La máscara de acero

WHO? is an interesting little Cold War thriller with an existential theme. It involves a top American scientist who is involved in a car accident in communist Germany. When he's returned home, due to horrific burns his whole head is encased in a metal mask, which makes him look like a robot. However, the powers that be question his very identity, and wonder whether he is in fact a Russian spy...

It's certainly an intriguing set-up, and what I loved about this film is that it deals with questions of identity and existence in a thought-provoking way. The whole movie hinges on the acting of Joseph Bova inside the mask, and very good he is too, despite looking ridiculous. He brings a real sense of sadness to the part so that you feel for his plight.

The mystery aspects of the storyline are acceptable, and there are a few action scenes to perk things up a little bit. Elliott Gould is the nominal protagonist in this one but he plays rather a dull and stuffy character, although Trevor Howard is fun in his flashback scenes. WHO? isn't an entirely successful film, which is why it's virtually forgotten these days, but it's definitely worth a look for those with a penchant for offbeat cinema.

My review was written in October 1982 after a screening at Thalia theater on Manhattan's UWS.

Produced in 1974 by British Lion using German tax shelter funding, "Who?" is a very affecting though minor science fiction film. Acquired for U. S. release by the since-defunct Allied Artists (along with other pictures produced by Canadian Barry Levinson -not the U. S. director of "Diner"), picture was shelved and has had domestic exposure only through nontheatrical bookings. It's a shame, since this is a nice little picture which, despite its anticipating the sic-fi boom by a couple of years and its non-reliance on hardware, could have attracted a small following.

Adapted from Algis Budrys's novel by the late British playwright John Gould (no relation to pic's star Elliott Gould), "Who?" is an action-espionage thriller examining, from a science-fiction perspective, the nature of identity. Joe Bova gives a beautiful, underplayed performance as diminutive U. S. scientist Martino, whose face and arm are remade in metal after a car accident in Berlin. The film's mystery-suspense plot derives from iterated flashbacks showing Martino grilled and/or indoctrinated by East German intelligence officer Azarin (Trevor Howard).

Once back in the U. S., Martino is subjected to gruelling questioning and investigation by F. B. I. Operative Rogers (Elliott Gould) to check his new security clearance for continuing a top secret research project in Florida. Gould examines the reactions of Martino's old associates to his transformed, robot-like appearance.

The action sequences, including a standard Remy Julienne-piloted car chase,are not the main area of interest in "Who?", but rather the vulnerable, ultimately lovable little man Martino's saga of self-discovery. Constantly crushed by people's pitying or frightened reaction to his cyborg appearance. Marino only snaps out of his depressive state when he realizes that he has lost his identity by depending too much on the opinions of others. In terms of story development, this central theme is tied directly to his immediate (unwilling but internalized) need to impress Rogers with the proven fact of his identity as physicist Martino rather than some imposter planted by the Communists.

After the flashbacks ultimately reveal Martino's new identity, film concludes with a terrific scene where Rogers and Martino come to a mutual understanding and latter has found his self-realization at last by working anonymously on a farm where his fellow workers accept him at "face" value -he doesn't have to prove anything anymore. This elegant finale carries a simple philosophical punch unusual for the sci-fi film genre.

Crisply directed by Jack Gold, "Who?" is a technically adroit low-bugeter, with excellent makeup for Martino executed by Colin Arthur, famed for his superb makeup effects recently in "Christiane F." and "Conan the Barbarian".

Bova does wonders in the central role, creating intense viewer identification though restricted to vocal and body acting rather than his face, which is covered with the silver, metal look. Bulling his way through the picture in the tough guy lead roe familiar from many British B-pictures featuring a U. S. actor for marquee value. Gould brings humor to the assignment. Trevor Howard is seen only in the flashbacks.

...and "Le Vicomte De Bragelonne" and its iron mask. At the beginning of his career ,Jack Gold made movies which were anything but derivative: think of "Catholics"(also featuring T.Howard) or "the Medusa touch" .

"Who" is an overlooked spy thriller ,which takes elements from "Manchurian candidate", "seconds " and Alexandre Dumas and brings them all back home;without special effect,or almost,he creates a thoroughly disturbing atmosphere ,helped by a superlative performance by J.Bova who succeeds in making his character endearing and extremely moving ,against all odds.

Eliott Gould's investigation does not matter much,it's not essential;the subject of the movie is "is life worth living when you've become "inhuman"?" (that perfectly explains the final death of the "second " Martino).

Some scenes are extraordinary,spooky ,without the usual horror paraphernalia :Martino walking through the streets of the city is a great moment;the mask ,which could look like that of an ET ,a serial killer or a clown, is more frightening (and more human because of those eyes)than the bandages of the invisible man.

The message is not "can he resume the Neptune project?" but "how can

he find a reason to believe and to live?"If you find a way,everything's possible:it's hope for people who think they are no longer part of the human race (is there a reason to be proud of being part of them anyway?)

let this sleeper be an introduction to the other Gold movies I mention above.

It was around this time that Elliot Gould's career started to go downhill. He must have been desperate for work if he had to star in this quite low budget British thriller. Actually, while watching the movie one can see signs that a promising movie could have been made from this material; the premise is intriguing and original. Unfortunately, the filmmakers pretty much botch all of it up. It's way too talky for its own good, and much of the dialogue is dry and not very interesting. As a result, the movie becomes quite boring; Gould himself gives a very uninterested performance. There are a couple of chuckles from the sight of the cyborg since he looks like the Mexican wrestler Santo, but even he becomes boring in short notice.

One last thing: Does the FBI really have jurisdiction in Europe?

1973: American scientist Lucas Martino is seriously hurt and mutilated during a car accident in East Germany. The best doctors in the Communist state are doing the best to save his life, making him a kind of early cyborg with his head and most parts of his body covered or replaced by metal. Returning to the U.S.A. with a completely new "outfit", the F.B.I. tries to find out if it's the same person or an Eastern spy who's aim is getting information on a top secret military project.

What could have been a very interesting and thrilling seventies spy story is just a lame movie about a robot man walking around stupidly. The acting is dull, but you can't blame main actor Joseph Bova as is is constantly acting with a mask on his face. The Cold-War-Conflict is just a background for a silly love story, and the worst is Bova's "make-up", as the robot outfit looks rather like the iron man of the "Wizard of Oz" or a funny figure from an old Disney movie instead of being a symbol for a human tragedy. The "Who?" script is a promising idea for a film, but the production itself is disappointing, and even stars like Elliot Gould and Trevor Howard can't rescue this movie.