The Scar

Originally released under the title Hollow Triumph, this 1948 film noir plays on the theme of doubles with romantic European émigré Paul Henreid starring in two roles: as criminal mastermind John Muller, a medical school dropout who exits prison with a scheme to rob a casino owned by a vindictive mob boss, and as Dr. Bartok, a chilly psychiatrist who is Muller's exact double except for the jagged scar running down Bartok's cheek. The heist inevitably goes bad and Muller goes into hiding, hatching a plan to kill the doctor and put his medical training to use by taking over the doc's identity—complete with a scar carved into his cheek. Henreid produced this independent production and worked closely with Hungarian-born director Steve Sekely on the tone and style. The Scar is a low-budget film noir that has a couple of clever twists, some marvelous nocturnal Los Angeles locations shot by the great noir stylist John Alton, and a confident Joan Bennett in a supporting role as a savvy single woman who has no illusions about dating the seductive but shady Muller. It's an enjoyable but minor film noir that spawned one of the greatest lines in the genre: "It's a bitter little world." Newly remastered for its high-def debut (and clearly superior to earlier DVD editions), extras include audio commentary by film historian Imogen Sara Smith. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)