Alton knew well how to get along with less light, creating the nightmarish worlds we see on the screen. | A medical school drop out and crook plans a holdup that goes wrong.

Having never heard of this film and finding it on a bargain DVD a friend lent me, I entered the film experience with an open mind and zero expectations, beyond the "film noir" description on the box (which is often misleading anyway). Read Val Kermode's DVD

Paul Henreid also doesn’t make a compelling lead in this one. Sign up here.

When he further discovers that Bartok’s secretary Evelyn Nash (Joan Bennett) is having an affair with the shrink, he moves in and romances her. Tweet. The ingenious plot concerns a double-identity, so there are two major threads of intrigue going on at once. It was released by Eagle-Lion Films, based on the … Review.

It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. "HT" is shot the same year (1948) as two other excellently lensed films by Alton -- "Amazing Mr. X" and "He Walked By Night." Muller runs and begins stalking a new identity. User Ratings John Muller (Paul Henreid) is a confidence man/thief with a college education in medicine and a vast knowledge of psychiatry, enabling him to be a phony shrink. The crime drama developed by screenwriter Daniel Fuchs from the novel by Murray Forbes, gets over despite an unbelievable plot. Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service.

Hollow Triumph is an okay film-noir, but nothing particularly memorable. Johnny has to charm her before pretending to leave her. | Muller visit's Bartok 's office and meets his secretary, Evelyn Hahn (Joan Bennett). He plots a scheme to heist the casino owned by the dangerous and powerful mobster Rocky Stansyck, but the holdup goes wrong.

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Paul Henreid is a great actor and I seek out his movies; however, in this film his performance as a gangster (at the start of the film) appears strained. In a chance encounter Johnny learns he has a double, one Dr Bartok - a psychoanalyst. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books.

When the job goes ahead, nothing goes quite as planned, and Johnny and Marcy are the only ones to escape.

Paul Henreid and Joan Bennett star in "The Scar," otherwise known as "Hollow Triumph.". All rights reserved. Suspend your disbelief and it is fun to watch. But this is not a bad thing. Apart from that, what can go wrong? No one notices, and Muller not only fools Evelyn but his brother who comes to tell him that Rocky is no longer after him–he was deported for income tax fraud. Paul Henried plays a double role in "Hollow Triumph," a 1948 film also starring Joan Bennett. I'd never heard of the director, Steve Sekely, but photography by John Alton is a great sign. drama, December 13, 2004 (Don’t let’s ask for the stars…) There was also a fascination at the time with psychology. If you can buy the premise—a hunted guy finds his exact double and takes over the double's life—the rest follows pretty effectively. J.R. 'Bob' Dobbs & The Church of the SubGenius, Fall TV First Look: Find Out What’s Coming, The Best Peacock Original Shows and Movies, All Upcoming Disney Movies: New Disney Live-Action, Animation, Pixar, Marvel, and More. Read Val Kermode's DVD Review. The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Joan Bennett was really made for these films, as she proved in 'The Woman in the Window' and 'Scarlet Street' for instance.

By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy This is a well-directed, sometimes brutal, atmospheric thriller which is something of a lost classic. There are no approved quotes yet for this movie. An escaped robber named Johnny Muller (Paul Henreid) in a desperate attempt to hide from the hired killers chasing after him decides to take the place of a look-a-like psychoanalyst named Dr. Bartok. Coming Soon.

See all Audience reviews Film noir gangster the hero.

One of those cautionary tales which amply illustrates how it's often better to stay on your own shabby lawn than to traipse across the seemingly greener grass of the neighbors.

Regal Marcy is scared and runs off to Mexico, leaving Johnny to take a mundane office job as cover. Interested in making a big score, he gathers his old mob together and bullies them into knocking off dangerous mobster Rocky Stansyck’s (Thomas Brown Henry) gambling joint.

Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2017, Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2019. All rights reserved. Indeed, it’s very satisfying. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Reviewed by: Val Kermode. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review.

You were special... We know sooner or later it always catches up with us.” We certainly do. You're pretty good and you've got style, but first comes you, second comes you, third comes you. Awards The background music is dramatic, though rather shakily edited, perhaps an element that could have done with more attention. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. As Muller's plan is set in motion, elements of his past creep back into his life and threaten him. This film begins with a “mental report” on John, the prisoner. Henreid's thick accent is a distraction that really robs this movie of some of its charm. Coming Soon. The B-film thriller has a terrific cast and cinematographer John Alton’s magnificent film noir shadowy location shots of LA somewhat overcome this ‘Crime Gone Awry’ melodrama’s obvious faults and its cheaply arrived at moralistic comeuppance lesson. I liked this old movie. | Rating: B- Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Top subscription boxes – right to your door, See all details for Hollow Triumph (aka The Scar), © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.