The mask of dimitrios, dvd, full frame, manufactured on demand, dolby, mono sound, suspensefilm noir, 883316781524. This is the first feature film of director jean negulesco. He has written books on economics, but, latterly, has become successful as a writer of popular, well written detective stories. In the united states it was published as a coffin for dimitrios. The face behind the mask noirhorror 1941 peter lorre by joe evangelista.
The mask of dimitrios is a 1944 american film noir directed by jean negulesco and written by frank gruber, based on the 1939 novel of the same name written by eric ambler in the united states, it was published as a coffin for dimitrios. He offers to tell leyden about dimitrios makropoulos zachary scott, a notorious criminal whose body was. Not le carre, not deighton, not ludlum have surpassed the. The mask of dimitrios project gutenberg selfpublishing. The mask of dimitrios original trailer peter lorre is a meek novelist who investigates the mysterious death of notorious scoundrel zachary scott in the mask of dimitrios 1944. English crime novelist charles latimer is holidaying in istanbul when he. Sydney greenstreet and peter lorre make a marvelous team in this exhilarating and atmospheric film noir that daily variety hailed as one of. The stars of the film are two well known contract players at warner brothers. The mask of dimitrios 1944 full movie download full hd.
In 1946 negulesco directed nobody lives forever, a noir that. Yes, the two character actors that gave casablanca and. And, in entering dimitrios criminal underworld, latimer. A frenchman named chamfort, who should have known better, once said that chance was a nickname for providence. Lorre reins it in to play a detective novelist, an innocent abroad whose curiosity lands him on the trail of international man of. Jun 05, 2009 near the beginning of the mask of dimitrios, his most celebrated novel, he gives a terse account of the final weeks of the 191922 grecoturkish war and the sack of smyrna soon to become izmir. Fascinated by the story, latimer decides to retrace dimitrios steps across europe to gather material for a new book.
The warner archive collection dvdr of the mask of dimitrios is a good transfer of this lushly photographed slice of foreign intrigue. Long considered a cult favorite and especially loved by fans of peter lorre, the mask of dimitrios is a foreign intrigue mystery thriller originally from the pen of the respected writer eric ambler. While traveling abroad in turkey he was introduced to the chief of the secret police. The mask of dimitrios by eric ambler overdrive rakuten. With help from local marukakis eduardo cianelli, dutch writer leyden peter lorre has come to sofia, meeting the cagey irana faye emerson, who reveals some of her experience with the title character zachary scott, in the mask of dimitrios, 1944, from an eric ambler novel. The mask of dimitrios 1944 stream and watch online. The mask of dimitrios movie quotes rotten tomatoes. Mystery writer cornelius leyden becomes intrigued when the murdered body of a vicious career criminal washes up in the bosphorus. There is some dirt and some reels are a bit softer than others, which is perhaps a sign of difficulty working with less than optimal elements. Also from 1944 was the conspirators, a spy thriller that starred lorre, greenstreet, hedy lamarr, and paul henreid. Watch the mask of dimitrios full english full movie online.
View the tcmdb entry for the mask of dimitrios 1944. Negulesco was slated to direct the maltese falcon in 1941, but was soon replaced by john huston. The only major change is to accommodate peter lorre. The mask of dimitrios by eric ambler the 1964th greatest. The mask of dimitrios 1944 jean negulesco synopsis. Videos for the mask of dimitrios turner classic movies. The mask of dimitrios backgrounded with international intrigues, the mask of dimitrios has an occasional element of suspense, but those moments are comparatively few. If you like your crime fiction a bit different from the eternal parlour games staged by writers like agatha christie, try reading the mask of dimitrios by eric ambler, and you will experience a virtuoso mixture of a novel of detection and a portrait of europe in the first half of the 19th century, a. Still at the opening party in istanbul, turkish cop haki kurt katch buttonholing vacationing novelist leyden peter lorre, then offering him a glimpse at the intriguing title character zachary scott, not seen, in the mask of dimitrios, 1944, from an eric ambler novel.
Background to danger, epitaph for a spy, cause for alarm, a coffin for dimitrios, and journey into fear. The mask of dimitrios film by negulesco 1944 britannica. The mask of dimitrios 1944 the mask of dimitrios 1944. Eric ambler 19091998 graduated from london university and established himself as a writer with five classic novels of intrigue published between 1937 and 1940. The mask of dimitrios charles latimer was a lecturer in political economy in england. Near the beginning of the mask of dimitrios, his most celebrated novel, he gives a terse account of the final weeks of the 191922 grecoturkish war. Eric ambler author mark mazower author of introduction, etc. In his mid30s he began to write detective stories, and became successful enough to make a new career. The mask of dimitrios is a 1944 american film noir directed by jean negulesco and written by frank gruber, based on the 1939 novel of the same name written by eric ambler in america the novel was titled a coffin for dimitrios. The mask of dimitrios is the rather exciting story of an archcriminal responsible for murder, blackmail, smuggling and an attempted assassination in the balkans. The mask of dimitrios is a 1944 american film noir directed by jean negulesco and written by frank gruber, based on the 1939 novel of the same name written. Through the cafes, trains and nighttime cities of europe, charles latimer follows a twisting trail of drugsmugglers, thieves and assassins that will lead him to dimitrios. The film features sydney greenstreet, zachary scott as dimitrios makropoulos, faye emerson and peter lorre.
