The Scar

Genre: Film Noir 1940'sStars: 4.5Pros:-Great leading cast-The Photography-The mood was Dark and Gritty (even in the day-time)- I loved the endingCons:-The Scar premise...could have made it a little more believable (you may know what I mean when you see it)I love the feel of this movie. I think that this movie is consistently engaging and has just enough tension to keep you one your toes (you don't sit there waiting for something to happen). I love the ending too. I think the irony is something that has been done before and since, but it was done so well I didn't see it coming. Watch it, it is worth it.

An unusual movie, I enjoyed it very, very much. Joan Bennett is wonderful. If you like film noir, you will like this one.

Paul Henreid is excellent in this outstanding example of film noir crime film from the 40s.

Good movie,

You will find great acting with a credible plot. The movie portrays a flaw in human behavior that may lead to reflection.

Thick, Tragic characters. One is left both hating the lead man and at the same time feeling pity for him. You want him to get caught and you want him to get away. I hated him for being so evil and loved him for being so existentially human- trying to 'figure out' the balance between one's compulsions, passions and purpose. Some of the conventions are predictable, over used - like the use of shadows, irony, gambling debts, mobsters and acceptance of a scar as being sufficient to murk one's identity.. However, I did not expect the ending and the scene with the motherly wash lady at the end left me wondering 'what does that mean?'. I am very pleased with this movie.

Great movie.

Henreid is terrific in his role. His character's shrink-theory philosophy - most folks are so wrapped up in themselves that they notice little else - is played out nicely as the film rolls along. Except for Bennet's character. That she didn't see the switcheroo from the get-go is so unbelievable it ruined the story for me right there. The dialog is great, as is the pacing. Too bad the print copy doesn't do the original cinematography justice.

John Muller (Paul Henreid) robs a casino and gets away with it. However, the casino boss vows to catch up with him. Muller hides himself in a couple of jobs before taking on the persona of Dr Bartok, a psychotherapist, after killing him. He falls in love with Bartok's secretary Evelyn (Joan Bennett) and they plan to flee the country together. Evelyn doesn't believe that he will show up to sail away with her.....There is so much that is wrong with this film but yet it is still entertaining. The cast are good and there is a nice twist at the end. There are also memorable scenes that include the robbery at the beginning, the moment that a couple of contract killers show up at the garage where Muller is working - will they recognize him?, etc. However, the film has to lose a point just because of the plot.John Muller puts a scar on the wrong side of his face and no-one recognizes! Once he becomes the scarred Dr Bartok, none of his work colleagues notice that his scar is on the wrong side of his face? His secretary doesn't notice anything either? Worse still, in her case, is the fact that she has had an affair with Muller before he becomes Dr Bartok and she doesn't suspect that it's the same person? As well as not spotting the scar on the wrong side of his face! It's absolutely ludicrous. His patients also don't notice anything. Neither does his girlfriend Virginia (Leslie Brooks) or any of his social crowd at the casino. Not even John Muller's brother can recognise him coz he's got a mark on his cheek! If you saw your brother standing infront of you with a mark on his cheek that you hadn't seen before, you'd still KNOW it was your brother. And if he said he wasn't your brother, you'd reply "what the f*** are you playing at?" It is truly laughably bad script-writing.Another point that you have to suspend belief on is that John can suddenly become a psychotherapist after a brief period of reading some books about it. Actually, now that I think about it, that is quite realistic.The film keeps you watching despite being completely unbelievable.