Die Maske fällt

A shoestring second film version with Dinah Sheridan in the title role of a 1915 play by H.A.Vachell originally called 'The Case of Lady Camber'; remembered today because the earlier version 'Lord Camber's Ladies' (1932) was produced for British International Pictures by a young Alfred Hitchcock.

The shift in emphasis to the nurse (then called Janet King) played in the earlier version by Benita Hume is indicated by the fact that the film is now not only named after her but follows her life before she becomes a nurse and then falls foul of a vengeful & manipulative Miss Danvers figure in the form of Barbara Couper as Lady Camber's cousin Muriel Peach.

I would recommend viewers to see Hitchcock's "Rebecca" (1939) before watching the subject film and marvel at Dame Judith Anderson's immortal portrayal of "Mrs Danvers".In this film Barbara Couper plays the scheming Muriel Peach, cousin of Lady Camber, played by Beatrix Couper.There are obvious parallels which fall short of overt lesbian tendencies portrayed in "Rebecca", more pathological jealousy when Sister Shirley Yorke (Dinah Sheridan) arrives to help her doctor colleague use a new drug he has developed to help multi- millionairess Lady Camber recover.This change of medical personnel puts Muriel Peach's "nose out of joint" and causes friction and professional jealousy.Into the emotional mix Dinah Sheridan comes to tend Lady Camber having been engaged to Gerald Ryton (Derek Farr) before the war but who has now married Lady Camber for her money and become a Lord due to convenient deaths in his family.Previous reviewers have provided the basic user comments which I agree, the long arm of coincidence is stretched in this film.Look out for "Carry On" actor Charles Hawtrey who is given an unaccredited role as a wounded army major recovering in an overseas hospital who "plays" Robert Schumann's Traumerei to cheer up his fellow patients.I was surprised I had never seen this film before as I am an aficionado of 1940's movies, so thank you Youtube for uploading it.When I checked it had a mediocre rating of 5.5 so I have now bumped it up to 7/10.Also it was pleasant to see Margaretta Scott playing Matron Alison Gwynne.

I purchased this as a reduced item in HMV, when there was one near me !. It turned out to be a very watchable drama, reminding me of some of the best of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford of the 40's and 50's. It was also produced at the Nettlefold Studios in Walton-On-Thames, Surrey UK. It certainly deserves a much higher IMDb rating.