Faces in the Dark

source: Faces in the Dark

Faces in the Dark

Some movies just don't need to be made, and that is the case with "Faces In The Dark", a turgid, uneventful movie which lacks tension, suspense and, especially, mystery. Actually, the mystery may be why this picture was produced in the first place. A grouchy, self-absorbed CEO is blinded in a laboratory accident and spends the rest of the film making himself even more unappealing. The picture is well-acted and produced but is too long by half. Well done but not interesting. May I digress for a moment? I have lately begun to feel that UK viewers consistently overrate films made in the UK. Is it because they feel intimidated by Hollywood? We make a lot of clinkers over here, too. But often when I obtain a UK film recommended by British viewers, it is not as good as advertised. So, with "Faces In The Dark" I got taken again. C'mon folks. A little unflinching honesty goes a long way.

I was expecting something a bit different with this film, judging by its premise. Alas, my expectations weren't fulfilled. The plot about a blind man who fears for his life, has some promise but the director made an awkward job of it. The narrative is almost threadbare and one or two characters have little to do. Thank goodness for John Gregson though, he saves this film from being a complete disappointment. His performance is what held my attention, he is effectively cast against type. Usually, Gregson's on-screen persona is usually that of someone rather mild-mannered. In "Faces in the Dark," he is the exact opposite. I did like the photography, especially when the lighting was reduced for dramatic effect. The shot of John Gregson stumbling about in the countryside, in the dark and on his own is quite atmospheric. A rather predictable conclusion doesn't help this film at all but at least the ending wasn't downbeat.

"Faces in the Dark" was based on a novel by Boileau and Narcejac, the same guys who gave us "Vertigo" and "Les Diaboliques". This certainly isn't in the same class but it's still a watchable thriller. John Gregson is the thoroughly unpleasant industrialist blinded in a factory accident on the same day his wife is planning to divorce him. She's Mai Zetterling and she's somewhat better than the material. Others involved include Michael Denison, John Ireland and Tony Wright. It's a good looking picture, (Ken Hodges photographed in widescreen and future director Desmond Davis was a camera operator), and Mikis Theodorakis did the score but the director, David Eady, doesn't muster any real suspense and it is fairly predictable.

Actually felt the frustration of John Gregson's character and didn't have an idea of the end until the last 10 minutes and still it surprised. A lot of "darlings" and "proper" English, being that age, and meaningful looks between the characters. Being in black & white only adds to the "depressed" feeling that nobody can help the main character and his attempts to help himself are excruciating. It's difficult to write 10 lines without containing a spoiler, so I might waffle a bit, but the characters played by Mai Zatterling and dear old Michael Denison are despicable. I'm surprised I've never seen this film before and will probably watch it again in the future. If it were in French with subtitles it would probably be labelled a masterpiece!

FACES IN THE DARK is a rather forgotten film in the British noir genre. The movie is a bit slow but totally worth hanging in there - the TWIST is quite staggering & very well done (no surprise it is based on a book by the writing team that also wrote the novels that VERTIGO, LES DIABOLIQUES and EYES WITHOUT A FACE were based on). John Gregson is very good as the rich successful man who is blinded in an industry accident. He is angry at the world with his fate and slowly begins to worry that he is losing his mind. Is he just paranoid or is his "loving" wife too good to be true? I watched this with a few friends and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was staggered to read some of the other reviews of this film, as I found it to be one of the best mystery thrillers it has been my pleasure to see. From start to finish, this is a film which does not flag, which remains taut and full of suspense throughout, and which keeps the viewer endlessly and tensely speculating about just what is going on : is the blinded Mr Hammond just paranoid, or is he really likely to be murdered ? That is perhaps the main question, but there are other related issues which keep the viewer on tenterhooks, and the overall result is an excellent hour and a half's viewing. All good things come to an end, as they say, and this film certainly comes to an end that one never could see coming !

I finally got to watch this film on a scratchy DVD from a VHS copy bought off ebay- so the sound quality was muted at times, but i've tried to see it for years and failed. It is a good taut little thriller, on a moderate budget but well acted (everyone is suitably mysterious and two-faced) though John Gregson had to work very hard to convince as the tough, unpleasant workaholic boss (he just looks too affable). His dilemma, after an accident blinds him, gave me a few empathetic shivers and that dilemma is what kept my attention right through to the unexpected ending. There are some genuinely creepy moments,and an initially unsympathetic main character makes headway in conjuring our sympathy. Enjoyable and should be better known.

FACES IN THE DARK is one of those intriguing, long-forgotten little British thrillers of the early '60s. It's an essential three-hander in which the unlikeable John Gregson plays an industry boss who ends up getting blinded in a freak factory accident. He's forced to recuperate, being looked after by his wife Mai Zetterling and second-in-command John Ireland, but soon becomes convinced that everything isn't as it should be. This is a film that makes the very best of a low budget thanks to a unique-feeling storyline and plenty of suspense that builds up, particularly in the second half. The first half is a little slow and stately, but as a mystery this throws clues at you every now and then before finally letting rip towards the climax with an excellent twist. From that point in it never disappoints, right up until the arresting climax. FACES IN THE DARK certainly holds its own against bigger budget fare in this viewer's opinion.