A disfigured immigrant becomes the leader of a criminal gang to fund his reconstructive surgery, but finds redemption through the love of a blind woman.
Janos Szabo (Peter Lorre) arrives in America from Hungary full of optimism, but a tenement fire leaves him horribly scarred and unemployable. Desperate for money to afford a life-like mask, he turns his sharp mind to crime, eventually leading a gang of thieves. His life changes when he meets Helen Williams (Evelyn Keyes), a blind woman who falls for the man she cannot see. His plan to escape with her is shattered when his own crew murders her, setting the stage for a final, nihilistic act of revenge.
This Columbia B-picture transcends its modest origins through a combination of German Expressionist style and a haunting lead performance. Director Robert Florey uses severe lighting and distorted camera angles not merely for effect; they serve as a visual reflection of the protagonist’s psychological torment and alienation. The film is an exercise in minimalism, creating a cruel, unforgiving urban landscape where hope is a liability. Peter Lorre’s portrayal of Janos is central to the film’s power. He charts the character’s journey from hopeful immigrant to broken man with a quiet, devastating precision that makes the bleak conclusion feel inevitable.
Production Co: Columbia / 69 minutes / 1941
Director: Robert Florey
Screenplay: Paul Jarrico
Main Cast: Peter Lorre (Janos ‘Johnny’ Szabo), Evelyn Keyes (Helen Williams), Don Beddoe (Lt. James ‘Jim’ O’Hara), George E. Stone (Dinky)
