Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet star in this atmospheric noir from 1944.
Lorre plays a writer who becomes fascinated with a criminal known as Dimitrios, who's cut a path of thievery and murder across the Mediterranean. He's approached by Greenstreet, a mysterious stranger, about hatching a scheme to blackmail Dimitrios with information each has separately and that would be highly incriminating if put together. These shady dealings take Lorre, and the audience, to all manner of exotic locales, from Istanbul to Austria.
"The Mask of Dimitrios" isn't that different from any number of international intrigue stories from the same time period, but what does give it a touch of the unique is the relationship between Lorre and Greenstreet, two men who form a kind of tentative friendship even though neither much trusts the other. Lorre in particular gives a wonderfully engaging performance, full of character and wit. He's fascinating just to watch and listen to -- it doesn't' much matter what he's even doing or saying.
Grade: B+
Lorre plays a writer who becomes fascinated with a criminal known as Dimitrios, who's cut a path of thievery and murder across the Mediterranean. He's approached by Greenstreet, a mysterious stranger, about hatching a scheme to blackmail Dimitrios with information each has separately and that would be highly incriminating if put together. These shady dealings take Lorre, and the audience, to all manner of exotic locales, from Istanbul to Austria.
"The Mask of Dimitrios" isn't that different from any number of international intrigue stories from the same time period, but what does give it a touch of the unique is the relationship between Lorre and Greenstreet, two men who form a kind of tentative friendship even though neither much trusts the other. Lorre in particular gives a wonderfully engaging performance, full of character and wit. He's fascinating just to watch and listen to -- it doesn't' much matter what he's even doing or saying.
Grade: B+