Hollow Triumph (1948)

Pursued by the big-time gambler he robbed, John Muller takes a new identity, with ironic results.

Director:

Steve Sekely

Writers:

Daniel Fuchs (screenplay), Murray Forbes (based upon a novel by)

Stars:

Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett, Eduard Franz

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Paul Henreid	...	John Muller / Dr. Bartok
Joan Bennett	...	Evelyn Hahn
Eduard Franz	...	Frederick Muller
Leslie Brooks	...	Virginia Taylor
John Qualen	...	Swangron
Mabel Paige	...	Charwoman
Herbert Rudley	...	Marcy
Charles Arnt	...	Coblenz
George Chandler	...	Aubrey - Assistant
Sid Tomack	...	Artell - Manager
Alvin Hammer	...	Jerry
Ann Staunton	...	Blonde
Paul E. Burns	...	Clerk (as Paul Burns)
Charles Trowbridge	...	Deputy
Morgan Farley	...	Howard Anderson

Storyline

John Muller, medical school dropout and brilliant crook, plans a holdup which goes a little bit wrong, and finds vindictive gambler Rocky Stansyck after him. At the end of his tether, he stumbles onto a lucky chance to assume an impenetrable new identity as psychiatrist Victor Bartok. But irony piles on as Muller finds it's out of the frying pan, into the fire.

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Plot Keywords:

independent film | scar on face | impersonation | damsel in distress | held at gunpoint | 

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Taglines:

HIS SCAR marked them BOTH!!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 1949 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

The Man Who Murdered Himself

Filming Locations:

Hotel Belmont, 251 S. Hill St., Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bryan Foy Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Thomas Browne Henry.

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Goofs

When Muller is looking over the doctor's bank statement for the month of February, 1948, several entry dates fall on a Sunday when the bank would have been closed - February 1, 8, and 15 to be exact.

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Quotes

[Evelyn kisses Muller by mistake]
Evelyn Hahn: What can I do for you?
John Muller: What more could any reasonable man ask?

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Soundtracks

Blue Danube Waltz
(uncredited)
Written by Johann Strauss
Whistled by Muller's workmate at the garage

User Reviews

Victor Laszlo is a crook

Paul Henreid is in every single scene of this movie, and it's hard not to think of him in his most famous role, and to impose that image onto this picture. Henreid's thick accent is a distraction that really robs this movie of some of its charm.

But, the plot twists make up for everything. One takes place in a photo shop, and its significance is immediately apparent. The other is the ending which caught me totally by surprise. I can't say anymore for fear of spoiling it for those who haven't seen it, but I will pause to note how no other commentator here has bothered to note the *irony* of how Laszlo .. er Muller .. er Bartok met his end.

Joan Bennett is terrific here, as a cynical, vulnerable, rather sarcastic secretary who shows herself to be an astute judge of character, though not as hard-hearted as she'd have us believe. Leslie Brooks .. the exquisitely eye-lined Leslie Brooks .. is wasted here.

This is a tedious, hum-drum movie except in the moments when Henreid and Bennett are together on screen, but that wonderful ending is one of the best you'll ever see. 7 out of 10.