Hollow Triumph
Encyclopedia
Hollow Triumph, also known as The Scar in the United Kingdom, is a film noir
released in 1948. It was directed by Steve Sekely and stars Paul Henreid and Joan Bennett
.
He takes a photo of the doctor and uses it as a guide when he cuts a large scar onto the side of his face. Unfortunately, the developers of the photo reversed the negative and now Muller has the scar on the wrong side. He decides to go through with the plan anyway and no one notices the difference. The only one who knows his secret is the doctor's secretary (Joan Bennett
), whom he starts an affair. After seeing patients for a few days and going through the doctors personal papers, Muller finds out that the doctor had no money. In fact he has a huge gambling debt with the mob. Muller tries to take off but he's mistaken for the doctor and killed - all the while pleading to his killers he was not the man they thought he was.
Cast note:
.
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
released in 1948. It was directed by Steve Sekely and stars Paul Henreid and Joan Bennett
Joan Bennett
Joan Geraldine Bennett was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era...
.
Plot
John Muller (Paul Henreid), medical school dropout and brilliant crook has just been released from prison. He plans a holdup at an illegal gambling casino. The gangster who runs the casino has a reputation for tracking down and killing his enemies, no matter how far they go or how long they hide. The robbery goes bad and the mobsters running the place know exactly who tried to rob them when half the team is captured and inform on their companions before they are killed. Muller decides to leave town and lie low. While hiding out from the mob, he takes an office job recommended by his straight-as-an-arrow brother but he quickly decides that working for a living is not for him. An opportunity for a big score comes to mind when he finds out that he's the exact look-a-like the psychologist Dr Bartok - the only difference is the doctor has a large scar on the side of his face. He plans to kill the man and take over his life.He takes a photo of the doctor and uses it as a guide when he cuts a large scar onto the side of his face. Unfortunately, the developers of the photo reversed the negative and now Muller has the scar on the wrong side. He decides to go through with the plan anyway and no one notices the difference. The only one who knows his secret is the doctor's secretary (Joan Bennett
Joan Bennett
Joan Geraldine Bennett was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era...
), whom he starts an affair. After seeing patients for a few days and going through the doctors personal papers, Muller finds out that the doctor had no money. In fact he has a huge gambling debt with the mob. Muller tries to take off but he's mistaken for the doctor and killed - all the while pleading to his killers he was not the man they thought he was.
Cast
- Paul Henreid as John Muller / Dr. Victor Emil Bartok
- Joan BennettJoan BennettJoan Geraldine Bennett was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era...
as Evelyn Hahn - Eduard FranzEduard FranzEduard Franz , born Eduard Franz Schmidt, was an American actor of theater, film, and television. Franz portrayed King Ahab in the 1953 biblical low-budget film Sins of Jezebel, Jethro in Cecil B...
as Frederick Muller - Leslie BrooksLeslie BrooksLeslie Brooks , born Virginia Leslie Gettman, was an American film actress.At the beginning of her career she appeared as "Lorraine Gettman". As Leslie Brooks, she began appearing in movie bit roles in 1941...
as Virginia Taylor - John QualenJohn QualenJohn Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
as Dr. Swangron D.D.S. - Mabel PaigeMabel PaigeMabel Paige was an American film actress. She began acting at age 4 and went on to appear in over 50 films between 1914 and 1953...
as Charwoman - Herbert RudleyHerbert RudleyHerbert Rudley, , was a prolific character actor who appeared on stage, in films and on television.Rudley was born in 1910 in Philadelphia, and attended Temple University. He left Temple after winning a scholarship to Eva Le Gallienne's Civic Repertory Theatre.He began appearing on stage in 1926...
as Marcy - Charles ArntCharles ArntCharles Arnt was an American film actor. He appeared in 120 films between 1933 and 1962.He was born in Michigan City, Indiana, and died in Orcas Island, Washington from pancreatic and liver cancer.-Selected filmography:...
as Coblenz - George ChandlerGeorge ChandlerGeorge Chandler was an American actor best known for playing the character of "Uncle Petrie" on the television series Lassie...
as Artell, Photo Shop Assistant - Sid Tomack as Aubrey, Photo Shop Manager
- Alvin Hammer as Jerry, Garage Attendant
- Ann Staunton as Blonde
- Paul E. Burns as Harold, Prison Clerk
- Charles TrowbridgeCharles TrowbridgeCharles Trowbridge was an American film actor. He appeared in 233 films between 1915 and 1958.He was born in Veracruz, Mexico and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:*Tycoon...
as Prison Deputy Warden - Morgan Farley as Howard Anderson
Cast note:
- Jack WebbJack WebbJohn Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
has an uncredited role as a gangster, "Bullseye", only his second film credit.
Critical reaction
Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style notes "As in many of these B thrillers, the plot is contrived although the film's conclusion is as downbeat as any noir film since Scarlet StreetScarlet Street
Scarlet Street is a 1945 American film noir directed by Fritz Lang and based on the French novel La Chienne by Georges de La Fouchardière, that previously had been dramatized on stage by André Mouëzy-Éon, and cinematically as La Chienne by director Jean Renoir.The principal actors Edward G...
.