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:

The Story of a Man Who Murdered Himself and Lived to Regret It!!!

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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

The ship shown at the pier John and Evelyn were going to at the end of the film was named the Don Anselmo. It was originally named Reeving Eye, a C1-M Alamosa-class cargo vessel, built for the U.S. War Shipping Administration by Kaiser Shipbuilding at Portland Oregon in 1945. It was sold to a Panamanian company in 1946. It sank off the coast of Peru in 1971 after a collision with an Ecuadorian Navy ship, with the loss of 13 lives.

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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 Hahn: Don't take too much for granted! A girl has to have a social life.
John Muller: Things have come out of that sweet baby face of yours.
Evelyn Hahn: Don't run away with yourself. Take it easy!
John Muller: Why do I like you?
Evelyn Hahn: My baby blue eyes!

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Zingy Noir With A Pulpy Ending

Lovers of noir will want to check this unusual entry featuring Casablanca's Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid) in a rare heavy role. One of those cautionary tales which amply illustrates how it's often better to stay on your own shabby lawn than to traipse across the seemingly greener grass of the neighbors. A tad slow at times but it builds to the nice and twisty (if inevitable) climax.