspelled and written "Ballard".

Quotes:

Mr. Peters: Mr. Leyden, may I use your paper?
Cornelius Leyden: Oh go right ahead -- you used everything else!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "It Takes a Thief: Guess Who's Coming to Rio (#2.13)" (1969)

Soundtrack:

Waltz from 'Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48'

Excellent dark film with a plethora of standout performances

This excellent slice of film noir sees classic actor Peter Lorre in a role that is less sinister than what we're used to seeing from him, but nevertheless; the refined performer manages a portrayal that really is a major asset for this film. The plot takes in elements of mystery and suspense and features themes of intrigue and greed at its centre. The film follows a writer who learns of a devilishly intelligent criminal by the name of Dimitrios Makropoulos, whose corpse is washed up on the shore of Istanbul. Knowing that this will give him a good base for a story, the writer follows his story across Europe and learns more and more about the illusive criminal. Much of the film's plot takes place in flashbacks, and in this respect, Jean Negulesco's film is very clever as we get to see the central figure's actions at the same time as learning about the kind of man he is; and like the writer at the heart of the tale, it's easy to become intrigued with the character of Dimitrios by watching the flashbacks.

The cast really is a strong element of this film, and starring alongside Peter Lorre is his co-star in The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca and The Verdict (to name a few), Sydney Greenstreet. These two actors work well together, and this is shown by the way that their dialogue flows. They're a bit of an odd couple, with Lorre being a very short European and Greenstreet being an enormous Englishman, but really that just adds to the appeal. An excellent supporting performance from a very dapper Zachary Scott rounds off the film in the acting department. The Mask of Dimitrios benefits from its dark picture, which in turn lends the film a grim and foreboding atmosphere. The locations are good, as the film takes place across Europe, with scenes taking place in Paris, Istanbul and Athens to name a few places. The plot moves very well as it straddles between what is happening in the present and what went on in the past, and Frank Gruber's screenplay does a great job of ensuring that the characters are well thought-out in a film that is as intriguing as it is thrilling. Recommended.