NitrateVille.com

Philadelphia has been getting a lot of standard broadcast (non cable) sub-channels lately. Lots of odd and sometimes great B-movies as the programming. Last night "Get Tv' had a bunch of Peter Lorre "B's."

"The Face Behind the Mask" is a little Columbia B from 1941 with Lorre and Evelyn Keyes. This has to be among Columbia's best little B films. Lorre's acting as a naive immigrant caught in a fire that destroys his face, is pitch perfect. Keyes as the blind girl who falls in love with him as he is now-- a criminal, is touching.
The film at 69 minutes is not without its flaws, and at times one must suspend belief (I'll leave out the spoilers), but this B film is often more emotionally involving than a lot of A-list movies.

Wish it were available on a dvd. Warner Archive maybe?

Any FBM fans out there? Was this film ever reworked under a different title?

I believe this should come out at some point from Sony's Columbia Classics series, a burn on demand service that you can order through the Warner Archive. When Sony first started Columbia Classics they were asking for feedback and this is the first movie I asked to be included. That was a long time ago. TCM had this on in 2010 and I set the DVR, but it came on earlier than scheduled and I lost the first part of the film. When this comes out I'll be all over it.

"Face Behind The Mask" is definitely available on DVDr. I bought a copy. Not so sure if it can be qualified as an "official" release. Sometimes I have great luck checking iOffer.com. Lots of rare titles come up there quiet often.

Danny

Would like to echo enthusiasm for THE FACE BEHIND THE MASK, which I first saw some thirty years ago and have seen once or twice since. Whether small or large budget, it was an absorbing and well-made film and a credit to all concerned without an ounce of fat on it. Of course, until fairly recently it was usually the better low-budget films which have been made available to us, but THE FACE BEHIND THE MASK was certainly a very good find, and as with THE STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR, probably holds up well after many viewings and years...

Phillyrich wrote:...Any FBM fans out there?

Haven't seen this one, but I'm one hell of an Evelyn Keyes fan.