Missing, Believed Lost - The Man Behind the Mask
From Missing, Believed Lost, BFI Publishing, 1992
Melodrama in which a girl (Jane Baxter) is abducted from a masked
ball and her boyfriend (Hugh Williams) is accused of stealing a
valuable shield from her father (Peter Gawthorne). The criminal
proves to be a mad astronomer (Maurice Schwartz).
Michael Powell: 'They had a very poor script. I did my best to make
it into a rather German type expressionistic thriller. It was very hard
work indeed because we had no money.'
Kine Weekly: 'Sensational melodrama entirely unconvincing as to plot,
but holding the attention by its extremely good acting and some clever
touches of production which introduce the human note. Michael Powell
has done everything possible to give plausibility to the tale;
he provides a clear continuity, concentrates on facial expression
and detail rather than background, and is responsible for many
amusing touches. Melodramatic atmosphere is preserved throughout,
with the usual humorous quips lightening the tension. The ending
is disappointing, the ravings of a madman, whose one passion is
possession of the shield, containing insufficient philosophy to
interest. Dialogue, by Ian Hay, as might be expected, is entirely
successful, especially in its lighter moments.' Ian Hay's other
film work includes writing dialogue for Hitchcock's The 39
Steps (1935), The Secret Agent and Sabotage
(both 1936).
Monthly Film Bulletin: 'The story is melodramatic and absurd
but, technically, the film is excellent. Direction, photography,
lighting, acting and sound are all good. The glimpses of the family
life ... are extremely realistic, the country scenes are lovely and
the final scenes in the crook's house are impressive when they might
so easily have been ludicrous. All the acting is competent but
Donald Calthrop as the chess-playing Dr Walpole and Kitty Kelly as
his American secretary give the most polished performances. Martin
[sic] Schwartz is good but his part, being so usual, is less difficult.
But on the whole, the director is to be congratulated for having
made what must be termed a good film out of very unlikely material.'
The film had a significant outcome for Powell: he interested the producer,
Joe Rock, in making what would be his first personal work,
The Edge of the World, with which he bade farewell to the
world of quota quickies.
This film is "Missing, Believed Lost", please check all achives
and attics.
Update:
This film has been found in it's American form (essentially the same
but with the title Behind the Mask) and shown.
It has also been made available on video in America.
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