The Face Behind The Mask is a 1941 American film noir crime film with horror overtones directed by Robert Florey and starring Peter Lorre and Evelyn Keyes.
It tells the story of a hopeful new Hungarian immigrant Janos Szabo (Peter Lorre), who, on his first day in New York City, is trapped in a hotel fire that leaves his face hideously scarred. Refused employment due to his appearance, although he possesses tremendous skill as a watchmaker, the only way he can survive is by turning to theft, using his skilled hands to disable alarms.
This short 70 minute film is a great showcase for the talents of Peter Lorre. It’s suspenseful and its bleak, horrific ending will not soon be forgotten.
This film has rarely been seen since its original release. The Viavision Imprint recent Blu-Ray release is a sparkling encoding of the film. It’s highly recommended to fans of film noir and horror.
