A 90 year old man, played by an actor in his mid 40's, is said to look like he's in his mid 30's. This overly talkie melodrama has an intriguing plot but is one of the most dreadfully boring films to deal with the desire for eternal youth. Nils Asther plays the scientist who finds his time is running out after living as a thirty something for 55 years and turns to Dorian Gray like evils to retain that youth. It's an intriguing idea, but the film's pacing drags this way down, making it nearly impossible to get into. Reinhold Schünzel is very good as Asther's aging colleague (whom he went to school with) who offers wisdom as to why the desire for eternal youth is evil. There are some good moments of melodrama as well as a melodramatic ending, but that doesn't make up for the general lack of suspense and certain ridiculous moments, particularly the scenes with Helen Walker as the glamorous socialite in love with him but unaware of his deep, dark secret. So much potential, but a huge letdown.
Review of The Man in Half Moon Street
The Man in Half Moon Street
(1944)
This moon eclipses the most cloudy of skylines.
11 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers