The Mark (1961)

A man who served prison time for intent to molest a child tries to build a new life with the help of a sympathetic psychiatrist.

Director:

Guy Green

Writers:

Sidney Buchman, Charles E. Israel (novel),

Stars:

Maria Schell, Stuart Whitman, Rod Steiger

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maria Schell	...	Ruth Leighton
Stuart Whitman	...	Jim Fuller
Rod Steiger	...	Dr. Edmund McNally
Brenda de Banzie	...	Mrs. Cartwright
Donald Houston	...	Austin (reporter)
Donald Wolfit	...	Clive
Paul Rogers	...	Milne
Maurice Denham	...	Arnold Cartwright
Amanda Black	...	Janie
Marie Devereux	...	Ellen
Bill Foley	...	Mr. Fuller
Anne Monaghan	...	Mrs. Fuller
Josephine Frayne	...	Patricia
Eddie Byrne	...	Acker
Al Mulock	...	Convict

Storyline

This is the story of a 33 year old man, Jim Fuller, released from prison after serving a three year term for intent to commit child molestation. Fuller is assisted by the prison psychiatrist in obtaining a position. He does well in this position and falls in love with the secretary of the owner of the company. A child is molested and beaten in the town where he now lives and the police pick him up for questioning. He has an alibi and is released, but a reporter who covered his former trial recognizes him. The reporter begins to follow him and reports that Fuller spent time alone with the daughter of his girl friend.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | psychiatrist | reporter | daughter | molestation | 

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Taglines:

A film which doesn't 'protect' you from the truth!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 1961 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Gebrandmarkt

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Buckman, Raymond Stross Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Stuart Whitman was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, his competition included 'Maria Schell''s brother 'Maximillian Schell' for his role in "Judgement at Nuremberg." Schell won.

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Connections

Referenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)

User Reviews

A forgotten triumph

One of the best films of the 1960's is almost forgotten today, along with its superb lead performance by Stuart Whitman, who was nominated for the Oscar for this movie and whose career was downhill from then on. Whitman is given expert support by Rod Steiger as his psychiatrist and Maria Schell (her career high) as his girlfriend. Dicey subject matter (sex crimes) handled with taste and talent.