film noir
Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...
directed by
Hugo Haas
Hugo Haas (19 February 1901 – 1 December 1968) was a Czech film actor, director and writer. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1926 and 1962, as well as directing 20 films between 1933 and 1962.
Life and career
Haas was born in B ...
Mona Barrie
Mona Barrie (born Mona Barlee Smith; 18 December 1909 – 27 June 1964) was an English-born actress, active on stage in Australia before establishing a career in the US, and in Hollywood films.
Career
Born Mona Barlee Smith in London to comedi ...
.. This was the first of six films pairing Haas and Moore.
Plot
The life of Paul Marvan (Haas), a world-famous concert pianist, is ruined after his marriage to beautiful
femme fatale
A ''femme fatale'' ( or ; ), sometimes called a maneater or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype of ...
Margo (Moore). Margo is hardly a femme fatale. She's one of many blondes in Hugo Haas' films who is trying to do her best with men coming at her every second. She's actually sensitive, smart and compassionate. If you actually listen to the dialogue of this movie it's quite grown up, especially the final conversation between Margo and Marvan's patron, Diana Fowler. The level of honesty in this film is as powerful as it is unexpected.
It has also been noted, especially by Czech scholar Milan Hain, that the plot also recalls Hugo Haas' brother Pavel (1899-1944) who died in the camps. Not only does the main character take on the career of a musician, but his brother's name as well.
Hugo Haas
Hugo Haas (19 February 1901 – 1 December 1968) was a Czech film actor, director and writer. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1926 and 1962, as well as directing 20 films between 1933 and 1962.
Life and career
Haas was born in B ...
as Paul Marvan
*
Mona Barrie
Mona Barrie (born Mona Barlee Smith; 18 December 1909 – 27 June 1964) was an English-born actress, active on stage in Australia before establishing a career in the US, and in Hollywood films.
Career
Born Mona Barlee Smith in London to comedi ...
as Diana Fowler
*
Rick Vallin
Rick Vallin (born Eric Efron; September 24, 1919 – August 31, 1977) was an actor who appeared in more than 150 films between 1938 and 1966.
Early years
Born in Feodosia, in the Crimea, Russia, Vallin came to the United States at age there ...
as Carlo
*
Karen Sharpe
Karen Kay Sharpe (born September 20, 1934) is an American film and television actress. She is known for playing Laura Thomas in the American western television series ''Johnny Ringo''.
Life and career
Sharpe was born in San Antonio, Texas, th ...