HOLLOW TRIUMPH (THE SCAR)
US, 1948, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Joan Bennett, Paul Henreid, Eduard Franz, Leslie Brooks,
John Qualen.
Directed by Steve Sekely.
Hollow Triumph (The Scar) is an entertaining tough film noir of the late '40s. It stars, was produced and co-directed by Paul Henreid. He acts as a criminal as well as a psychiatrist - almost making the audience believe that his murder scheme and impersonation could actually come off. The film is dark, ruthless, and ironic in its poetic justice at the end. Typical enough of so many of the thrillers of the time, it is a good example of its kind.
1. An entertaining thriller? Film noir? The underworld, crime, justice?
2. Black and white photography, light and darkness, shadows? Visual style and compositions, set-ups? Effects for Paul Henreid's double role? Musical score?
3. The title and its irony? The hollow triumph for Muller? The irony of the scar?
4. The portrait of John Muller as an intelligent psychopath: the prison opening, his record, his background studies, his being released, teaming up with the gangsters, the plan, the casino robbery - and -the irony of the delay with lights? The getaway? His being pursued, being killed? The others moving away from him? His decision to hide out in the factory? His work, clashes? His brother and his concern? The irony of the dentist noticing? With the doctor? His dating Evelyn, falling in love with her? His tricking her? His decision to take over the doctor's personality? The detail of studying him, the job as the garage attendant, photos (and the irony of the scar on the wrong side?), following him, cigarettes and manner? The engineering of the doctor's death, getting rid of the body? His arrival? His ability to impersonate the doctor, the patients and their acceptance Evelyn and her wariness, watching him? The visit of his brother and his putting him off? Evelyn knowing the truth, covering for to run away? The girl and her comment? girlfriend and the scar? His trying to cope with the doctor's orchid arrangement, learning her name, the gambling? His account? The decision to go with Evelyn? Packing, going to the boat? The gambling club's hoods attacking being killed, the doctor's money debts? His struggling to see Evelyn - and her missing him? The bleakness of his death?
5. Evelyn and her work for the doctor, attracted by Johnny, outings with him, relaxed? Her hard-bitten attitudes? His dumping her? Her meeting him as the doctor, covering up? her discovering the truth, covering for him, wanting to leave? Her moral judgments? Her love? The voyage? Her looking for him futilely?
6. The world of gangsters, convicts leaving prison, teaming up, the execution of jobs, violence? Casino bosses and their pursuit? Sophisticated gambling quarters and phoney debts? The world of gambling?
7. The irony of Johnny's brother and his concern? his unwittingly telling that he was no longer being sought? The irony of his final execution?
8. The psychological background of the film? The patients? The popularity of psychoanalysis and the humorous touches with the various clients?
9. The popularity of such ironic thrillers in the later '40s? Action and pace, intensity, psychology? The sardonic attitudes?
