Stolen Face *** (1952, Paul Henreid, Lizabeth Scott, André Morell) – Classic Movie Review 11,135

‘Cross this dame off your list… wrong for any man… desired by all!’

US stars Paul Henreid and Lizabeth Scott popped over to England for director Terence Fisher’s snappy 1952 schlock Hammer Films / Lippert Films black and white film noir crime thriller Stolen Face about a mad plastic surgeon, Dr Philip Ritter (Henreid), who takes drastic action after being rejected in love after a brief fling at a country inn with a concert pianist, Alice Brent (Scott) who leaves him to go back to her fiancé, David (André Morell).

In his London surgery, Dr Ritter finds a disfigured female crook, Lily Conover (Mary Mackenzie), willing to trade in her face for a new one just like his beloved’s since she is on the run from the law, and operates on her to make her face duplicate that of his pianist lover. Her new face now resembles that of Alice, and they marry. Now identical to Alice, Lily is played by Scott. But then the pianist returns to him… Great Scott, there are two of them!

This old-style fantasy thriller is totally incredible of course, but still eerie, entertaining and oddly compelling, and it is ably handled by director Fisher with pleasing, effective performances, especially by Lizabeth Scott.

The screenplay by Martin Berkeley and Richard H Landau, based on an original story by Alexander Paal and Steven Vas, has echoes of A Woman’s Face, A Stolen Life and even Vertigo.

Lizabeth Scott plays the dual roles of Alice Brent and Lily Conover after surgery, but when playing Lily Conover her voice is dubbed by Mary Mackenzie.

First film of John Wood, aged 22.

Also in the cast are André Morell, Susan Stephen, Mary Mackenzie, and Arnold Ridley.

Runtime: 72 minutes.

The film was shot at Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios at the end of 1951.

Paul Henreid made the film for a percentage of the profits, which were enough for him to make another movie for Lippert Films, Man in Hiding.

The main cast are Paul Henreid as Dr Philip Ritter, Lizabeth Scott as Alice Brent / Lily Conover after surgery, André Morell as David, Mary Mackenzie as Lily Conover before surgery, John Wood as Dr John ‘Jack’ Wilson, Arnold Ridley as Dr Russell, Susan Stephen as Betty, Diana Beaumont as May, Terence O’Regan as Pete Snipe, Russell Napier as Det. Cutler, Everley Gregg as Lady Millicent Harringay, Alexis France as Mrs Emmett, John Bull as Charles Emmett, Hal Osmond as Photographer, Ambrosine Phillpotts as Fur Department Clerk Miss Patten, Cyril Smith as Innkeeper Alf Bixby, Richard Wattis as Store Manager Mr Wentworth, John Warren as Railway Guard, and Bartlett Mullins as Farmer.

Stolen Face is directed by Terence Fisher, runs 72 minutes, is made by Hammer Films and Lippert Films, is released by Exclusive Films (UK) and Lippert Pictures (US), is written by Martin Berkeley and Richard Landau, based on an original story by Alexander Paal and Steven Vas, is shot in black and white by Walter J Harvey, is produced by Anthony Hinds, and scored by Malcolm Arnold, with Art Direction by C Wilfred Arnold.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,135

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