THE MAN WITH MY FACE
US, 1951, 79 minutes, Black-and-white.
Barry Nelson, Carole Matthews, Lynn Ainley, John Harvey, Jack Warden, Henry Lascoe.
Directed by Edward Montagne.
This is a small-budget feature from the early 1950s. There is a certain novelty in the story which makes it worth a look as well as Barry Nelson as the star with two different roles, the genial hero as well as the criminal doppelgänger. The setting is Puerto Rico.
The film focuses on Chick Graham, a businessman who has been in the war, setting up a business in Puerto Rico with his brother-in-law. His wife is glamorous – but severe. One evening he arrives home to find his double claiming to be him, supported by his wife and brother-in-law, their calling the police, the testing with signature and fingerprint.
While he wanders around the city, recognised by a number of people, there is a set up which will lead to a climax, especially an ex-military friend of the villain who has a Doberman which he sets on Grahame, unsuccessfully. Graham also contacts a past girlfriend and her hostile brother who decide to help him. Another young woman encounters him, mistaking him for the criminal – and she is killed. A local businessman also tries to doublecross the villain – and experiences the Doberman.
It all builds up to a climax, the girlfriend tricking the brother-in-law and his leading them to the house – but there is a huge climax along the beach, the cliffs, the ruins of old fortifications. And, neatly, when the villain wants to disguise himself as his doppelgänger and elude the police, he forgets that the dog has been trained to attack him. And does. And happy ending.
1. The usual thriller with unusual plot developments?
2. The setting in Puerto Rico, the aftermath of the war, American setting up business, the status of Puerto Rico? The city of San Juan? Homes and streets, the American look? Business offices? Bars? The coast, the beach, the cliffs, the fortifications? The musical score?
3. Barry Nelson, the double performance and his success in making a contrast between the two characters and their attitudes?
4. Chick Graham’s story, the voice-over, his history with his brother-in-law, his wife and her luxury life, work, her not picking him up, going home, the confrontation, his wife and brother-in-law against him, taking over his life and business, the getting the police to pursue him, persuading the police with signature and fingerprint?
5. Graham, wandering, the bar, being recognised, the businessman and the setting up of the appointment and his later being used to identify the villain?
6. The background of the doppelgänger, the brother-in-law and wife, the setup, his friend with the Doberman, setting the Doberman on Graham, his escape?
7. Graham, contacting Mary and her brother, the past story, her love for him, the brother backing down? Their being agreeable to help? Graham accosted by Juanita, the apartment, her love for the villain, shielding him and sheltering him? Graham answering the phone? Her death?
8. The plans to leave Puerto Rico, the ticket, the wharf, the police, Graham having to stay?
9. The man with the dog, taking Graham to the house, under guard, Graham finally trapping the dog in the room? The brother-in-law going to meet Mary, the police, the interrogation?
10. Graham escaping, running along the beach, the cliffs and climbing, the fortifications, the tunnels? The double in pursuit? The man with the Doberman? The police trapping the double? His taking off his coat and tie and pretending to be Graham? And the dog attacking him, his fall?
11. And happy ending?
