The Devil's Mask

This is the second film to be based on the popular American radio programme 'I Love A Mystery', and I reckon it's an improvement over the first, the plot easier to follow, with stars Jim Bannon and Barton Yarborough having settled into their roles as private detectives Jack Packard and Doc Long.

This time around, Jack and Doc are hired by Louise Mitchell (Mona Barrie) who believes that her life is in danger from her stepdaughter Janet (Anita Louise), who thinks that her father was murdered by his wife while on safari, her suspicion fuelled by love letters between Louise and her dad's associate, Prof. Arthur Logan (Frank Wilcox). As the pair of private eyes investigate, they encounter Janet's somewhat shady love interest Rex Kennedy (Michael Duane), a killer with a deadly blowpipe, a crooked hypnotist, a savage black panther, an animal loving taxidermist, and a shrunken head containing a secret code.

Director Henry Levin maintains a snappy pace, Bannon and Yarborough make for a great pairing, and the plot is just the right amount of bonkers with being TOO preposterous.

A woman thinks her daughter is out to kill her, and hires a detective agency to help her. "Devil's Mask" had a perfectly respectable cast, and a good solid script. With shrunken heads from south America, a panther, and even the use of hypnosis were all probably pretty new and exotic in 1946. (Although, when they try to put someone under hypnosis, they shine a bright light in the actor's eyes, and loudly tap a pencil over and over, so not sure how deeply the actor could have gone under....) The acting by some of the actors is a tad flat, and assistant detective Doc Long (Bart Yarborough) spouts more southern descriptive phrases than necessary, probably the reasons for the low rating on IMDb and membership in the "B Movie" club. The lead detective playing Jack Packard , Jim Bannon, had played detectives and cowboys, and was married to Bea Benaderet (Pearl Bodine, in the Beverly Hillbillies). Another interesting connection, Frank Wilcox, who plays Professor Logan, would also go on to be the oil company president on "Beverly Hillbillies". Also.... Mona Barrie and Bea Benaderet were both in "The First Time". Anita Louise, who plays the daughter Janet in Devil's Mask, was really only six years younger than the Mother Mitchell (Mona Barrie). good Whodunnit. no big glaring plot holes. no big car chase scenes.

We too often forget that director Heny Levin began his career at Columbia pictures directing such small budget movies. This one belongs to the I LOVE A MYSTERY list, several horror mystery features, under one hour length. A bit talkative, I admit, but also providing a pretty good atmosphere. Not the one Val Lewton's production made, though. This one is Ok, thanks to this atmosphere, no matter the story itself. Henry Levin will become famous with his VOYAGE TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, his masterpiece, and several other adventure action movies, finishing with "beach" flicks in the early sixties.

Good combination of horror and noir. Now if I could just figure out whose head belongs on which body, I might be able to figure out the plot. But, no matter since the film is carried by some great noirish atmosphere. The gloom hangs heavy over everyone, so you just know anything might happen. The movie's adapted from a radio stage play and it shows in the stretched out storyline that sometimes appears to ramble. Still, brighter bulbs than mine may be able to follow out the mystery part. Anyhow, I really like the obscure Michael Duane as the ambivalent Rex Kennedy; he brings unexpected depth to the part. The cast is basically an ensemble of no-names, who, nevertheless do well enough in their roles. No, the movie never rises above programmer status, but does show how imaginative these bottom-of-the-bill B- movies could be.

Second in the I Love a Mystery series sees Jack Packard (Jim Bannon) and Doc Long (Barton Yarborough) investigating a mystery involving a missing man, shrunken heads, and blow guns. Yarborough is at his "good ole boy" best, for those who enjoy him. Bannon is not bad but not exciting. Very ordinary. Anita Louise is irritating throughout the picture. Terribly overwrought performance. The best thing about this series were the nice atmospheric moments. The usage of supernatural or bizarre elements helps separate it from most other B detective films. The killer is pretty easily figured out, though the motivation was pretty cool. Anita Louise's hysterics are the worst part of the movie. Still a decent way to spend an hour and change.