The Scar (1948): watch the full film free, legally

John Müller seeks another identity

Released in 1948, Hollow Triumph was reissued in the United States as The Scar. The American film noir crime film stars Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett and Leslie Brooks. Steve Sekely directed it, and Eagle-Lion Films released it. Its sets were designed by art director Edward L. Ilou. The story was based on Murray Forbes's 1946 novel of the same title.

John Müller has just been released from prison when he plans a holdup at an illegal casino run by Rocky Stansyck. The robbery fails, and Stansyck's mobsters capture some of Müller's men, forcing them to identify the others before killing them. Because Stansyck is known for tracking down enemies, Müller leaves town to hide. His law-abiding brother Frederick recommends an office job, but Müller soon decides that ordinary work does not suit him.

A chance meeting with dentist Dr. Swangron gives Müller another route. Swangron tells him that Dr. Bartok, a psychoanalyst in the same building, looks exactly like him except for a large facial scar. Müller investigates Bartok, enters his office to examine records, and meets secretary Evelyn Hahn, who initially mistakes him for her employer. Müller had studied psychoanalysis in medical school before dropping out. He decides to use that knowledge while attempting to take Bartok's place.

A scar, a secretary and gambling debts

Müller uses a photograph of Bartok as a guide for cutting a scar on his own face. He later learns that the photograph's negative had been reversed, placing his scar on the wrong side. Nevertheless, he continues his impersonation. The office cleaning lady becomes suspicious, but Müller manages to reassure her; Evelyn and Bartok's patients do not recognize the change. Evelyn, meanwhile, says she has given up hopes of finding love, despite agreeing to go out with Müller.

In Bartok's life, Müller discovers Virginia Taylor, Bartok's girlfriend, and Maxwell's, a high-class casino they visit. He also learns that Bartok has been losing heavily. When Frederick tries to find John, his search leads to Bartok. The scar persuades Frederick that the man before him is only a lookalike. Evelyn becomes suspicious after learning that John Müller had said he was going to Paris. Frederick then tells the apparent Bartok that Stansyck has been convicted for income tax problems and is scheduled for deportation.

Henreid's move into production

Henreid wanted to move into production after working under contract with Warner Bros. Director Steve Sekely suggested the novel to him, and Henreid optioned it before setting up the project at the newly formed Eagle Lion. He wanted the lead because playing a gangster differed from his other parts. He hired Daniel Fuchs to write the script after admiring Fuch's work on Between Two Worlds.

Henreid had wanted Evelyn Keyes for the female lead, but she was under contract to Columbia and Harry Cohn refused to loan her out. Joan Bennett was cast instead. Henreid said Eagle Lion was unhappy with Sekely's direction and replaced Sekely with Henreid. He also said the film did well at the box office, though it was financially linked with three other films from star producers. None of those films did well, and Henreid saw no profits.

The New York Times critic Thomas M. Pryor called the film “an adequate examination of an intelligent criminal type.” Pryor wrote that the plot did not have quite enough logic to withstand scrutiny, while also saying that the story moved briskly and that the performances were sound. In Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style, Alain Silver described the plot as contrived, as in many B thrillers.

Film details from the Wikipedia article “Hollow Triumph”. Text adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.