The Man with My Face (film)

The Man with My Face

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Edward Montagne
Charles Kerr (assistant)
Produced by Ed Gardner
Screenplay by Tom McGowan
Edward Montagne
Samuel W. Taylor
Vin Bogert
Based on the novel The Man with My Face
by Samuel W. Taylor
Starring Barry Nelson
Carole Mathews
Lynn Ainley
Music by Robert McBride
Cinematography Fred Jackman, Jr.
Edited by Gene Milford
Distributed by United Artists
Release dates
  • June 14, 1951 (1951-06-14) (New York City)
Running time
 79 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Man with My Face is a 1951 American film noir crime thriller directed by Edward Montagne, featuring Barry Nelson, Carole Mathews, and Lynn Ainley. The film marks Jack Warden's movie debut.[1]

Though the movie takes place in Puerto Rico, the original novel is set in California. However, The Man with My Face holds the distinction of being the only film noir shot on location in that country.

Plot

Set in Puerto Rico, where Charles "Chick" Graham (Nelson) settled down after the war to run a small business with his old Army buddy, now his brother-in-law, Buster Cox (Harvey). Graham comes home one evening to find his wife, Cora (Ainley), acting as if he is an insane stranger. He finds that a double has taken his place. There is a man who looks exactly like him, Albert "Bert" Rand (Nelson), playing cards and drinking in his living room. Cora and Buster, and even Graham's dog, do not recognize him and think the double is him.

Meanwhile, Graham's face has shown up on the front page of newspapers as a bank robber in Miami who made away with half a million dollars. As he runs from the police, he attempts to solve the mystery with the help of an old girlfriend, Mary Davis (Mathews), whom he jilted to marry Cora. Mary's protective brother, Walt Davis (Warden), is wary, but soon joins in trying to figure out the puzzle.

Graham's criminal double attempts to have him killed by hiring an attack dog specialist to have a Doberman go after him. Albert, the evil double has been in on this sinister plan with Cora and her brother, Buster, since before their marriage.

Cast

Reception

Film critic Dennis Schwartz was lukewarm about the film, writing, "The B film has a good premise over mistaken identity, but a lousy execution. Montagne keeps it good enough as a diversionary time killer, but it's just too bad it never was convincing."[2]

References

  1. ↑ The Man with My Face at the TCM Movie Database.
  2. ↑ Schwartz, Dennis. Ozus' World Movie Reviews, film review, February 12, 2011; accessed July 17, 2013.
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