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IMDbPro

The Face Behind the Mask

  • 1941
  • Approved
  • 1h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Peter Lorre, Evelyn Keyes, and George E. Stone in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir

A disfigured watch-maker with a grudge against society embarks on a life of crime.A disfigured watch-maker with a grudge against society embarks on a life of crime.A disfigured watch-maker with a grudge against society embarks on a life of crime.

  • Director
    • Robert Florey
  • Writers
    • Allen Vincent
    • Paul Jarrico
    • Arthur Levinson
  • Stars
    • Peter Lorre
    • Evelyn Keyes
    • Don Beddoe
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Florey
    • Writers
      • Allen Vincent
      • Paul Jarrico
      • Arthur Levinson
    • Stars
      • Peter Lorre
      • Evelyn Keyes
      • Don Beddoe
    • 34User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos91

    Peter Lorre in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Peter Lorre in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Peter Lorre and George E. Stone in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Peter Lorre and Evelyn Keyes in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Peter Lorre in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Peter Lorre and Evelyn Keyes in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Evelyn Keyes in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    George E. Stone in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Evelyn Keyes in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    Mary Currier in The Face Behind the Mask (1941)
    The Face Behind the Mask (1941)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Janos 'Johnny' Szabo
    Evelyn Keyes
    Evelyn Keyes
    • Helen Williams
    Don Beddoe
    Don Beddoe
    • Lt. James 'Jim' O'Hara
    George E. Stone
    George E. Stone
    • Dinky
    John Tyrrell
    John Tyrrell
    • Watts
    Cy Schindell
    • Benson
    • (as Al Seymour)
    Stanley Brown
    Stanley Brown
    • Harry
    James Seay
    James Seay
    • Jeff Jeffries
    Warren Ashe
    Warren Ashe
    • Johnson, Reporter
    Charles C. Wilson
    Charles C. Wilson
    • Chief O'Brien
    • (as Charles Wilson)
    George McKay
    • Terry Finnegan
    Ernie Adams
    Ernie Adams
    • Hotel Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Ash
    Sam Ash
    • Mike Cary - Pilot
    • (uncredited)
    Al Bridge
    Al Bridge
    • Flop House Manager
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Currier
    Mary Currier
    • Burn Treatment Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    John Dilson
    John Dilson
    • Man at Dock Asking for a Light
    • (uncredited)
    Sarah Edwards
    Sarah Edwards
    • Mrs. Perkins
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Foster
    • Street Passerby Lighting Cigarette
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Florey
    • Writers
      • Allen Vincent
      • Paul Jarrico
      • Arthur Levinson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Part of the SON OF SHOCK package of 20 titles released to television in 1958, which followed the original Shock Theater release of 52 features one year earlier. This was also one of the 11 Columbia titles, the other 61 all being Universals.
    • Quotes

      Dinky: What do you get out of bein' dead? Layin' in a grave ain't my idea of life.

    • Connections
      Featured in Shock Theater: The Face Behind The Mask (1959)

    User reviews34

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    "Mr. Policeman, I'm gangstered!"
    Exceptional B movie from Columbia, directed by Robert Florey and starring Peter Lorre as a hopeful, innocent Hungarian immigrant whose face is burned in a fire on his first day in New York. His horrible disfigurement makes it hard for him to get work so he turns to a life of crime. Eventually he's leading his own gang and makes enough money to pay for a realistic mask to hide his burns. When he falls in love with a blind woman (Evelyn Keyes) and wants to go straight, his gang turns on him.

    There are no bells and whistles here, just fine acting, a decent script, and nice direction. Sensitive, brilliant performance from Peter Lorre that is far better than you would expect to find in a quickie that was filmed in less than a month. The often underrated Evelyn Keyes is terrific in this. Solid support from Don Beddoe and George E. Stone. Robert Florey's noirish direction is a major plus. He would re-team with Lorre later for the classic The Beast with Five Fingers. It's a very good film that's a sort of blend of gangster and horror pictures. If nothing else, see it for one of Peter Lorre's best starring roles.
    helpful•13
    1
    • utgard14
    • Aug 7, 2015

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 16, 1941 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Behind the Mask
    • Filming locations
      • Yuma, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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