This stylish drama has a unique look and feel to it. The lead actress, Edana Romney, didn't star in other films. As actress and cowriter of the picture's screenplay, she put her all into this effort. She is ably assisted by director Terence Young and costars Eric Portman, Barbara Mullen and Hugh Sinclair. They help carry the story over some of its more uneven spots. But altogether, this is a fine production that meshes elements of noir, horror and mystery.
Portman portrays a wealthy aesthete. You could term him a conceptual artist who brings his ideas about the past to life in the present. Actually, all artists do that on some level. However, Portman goes to the romantic extreme by desiring to recapture a centuries old love affair with a new subject and source of inspiration in the form of Miss Romney.
At first she falls for him like any hotblooded female would, cast under his hypnotic spell and swept up by his imaginative ideas. But after receiving a warning from one of Portman's houseguests (Mullen), Romney begins to question this unusual relationship. Soon her enchantment has turned to fear that the man she's involved with may be quite mad. If she doesn't escape his influence, she may become a victim.
There's an interesting subplot where Romney leaves Portman and his bizarre reincarnation role-play. She goes off to holiday in Wales with one of her father's friends, a handsome explorer (Sinclair) who is keen on her. She will choose to marry Sinclair and have children with him, though she has to get Portman out of her system for good.
At the conclusion of her holiday, Romney returns to London where Portman is throwing a lavish masquerade ball. There are some amazing costumes in this sequence, but the highlight is a magical gondola ride after dark. The evening climaxes with an elongated waltz that takes place in front of the titular mirrors inside a corridor so huge it is practically its own room.
Just as Romney is about to leave again, a murder occurs. Portman confesses, there is a quick trial and he is hanged. After his execution, we learn Romney has been going to visit his likeness in a wax museum. At the museum she is being stalked by the real murderer, which means Portman's character was not a killer.
Stunning visuals, shrewd acting and a good deal of suspense combined with loads of atmosphere and originality make this a must-see motion picture. It's a real winner.
Portman portrays a wealthy aesthete. You could term him a conceptual artist who brings his ideas about the past to life in the present. Actually, all artists do that on some level. However, Portman goes to the romantic extreme by desiring to recapture a centuries old love affair with a new subject and source of inspiration in the form of Miss Romney.
At first she falls for him like any hotblooded female would, cast under his hypnotic spell and swept up by his imaginative ideas. But after receiving a warning from one of Portman's houseguests (Mullen), Romney begins to question this unusual relationship. Soon her enchantment has turned to fear that the man she's involved with may be quite mad. If she doesn't escape his influence, she may become a victim.
There's an interesting subplot where Romney leaves Portman and his bizarre reincarnation role-play. She goes off to holiday in Wales with one of her father's friends, a handsome explorer (Sinclair) who is keen on her. She will choose to marry Sinclair and have children with him, though she has to get Portman out of her system for good.
At the conclusion of her holiday, Romney returns to London where Portman is throwing a lavish masquerade ball. There are some amazing costumes in this sequence, but the highlight is a magical gondola ride after dark. The evening climaxes with an elongated waltz that takes place in front of the titular mirrors inside a corridor so huge it is practically its own room.
Just as Romney is about to leave again, a murder occurs. Portman confesses, there is a quick trial and he is hanged. After his execution, we learn Romney has been going to visit his likeness in a wax museum. At the museum she is being stalked by the real murderer, which means Portman's character was not a killer.
Stunning visuals, shrewd acting and a good deal of suspense combined with loads of atmosphere and originality make this a must-see motion picture. It's a real winner.