The Great Flamarion *** (1945, Erich von Stroheim, Dan Duryea, Mary Beth Hughes) – Classic Movie Review 12,129

Director Anthony Mann’s 1945 Republic Pictures film noir mystery thriller The Great Flamarion stars Erich von Stroheim, Dan Duryea and Mary Beth Hughes. It is based on a character created by Vicki Baum and the short story Big Shot by Ann Wigton.

It is a backstage story of murder and demented love, reworking the Teutonic theme of the hard-boiled cynic (in this case Flamarion – Erich von Stroheim – the greatest sharp-shooting act in the world), ruined by the femme fatale (Mary Beth Hughes) for whom he has fallen. Hughes is his act helper, married to Dan Duryea, but soon she starts fatally flirting with The Great Flamarion.

Mary Beth Hughes as Connie Wallace.

The Great Flamarion is a great lip-smacking melodrama told in flashback narrative, stirringly directed by Mann, with a memorable performance by von Stroheim as Flamarion, inveigled into helping Connie Wallace (Hughes) to kill her husband Al (Duryea). Dan Duryea and Mary Beth Hughes are valuable co-stars, assets to the film.

Also in the cast are Stephen Barclay, Lester Allen, Esther Howard, and Michael Mark.

It was released on 14 January 1945 in New York City.

This film is in the public domain.

The Great Flamarion is directed by Anthony Mann, runs 78 minutes, is made by W Lee Wilder Productions, is released by Republic Pictures, is written by Heinz Herald (screenplay), Ann Wigton (screenplay), and Richard Weil (screenplay), based on a character created by Vicki Baum and the short story Big Shot by Ann Wigton, is shot in black and white by James Spencer Brown, is produced by W Lee Wilder [William Wilder], and is scored by David Chudnow.

The cast are Erich von Stroheim as The Great Flamarion, Mary Beth Hughes as Connie Wallace, Dan Duryea as Al Wallace, Stephen Barclay as Eddie Wheeler, Lester Allen as Tony Esther Howard as Cleo, and Michael Mark as Nightwatchman.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,129

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