Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask" (1941)

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:17 am

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?

Mitch Farish · Post by **Mitch Farish** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:35 am

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.

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:39 am

"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

earlytalkiebuffRob · Post by **earlytalkiebuffRob** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 3:55 pm

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...

entredeuxguerres · Post by **entredeuxguerres** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 4:22 pm

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

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

Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask" (1941)

Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask" (1941)

Re: Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask" (1941)

Re: Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask" (1941)

Re: Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask" (1941)

Re: Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask" (1941)