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poster of The Mask of Dimitrios
Rating: 7/10 by 49 users

The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)

A mystery writer is intrigued by the tale of notorious criminal Dimitrios Makropolous, whose dead body was found washed up on the shore in Istanbul. He decides to follow the career of Dimitrios around Europe, in order to learn more about the man. Along the way he is joined by the mysterious Mr. Peters, who has his own motivation.

Directing:
  • Jean Negulesco
  • Jack Sullivan
Writing:
  • Eric Ambler
  • Frank Gruber
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Jun 23, 1944

Rating: 7/10 by 49 users

Alternative Title:
Le Masque de Dimitrios - FR

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 35 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: espionage, blackmail, film noir, betrayal

Peter Lorre
Cornelius Leyden
Zachary Scott
Dimitrios Makropoulos
Faye Emerson
Irana Preveza
Victor Francen
Wladislaw Grudek
Steven Geray
Karel Bulic
Florence Bates
Madame Elise Chavez
Eduardo Ciannelli
Marukakis (as Edward Ciannelli)
Kurt Katch
Colonel Haki
John Abbott
Mr. Pappas
Monte Blue
Abdul Dhris
Charles Andre
French Train Conductor (uncredited)
Vince Barnett
Card Game Kibitzer (uncredited)
Felix Basch
Vazoff (uncredited)
Edward Biby
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Ted Billings
Bar Patron (uncredited)
John Bleifer
Coach Driver (uncredited)
James Carlisle
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Gino Corrado
Man at Grudek's Restaurant Table (uncredited)
Hella Crossley
Bulgarian Hostess (uncredited)
Carmen D'Antonio
Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
Ray De Ravenne
French Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Carl Deloro
Minor Role (uncredited)
Helen Dickson
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Fred Essler
Mr. Bostoff (uncredited)
Tom Ferrandini
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Eddie Fields
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Antonio Filauri
Man Across Table (uncredited)
Joe Gilbert
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Gregory Golubeff
Yugoslav Doorkeeper (uncredited)
Dick Gordon
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Sol Gorss
Man Shadowing Peters and Leyden (uncredited)
Marion Gray
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Peter Helmers
Reporter (uncredited)
Rita Holland
Girl on Beach (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Eddie Hyans
Turkish Man (uncredited)
Frank Lackteen
Turkish Soldier (uncredited)
Mary Landa
Flower Girl (uncredited)
Carl M. Leviness
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Adolf E. Licho
Bulgarian Café Proprietor (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell
Roulette Croupier (uncredited)
Lal Chand Mehra
Turkish Servant (uncredited)
Louis Mercier
Bulgarian Policeman (uncredited)
Jules Molnar
Servant with Tray (uncredited)
Sol Murgi
Casino Patron (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)
José Portugal
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Pedro Regas
Turkish Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
Georges Renavent
Fisherman (uncredited)
Phillip Rock
Boy on Beach (uncredited)
Leonid Snegoff
Stambulisky (uncredited)
Count Stefenelli
Party Guest (uncredited)
Rola Stewart
Girl on Beach (uncredited)
Nick Thompson
Porter on Train (uncredited)
Sid Troy
Police Officer (uncredited)
Albert Van Antwerp
Bulgarian Landlord (uncredited)
Michael Visaroff
Bulgarian Policeman (uncredited)
Marek Windheim
Hotel Clerk in Paris (uncredited)

John Chard

A Coffin for Dimitrios. The Mask of Dimitrios is directed by Jean Negulesco and adapted to screenplay by Frank Gruber from the novel "A Coffin for Dimitrios" written by Eric Ambler. It stars Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Zachary Scott and Faye Emerson. Music is by Adolph Deutsch and cinematography by Arthur Edeson. "For money, some men will allow the innocent to hang. They will turn traitor...they will lie, cheat, steal...they will kill. They appear brilliant, charming, generous! But they are deadly. Such a man was Dimitrios" Dimitrios alright - ruthless and primitive. Foreign intrigue mystery thriller dressed up in film noir clobber, Jean Negulesco's film is a treat for the so inclined. Often tagged as the inferior baby brother of John Huston's The Maltese Falcon, that statement shouldn't detract from what a good film Dimitrios is. Plot finds Lorre as mystery novelist Cornelius Leyden, who after learning of the body of master scally-wag Dimitrios Makropoulos (Scott) being washed up dead on the shores of the Bosphorus, seeks out his history in the hope of writing a novel about him - aided by the suspicious Mr. Peters (Greenstreet). What he finds is waters more muddier and deeper than the Bosphorus itself. Narrative is a two pronged affair, we are in the company of Leyden and Peters during real time, and in the dubious company of Dimitrios in a number of flashbacks that introduce new characters that are bruised and battered, or worse, by Dimitrios' actions. The story moves through a number of exotic European locations, ensuring there's always a cosmopolitan feel to the intrigue. Intrigue that ticks away nicely because nothing you sense is as it seems. Moody atmosphere is unbound via Edeson's (also The Maltese Falcon) photography, plenty of low lights and shadows ensure all the mystery machinations are given added impetus. Back on release some critics bemoaned the lack of action and of "A" list stars, which now looks very unfair criticism. Certainly Greenstreet and Lorre to their fans have never been seen as lesser lights, their body of work holding up as joyous celluloid art. While the lack of action is irrelevant, this is about story telling and of characterisations, of mystery unravels, all of which leads to a super finale that rewards those who invested their time. 8/10


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