The Mask of Dimitrios

A fine noir-ish thriller, adapted from Eric Ambler's novel (A Coffin for Dimitrios), and respecting its Citizen Kane structure as a mousy little mystery writer (Lorre), intrigued by the reported murder of a seedily nasty international criminal (Scott), begins to reconstruct his story by talking to people from his past. The result is superficial but stylishly atmospheric, with vivid characterisations (notably Greenstreet as a genial blackmailer who ambiguously and rather movingly befriends Lorre) and low-key lighting effects that bring subtle echoes of The Maltese Falcon (Arthur Edeson shot both films).