Cotten is the title character, confessing to be a poet and living on the charity of his landlady and the local barman. He feels great affection and admiration for Caron's character, who's come from France to try to secure an inheritance from her fiance's grandfather (Calhern) for her husband-to-be so he can use it to help his people, or something like that. Anyway, a faded theatre diva (Stanwyck) and the manservant are counting on that inheritance and won't let Cotten and Caron get away with it. Some very contrived moments, but on the whole a mood and tone consistent with its 1840s setting, and a story that is interesting to watch. Calhern is a standout as the dying man. The film's most memorable scene is when Calhern, on his deathbed, concocts a potion to end his life with, only to watch his lawyer unwittingly drink the drugs and die before him in the prime of life. Calhern's character can't speak, and this scene generates a very high level of suspense. Good show all around.
Review of The Man with a Cloak
