The Purple Mask (1955)

France, 1803: 11 years after the Revolution, a royalist underground is led by a new 'Scarlet Pimpernel', the Purple Mask, who rescues nobles in distress and kidnaps Napoleon's officials for... See full summary »

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Oscar Brodney (screenplay), Paul Armont (play),

Stars:

Tony Curtis, Colleen Miller, Gene Barry

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Curtis	...	Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask
Colleen Miller	...	Laurette de Latour
Gene Barry	...	Capt. Charles Laverne
Dan O'Herlihy	...	Brisquet
Angela Lansbury	...	Madame Valentine
George Dolenz	...	Marcel Cadonal
John Hoyt	...	Rochet
Donald Randolph	...	Andre Majolin
Robert Cornthwaite	...	Napoleon Bonaparte
Stephen Bekassy	...	Baron de Morleve
Paul Cavanagh	...	Duc de Latour
Myrna Hansen	...	Constance de Voulois
Allison Hayes	...	Irene de Bournotte
Jane Howard	...	Yvonne de Tressy (as Betty Jane Howarth)
Carl Milletaire	...	Edouard

Storyline

France, 1803: 11 years after the Revolution, a royalist underground is led by a new 'Scarlet Pimpernel', the Purple Mask, who rescues nobles in distress and kidnaps Napoleon's officials for ransom, aided by the spy services of a group of lovely models headed by Laurette (really the Duc de Latour's daughter). But even she doesn't know the Purple Mask's real identity as foppish dancing master Rene...

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Plot Keywords:

mask | color in title | period piece | swashbuckler | based on play

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Genres:

Adventure

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1955 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Die purpurrote Maske

Filming Locations:

Bidwell Park - Manzanita Avenue, Chico, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The cart enters a French forest to the sound of a jungle bird.

User Reviews

For Swashbuckler Fans Only and a Watch is Enough

"The Purple Mask" is a standard swashbuckler with not much pretensions on the line of the masked avengers that fight for what they think right in a hidden personality (tha "Zorro" series, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" or "The Black Tulip" could be clear examples).

Most colorful and rather fast in its development (which is good) the film is in the limit of entertainment for fans of the genre. Romance and acceptable swordplay are there too.

A young Tony Curtis in the main role is no Errol Flynn, but he reaches the level of the movie. Angela Lansbury, Dan O'Herlihy, Gene Barry and John Hoyt (a usual villain) are there too. Robert Cornthwaite doesn't fit as Napoleon, and it is hard to believe that Bonaparte would take so much trouble with just a lonely masked guy that is against his plans for dominating Europe.

Just a watch is enough even if you are a swashbucklers fan.