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"Hollow Triumph" aka "The Scar" stars Paul Henreid and Joan Bennett with brief appearances by Eduard Franz and John Qualen. The film combines elements of film noir with Hollywood's fascination with psychoanalysis.

Paul Henreid plays a petty criminal. He is best known as Victor Laslo, the French anti-Nazi fighter who comes between Bogart and Bergman in "Casablanca", and as Jerry Durrance, the man who lights two cigarettes at once and then hands the second to Bette Davis in "Now Voyager". Both films were released in 1942, making this quite a year for Henreid, and nothing to look forward to except a long downhill slide. After a series of forgettable films, in the 50s he transitioned to directing for film and TV

Beautiful and spunky Joan Bennett plays a secretary who has an affairs with Henreid. She is best remembered for her recurring role in the TV series "Dark Shadows", but in the 40s she was well known for her film noir roles, especially her work with Fritz Lang that started with "Man hunt" (1941). She and Lang formed a production company together, making such memorable films as "Woman in the Window" (1944) and "Scarlett Street" (1945), both of them with Edward G Robinson. Bennett does her usual excellent job here, and it's hard to understand why she isn't better known for her excellent body of work.

Eduard Franz plays Henreid's brother. This was his second film role. He had a varied career, from the Broadway stage to film and TV. Franz appeared in more than 50 films and made a successful transition to TV in the 50s. He had recurring roles as Gregorio in "Zorro" (1958) and as the Psychiatrist Dr. Raymer in "Breaking Point" (1963-4). Franz was extremely versatile and could play an Indian ("White Feather"), a Mexican ("Zorro"), a German ("Desert Fox"), etc. I remember him best as Dr. Stern in "The Thing" (1951).

We're accustomed to seeing John Qualen in John Ford or John Wayne films. He made nearly 200 films, 9 of them directed by Ford and 4 with Wayne but not Ford - "Shepherd of the Hills", "The High and the Mighty" (1954), "North to Alaska (1960) and "Donovan's Reef" (1963). My favorite John Qualen role was as Lars in "The Searchers" (1956). Qualen has a small role as a dentist.

If you look closely, you'll see that one of the gangsters who chases Henreid is Jack Webb, famous as Joe Friday from "Dragnet" fame.

Steve Sekely directs. Primarily a European director, he came to the States in 1939 and made several exploitation films ("Revenge of the Zombies", "Women in Bondage", "Lady in the Death House") and is probably best known for "Invasion of the Triffids" (1962).

The Psychoanalyst is often described as a "Psychiatrist" in reviews and descriptions, but in fact he is a "Clinical Psychologist".

This isn't a bad film, although it is strange to see the central character (played by Henreid) described as a genius when we find him in jail at the start, then he engineers a robbery that goes terribly wrong, and proceeds to make several significant mistakes that show him to be more of a bumbler than a genius. True, he may be a suave bumbler, but a bumbler nonetheless.

It's also a film in which Henreid appears in virtually every scene. That's a lot of exposure, and there are very few actors or actresses who can command my attention that long. Henreid isn't one of them. Perhaps this is one reason why the film seems to drone on in no particular direction. The only oasis we reach are the scenes in which Bennett appear. She had the same effect in "Man hunt", a reasonably drole film apart from her contributions.

The film is often listed as film noir, which it isn't. There are many film noir elements missing, not the least of which is the femme fatale. The film does have a certain symmetry and an irony that is appealing.

Basically this film will appeal to Henreid or Bennett fans, although Bennett fans will wish she had more screen time.

Eagle-Lion Films presents "HOLLOW TRIUMPH" (1948 83 min/B&W) -- Starring: Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett, Eduard Franz, Leslie Brooks & John Qualen

Directed by Steve Sekely

John Muller (Paul Henreid), an intelligent, arrogant criminal who has been a medical student and a phony psychoanalyst, believes that people are only interested in themselves and do not notice what is happening around them. Paroled from prison to a boring job, Muller is more interested in a big score, and along with his old cronies robs a crooked gambling joint owned by Rocky Stansyck. Although he gets away with the money, some of his men are caught by Stansyck and identify John as the ringleader. On the run from Stansyck's gang, he is mistaken for Dr. Bartok, a psychiatrist also played by Henreid. Curious, Muller goes to the doctor's office, and meets Bartok's secretary and lover, Evelyn Nash (Joan Bennett). Needing to avoid capture, he assumes Bartok's identity, but first must scar his face like the doctor's.

Agree with other reviewer on this page, this film will appeal to Henreid or Bennett fans, although Bennett fans will wish she had more screen time. Not exactly a "film noir", does not fit as nicely as many noir films.

An interesting film which was is also known as "The Scar"

BIOS:
1. Steve Sekely [aka: István Székely] Director)
Date of Birth: 25 February 1899 - Budapest, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary)
Date of Death: 9 March 1979 - Palm Springs, California

2. Paul Henreid [aka: Paul Georg Julius Hernreid Ritter von Wassel-Waldingau]
Date of Birth: 10 January 1908 - Trieste, Austria-Hungary. (now in Italy)
Date of Death: 29 March 1992 - Santa Monica, California

3. Joan Bennett
Date of Birth: 27 February 1910 - Palisades, New Jersey
Date of Death: 7 December 1990 - Scarsdale, New York

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 3 Stars
Performance: 3 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 3 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 83 min on DVD ~ Eagle-Lion Films ~ (April 3, 2008)

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