The mask of dimitrios may get bogged down with its storytelling structure, but dont let that keep you from enjoying yet another amazing encounter between greenstreet and lorre. The mask of dimitrios is a film noir from 1944 with the dynamic noir duo of peter lorre and sydney greenstreet. The mask of dimitrios is a 1939 novel by eric ambler. And, in entering dimitrios criminal underworld, latimer realizes that his own life may be on the line. A corpse of a man is found washed up on a sea shore somewhere in bulgaria, which apparently is of dimitrios makropoulos, a sought after by the police of various european countries notorious criminal. The mask of dimitrios by nicolas rapold in the julyaugust 20 issue ive never seen a dead man, says, oddly enough, peter lorre, in jean negulescos borderhopping 1944 crime thriller. The mask of dimitrios by eric ambler, james fenton. The mask of dimitrios coronet books by ambler, eric and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. But, as he gradually discovers more about his subjects shadowy history, fascination tips over into obsession. I find a murder in a detective story much more sympathetic than a real murder.
The mask of dimitrios sydney greenstreet peter lorre zachary scott 1944 a smuggler sydney greenstreet and a dutch mystery writer peter lorre trace the life of a master criminal zachary scott reported dead. May 23, 20 the mask of dimitrios is the rather exciting story of an archcriminal responsible for murder, blackmail, smuggling and an attempted assassination in the balkans. Yet, when these facts are seen side by side with other facts in the case, it is difficult no. It is from him that he first hears of the mysterious dimitrios an infamous master criminal, long wanted by the law, whose body has just been fished out of the bosphorus. May 28, 2009 the mask of dimitrios is in many ways an oldfashioned, intelligent thriller, displaying all the craft of disciplined good writing. Thomas jones on thriller writer eric ambler books the. Jul 17, 2015 the mask of dimitrios is a film noir from 1944 with the dynamic noir duo of peter lorre and sydney greenstreet. Dutch mystery novelist cornelius leyden peter lorre is travelling through istanbul when he meets col. Ambler is known as a major influence on writers and an inventor of the modern thriller genre.
Film versions of amblers work havent fared as well as those of graham greene a case in point being background to danger, a dull spy chase story made even duller by. A cast of perfectly delineated grotesques glide through an addictive storyline saturated in moral ambiguity and faded glamour. No big deal another minor difference is the hapless bureaucrat dimitrios hustles. Skilfully combining a searching examination of european corruption with a pulsating quest to uncover the eponymous enigma, the mask of dimitrios is the finest of amblers seminal interwar espionage thrillers. It is one of those convenient, questionbegging aphorisms coined to discredit the unpleasant truth that chance plays an important, if not predominant, part in human affairs.
References this article about an adventure novel of. A coffin for dimitrios audible audiobook unabridged. The mask of dimitrios is a 1944 american film noir directed by jean negulesco and written by frank gruber, based on the 1939 novel of the same name written by eric ambler in the united states, it was published as a coffin for dimitrios the film features sydney greenstreet, zachary scott as dimitrios makropoulos, faye emerson and peter lorre. Two part dramatisation of the novel often cited as amblers greatest.
But latimer was a detectivestory writer and the chronological gaps in dimitrios s police record were a challenge to his professional ingenuity, a chance to pursue at last a reallife but at the same time safely academic line of detection. English crime novelist charles latimer is travelling in istanbul when he makes the acquaintance of turkish police inspector colonel haki. The movie was a stylish adaptation of an eric ambler novel about a mystery writer who becomes involved in a murder investigation. Haki, head of the secret police and a big fan of leydens work. Other articles where the mask of dimitrios is discussed. The mask of dimitrios by eric ambler english crime novelist charles latimer is travelling in istanbul when he makes the acquaintance of turkish police inspector colonel haki. During world war ii he served in the british army and was discharged as a lieutenant colonel. By nicolas rapold in the julyaugust 20 issue ive never seen a dead man, says, oddly enough, peter lorre, in jean negulescos borderhopping 1944 crime thriller. The mask of dimitrios full frame, manufactured on demand. But latimer was a detectivestory writer and the chronological gaps in dimitrioss police record were a challenge to his professional ingenuity, a chance to pursue at last a reallife but at the same time safely academic line of detection. The mask of dimitrios the mask of dimitrios, screen play by frank gruber, from a novel by eric ambler.
The mask of dimitrios trailer turner classic movies. Released 1944, the mask of dimitrios stars sydney greenstreet, peter lorre, zachary scott, faye emerson the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 35 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. Colonel haki told him about finding a body, and charles asked to visit. Not le carre, not deighton, not ludlum have surpassed the intelligence, authenticity or engrossing storytelling that established the mask of dimitrios as the best of its kind the times. With peter lorre, sydney greenstreet, zachary scott, faye emerson. The central character, latimer, is an academic and writer. This film is not currently playing on mubi but 30 other great films are. The mask of dimitrios is an adaptation of eric amblers novel a coffin for dimitrios directed by rumanianamerican director jean negulescu. The mask of dimitrios by eric ambler, 9780141190334, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The mask of dimitrios by eric ambler, james fenton waterstones. The mask of dimitrios is in many ways an oldfashioned, intelligent thriller, displaying all the craft of disciplined good writing.
The drama features sydney greenstreet, zachary scott as dimitrios. It has been adapted as a radio play and made into a featurelength film, the mask of dimitrios. The mask of dimitrios is a relative rarity for its time in that it follows eric amblers book faithfully. His name was being crossed off police files from smyrna to paris. Zachary scott made his screen debut in this clever bit of film noir that has gained a cult reputation in recent years.
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