''Specter of the Rose'' is a 1946 film noir thriller film written and directed by Ben Hecht and starring

Judith Anderson Dame Frances Margaret Anderson, (10 February 18973 January 1992), known professionally as Judith Anderson, was an Australian actress who had a successful career in stage, film and television. A pre-eminent stage actress in her era, she won two ...

, Ivan Kirov, Viola Essen,

Michael Chekhov Mikhail Aleksandrovich Chekhov (russian: Михаил Александрович Чехов; 29 August 1891 – 30 September 1955), known as Michael Chekhov, was an American actor, director, author and theatre practitioner. He was a nephew ...

, and

Lionel Stander Lionel Jay Stander (January 11, 1908 – November 30, 1994) was an American actor in films, radio, theater and television. He is best remembered for his role as majordomo Max on the 1980s mystery television series '' Hart to Hart''. Early ...

, with choreography by

Tamara Geva Tamara Geva (russian: Тамара Жева, born Tamara Levkievna Zheverzheeva, russian: Тамара Левкиевна Жевержеева; 17 March 1906 – 9 December 1997) was a Soviet and later an American actress, ballet dancer, and c ...

, and music by

George Antheil George Johann Carl Antheil (; July 8, 1900 – February 12, 1959) was an American avant-garde composer, pianist, author, and inventor whose modernist musical compositions explored the modern sounds – musical, industrial, and mechanical – of t ...

Plot

A male ballet superstar is suspected of murdering his first wife (his former ballet partner) and now possibly threatening his new wife and ballet partner. Andre Sanine has not performed since his wife's death on stage. He has been haunted by ''Le Spectre de la Rose'', the music being played when she collapsed. But he is willing to attempt a comeback arranged by impresario Max "Poli" Polikoff, who tries to persuade ballet instructor Madame La Sylph that the time has come for Sanine, her former student, to return. Sanine is to perform with Haidi, the company's new prodigy. As they rehearse, they also fall in love. La Sylph cautions her that she saw Sanine's rage in person before Nina's death. Haidi attempts to keep Sanine by her side for several days, concerned over signs of a relapse in his behavior. Hearing the music, Sanine picks up a knife and places it at the throat of the sleeping Haidi, the woman he loves. He comes to his senses at the last possible second, then sacrifices himself for her sake.

Cast

as Madame La Sylph *

as Max Polikoff * Ivan Kirov as Andre Sanine * Viola Essen as Haidi *

as Lionel Gans * Charles Marshall as Specs McFarlan * George Shdanoff as Kropotkin * Billy Gray as Jack Jones * Juan Panalle as Jibby * Lew Hearn as Mr. Lyons * Ferike Boros as Mamochka * Bert Hanlon as Margolies * Constantine as Alexis Bloom * Fred Pollino as Giovanni * Polly Rose as Olga

Background

Excerpts from the ballet '' Le Spectre de la Rose'', which uses

Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (18 or 19 November 17865 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his operas, ...

's piano piece '' Invitation to the Dance'' as orchestrated by Hector Berlioz, are featured in the film.

Adaptation

The screenplay was adapted for the radio series ''

Inner Sanctum Mysteries ''Inner Sanctum Mystery'', also known as ''Inner Sanctum'', is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952. It was created by producer Himan Brown and was based on the imprint given to the mystery novels ...

'' on August 19, 1946. Ben Hecht appeared and the script was adapted by the playwright and Broadway stage actor Robert Sloane.

Reception

When the film was released, ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' magazine gave the film a mixed review. The staff wrote, "Ben Hecht, to say the least, has done the expected by coming up with the unusual. ''Specter of the Rose'' was obviously a conscious attempt by Hecht to prove on how small a budget he could produce an acceptable picture. Reports are that it cost in the neighborhood of $160,000. The serious defect production wise is a general lack of polish that is at times disturbing ... Hecht’s direction and dialog give the acting a stylized artificiality that grows on the spectator as the picture progresses. Satire of the characterizations makes many of the film’s people virtually caricatures."''Variety''
Staff film review, 1946. Accessed: July 26, 2013.

References

External links

* * * * *

Streaming audio

''Specter of the Rose''
on

Inner Sanctum Mystery ''Inner Sanctum Mystery'', also known as ''Inner Sanctum'', is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952. It was created by producer Himan Brown and was based on the imprint given to the mystery novels ...

: August 19, 1946 {{Ben Hecht 1946 films 1940s thriller drama films American thriller drama films Films about ballet American black-and-white films Film noir Films scored by George Antheil Republic Pictures films Films with screenplays by Ben Hecht Films directed by Ben Hecht 1946 drama films 1940s American films