Evelyn Keyes, born in 1916, made her mark in Hollywood as a versatile actress, transitioning from chorus girl to film star. In The Face Behind the Mask (1941), she delivers a compelling performance that aligns with the era's fascination with noir and mystery. Keyes, who was signed by Cecil B. DeMille without a test, became known for her roles in B dramas and mysteries, contributing to the rich tapestry of cult cinema. Her work reflects the unique charm of early 1940s film, bridging the gap between mainstream success and the allure of exploitation cinema.
The Face Behind the Mask
The film is the story of a hopeful new Hungarian immigrant Janos Szabo (Peter Lorre), who, on his first day in New York City, is trapped in a hotel fire that leaves his face hideously scarred. Refused employment due to his appearance, although he possesses tremendous skill as a watchmaker, the only way he can survive is by turning to theft, using his skilled hands to disable alarms. Eventually he becomes the leader of a gang of thieves and raises money to commission and wear a realistic latex mask of his own face. Janos then falls in love with Helen (Evelyn Keyes) a blind woman who sees only the good in him, and attempts to leave his life of crime behind him. Unfortunately, his gang come to believe that he has betrayed them to the police, and attempt to kill him by car bomb, an attempt on his life that he survives but which kills Helen. In retaliation, Janos disguises himself as the pilot of the private plane the gang is flying out of the city with, which he lands in the Arizona desert and lets out the fuel, suicidally stranding both the gang and himself without food or water, dooming them all to a slow death. At the film's end, Janos's body and that of his enemies are discovered by the police.
