La maschera che uccide

Sadly I don't remember the book anymore, but I do recall that I was captivated by the stories of Edgar Wallace. This Film represents a typical German Production of low quality. It does not hold my attention - although the story itself is good, it is just badly adabted. At the center of the misery are the characters that are overly simplyfied and exaggerated - they have no nuances in their performances. Even the well known and liked German Actors Joachim Fuchsberger and Eddy Aren't cannot rescue this poor spectacle. However there's hope ... I've been told that the films following this one are getting better and better. So in conclusion I must say that this film doesn't deserve the cinematic screen but may be enough for a lazy afternoon.

Although not necessarily a personal favorite or an absolute must-see, "The Face of the Frog" is one of those movies I'll remain eternally grateful to, simply because they played an essential role in the founding of what eventually became my favorite exploitation/horror sub-genre. This was the first one of the German so-called "Krimis"; - a series of 30+ movies inspired by the writings of Edgar Wallace and practically always revolving around either the search for a sadist killer or relentless crime syndicates planning a massive heist. Out of these adaptations would later evolve the Italian gialli, with an even bigger emphasis on the whodunit aspect via flamboyant killers and their sickening modus operandi. Not every Krimi is great, mind you, but they are all worth seeking out. "The Face of the Frog" was the first, and paves the road with stylish elements and conceptual trademarks that would recur throughout the whole series. And, on the bright side, this film does not yet contain too many annoying comic relief aspects.

Scotland Yard is on the hunt for a criminal gang led by a relentless murderer/master thief only known as "The Frog", since he always wears a mask and not even his most loyal accomplices ever saw his face. In the end, the identity of the Frog wasn't too hard to guess for me, but that's probably because I saw hundreds of gialli, Agatha Christie whodunits and teen slashers. I know what to pay attention to, in other words, but I'm sure that certain revelations must have shocked the audiences in 1959. There are a few astounding moments, notably the brute and totally unexpected killing of a defenseless girl near the climax and two or three really clever red herrings, and the performances are very solid.

This was the first of the long-running German "krimi" series based on the mysteries of Edgar Wallace (actually, there were two simultaneous series from rival companies, the other based on the works of the author's son Bryan). As Tim Lucas and other astute critics have pointed out, the films were the precursors of the Italian giallos and ultimately the slasher pictures of the 70s and 80s. They also have obvious stylistic links to the superhero and superspy action genres of the 60s.

Most of the key elements of the series already appear in this effort -- the foggy Soho underworld settings; the cabaret shows (which became progressively sleazier); the archvillain with his bizarre modus operandi and grotesque henchmen; the clever, persevering but underappreciated Scotland Yard inspector; the flippant comic antics of Eddie Arent (here appearing as the consummate English butler with Kato leanings) who is always smarter than he seems; the statuesque ingenues; the unfathomable plots featuring dozens of red herrings; and the quite violent-for-the-time stalk-and-murder sequences. Later the series would rely more on flashy camera tricks and tongue-in-cheek stylistics (especially under Alfred Vohrer's nifty direction), but here the proceedings are mainly played straight. Harald Reinl's work was always atmospheric but rather stiff in its mise-en-scene and ragged in continuity. However, this film features quite a sadistic, eye-opening ending that seems to have wandered in from a Jess Franco opus. Well worth a look, especially for amateur film historians.

This movie is an abomination, and its making should have been considered a capital crime.

One of the great mysteries of film-making is why nobody ever has made a faithful movie adaptation of this wonderful mystery. It is a tale of a really gripping mystery, nice old-fashioned romance, and dry English humor. Why did the makers have to change Richard Gordon from a Scotland Yard policeman to an amateur detective, introduce the idiotic role and caricature of his English servant, change the part of the main storyline about the murder charge and circumstances of Gordon's struggle to save the accused, etc., etc.? These producers and directors who always think they can make a better story than the one in the book should write the original script themselves and not to rape another person's product.

Self-entitled German Krimi this first movie lays out on conceive largely used in America on those serial theatre as "The Shadow" whereof had a hidden commander, "Vampire" French series from silent movie era, among other alike concept movies, thus the danish Rialto Film bought the copyrights from Edgar Wallace's novel and adapted to big screen in this debut picture that later will add up to 39 movies all made in Germany using the native actors and all happening take place in British island, mostly in London.

Also somehow it was a forerunner of Giallo genre later, the noirish style is blatantly in those fog London atmosphere, a slight expressionist as well on countless weirdo small characters and a massive use of these elements created a unique genre, actually a blending of several genres, the storyline follows the Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple neither, in well-set Whodunit concept, this early movie has a bit confusing plot, but with a keen eye the audience soon catches the offer.

The hero is an American amateur detective who coming together with his exotic butler as sidekick and the fake deaf Scotland Yard's Inspector Elk a cunning elder man, all mixing a delightful offering that certainly will please all viewers.

Thanks for reading.

Resume: First watch: 2024 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.