The Man with a Cloak

Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, and Leslie Caron star in "The Man with a Cloak," a 1951 thriller set in 1848 New York. A young woman (Caron) comes to New York to get money for her boyfriend's political cause from his grandfather (Calhern). Grandpa is in the clutches of his ex-girlfriend turned housekeeper (Stanwyck) and a surly butler (Joe De Santis) who are waiting for the old man to die so they can get his money. The Caron character thinks they are trying to kill him, so she appeals to an apparent ne'er do well who hangs at the local bar, Dupin (Cotten) for help.

This is a slow-moving story for sure, but Cotten has some great dialogue nonetheless. Stanwyck looks beautiful and is very good as the duplicitous woman. Alas, these are film careers on the wane, as evidenced by the smallness of the film. Caron is quite young and appealing, and of course, her star would go up and up. The ending has a twist that is quite fun. I have no idea if it's historically preposterous or not, but this movie needed a kick and it was a good one. Certainly worth seeing for its stars.

In 1848 New York, mysterious wanderer Joseph Cotten (as "Dupin") watches pretty young Leslie Caron (as Madeline Minot) arrive from Paris, France. She is looking for her lover's wealthy grandfather, Louis Calhern (as Charles Thevenet). Penniless and thirsty for wine, Mr. Cotten meets Ms. Caron and the two form a bond. Caron wants Mr. Calhern to finance the French Revolution. Caron finds Calhern is very ill, and expected to die. Moreover, she suspects actress-turned-housekeeper Barbara Stanwyck (as Lorna Bounty) and her staff may be helping the old man into his grave. Nice work from photographer George J. Folsey and the MGM crew. Clearly, director Fletcher Markle should have received more film assignments. The mystery involving Cotten's alcoholic character plays out as gimmicky and false, but "The Man with a Cloak" is worth an invitation.

****** The Man with a Cloak (11/27/51) Fletcher Markle ~ Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck, Leslie Caron, Louis Calhern

In 1848 New York, a beautiful but naïve French girl arrives by ship seeking out her fiancée's grandfather in hopes of securing funds for the young man's political cause back in Europe; instead, she finds the elderly millionaire under constant danger of being murdered by his mercenary household staff--with only a mysterious wine-lover (and unemployed town poet) able to assist her. Screenwriter Frank Fenton, working from a story by John Dickson Carr, sets up the pieces within this gas-lit milieu very carefully, and his witty, theatrical dialogue is often a hoot. Newcomer Leslie Caron, in only her second Hollywood picture, works her tender vulnerability to good effect in a tailor-made role, though predictably it is Barbara Stanwyck as the household's 'mistress' who steals most of the thunder (she's a formidable foe--with a smirk of stone and bedroom eyes to boot!). Joseph Cotten is also excellent as the man with a cloak who comes to Caron's aid, and the twist involving his character is a smashing one. Not an important movie but an engaging one, with a well-upholstered production and solid supporting players. *** from ****

While not in the top drawer of mystery films of the era, the film should come as a pleasant surprise for those interested in the period and definitely will register with films of the noir genre. The plot is difficult to sum up quickly but rest assured that it is literary and interesting, involves at least one or two good twists and sports a fine cast of players better known for work in more famous films. Joseph Cotten is particularly fine as the man of mystery who foils an attempt to rob the inheritance related to the demise of an old reprobate (Louis Calhern) in 1840's New York. Throw in Barbara Stanwyck at her most sultry and Leslie Carone at her most innocent and you have a film that does not exactly match the excitement generated by the opening scenes but holds one's attention nonetheless.

A semi-historical costume drama about literature's first detective (or his author), as played by Joseph Cotton. The acting is excellent all around. Cotton is good, he doesn't try to do too much with his role, & it would have been tempting to ham it up during some drinking scenes, but he underplays his part nicely. Barbara Stanwyck is deliciously evil as she tries every imaginable trick to achieve her goal. Leslie Caron is cute & believable as a French woman in a role tailor made for her. Joe De Santis does well as the heavy. Louis Calhern overpowers each scene he's in, but that's what his character calls for. Another thing I enjoyed about this film is that it's apparently headed towards several cliches, but manages to avoid them before getting there & doesn't follow the usual expected plot pattern. It's by no means a Film Noir, but it shares some very snappy dialog with that genre, especially between Cotton & Stanwyck. If the film had a little more suspense or mystery, & it would have been a real winner. I rate it 7/10.