Behind the Mask (1958)

Newly qualified surgeon takes the blame for his drug addict colleague after the death of their patient through neglect.

Director:

Brian Desmond Hurst

Writers:

John Rowan Wilson (novel), John Hunter (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Redgrave, Tony Britton, Carl Möhner

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Redgrave	...	Sir Arthur Benson Gray
Tony Britton	...	Philip Selwood
Carl Möhner	...	Dr. Carl Romek
Niall MacGinnis	...	Neil Isherwood
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Pamela Benson Gray
Ian Bannen	...	Alan Crabtree
Brenda Bruce	...	Elizabeth Fallon
Lionel Jeffries	...	Walter Froy
Miles Malleson	...	Sir Oswald Pettiford
John Welsh	...	Colonel Langley
Ann Firbank	...	Mrs. Judson
John Gale	...	Mr. John Greenwood
Jack Hedley	...	Dr. Galbraith
Hugh Miller	...	Examiner
Mary Skinner	...	Theatre Sister

Storyline

Newly qualified surgeon takes the blame for his drug addict colleague after the death of their patient through neglect.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | 

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Taglines:

Behind-the-scenes drama of a Great Hospital

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Vanessa Redgrave played the part of Pamela Benson Gray. Her on-screen father, Sir Arthur Benson Gray, was her real father Sir Michael Redgrave.

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Quotes

Alan Crabtree: Well, let's face it, the profession's overcrowded. We're like survivors in a raft - too many for the biscuits. When one of us falls in, it's got it's bright side.

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Crazy Credits

Colour by Eastmancolour

User Reviews

The Man Who Learned

Brian Desmond Hurst is best remembered for his SCROOGE starring Alistair Sim. Here, he tackles the usual story of a young surgeon, played by Tony Britton, starting out under the aegis of Michael Redgrave -- Britton's character is engaged to Redgrave's daughter, played by Vanessa Redgrave in her screen acting debut.

Careful attention has been paid to technical issues of the era, and the capable cast handles their roles well enough. However, the standard plots of such movies are in full evidence, making this movie lack more than the standard levels of emotional involvement -- it's obvious that certain roles are going to behave in certain ways at certain times. In addition, DP Robert Krasker's color cinematography has a late-40s green cast to it and it looks like the color separations have shrunk at microscopically different rates making it slightly out of focus. I suspect the green cast may have something to do with the drug-addict-doctor subplot, adding an absinthe tint to the affair.

Still, Hurst's usual highly competent work keeps things moving along nicely. This one is definitely worth your time.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hinter der Maske

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

GW Films, British Lion Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White (opening credits) Color (Colour by) (Eastmancolour)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1