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While some might
call these parts small roles, I prefer to think of them as
cameos. Hangmen Also Die: Dwight's only in this one for a
few minutes, but get it anyway, the movie is very good. The Nazis are
occupying Czechoslovakia and the Resistance is trying to fight against
them. Sounds like your typical espionage movie except for several key
elements. 1) The movie was made in 1943. That's right, during
Nazi occupation. 2) The director was Fritz Lang of Metropolis
fame. Hitler had approached Lang, based on his work on said movie, to
make Nazi propaganda films. Fritz said, "Let me get back to you on
that" and promptly left the country. 3) The movie was uncompromising
in its depiction of suffering. When it's all said and done Hangmen
Also Die is an amazing work. Dwight's part? A Czech
hostage in a prison camp who maintains his loyalty to Czechoslovakia despite the
betrayal of some of his comrades. His character has no name and
Dwight's not even listed in the credits. (Boo, Hiss!) Funky Bonus Pic: Random Hero Tied Up Dangerous Female In this first film adaptation of The
Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, Dwight plays the gunsel Wilmer
Cook. Although not as polished
as the Bogart version, it is interesting on its own. It is a different vision of the world
of Sam Spade and the mysterious statue, including a more womanizing
Spade. Dwight is delightfully twitchy
and handles his limited lines with great gusto. Most of the film does move rather slowly, but I blame
early sound technology and the director’s inability to explore all its possibilities. Much like, say, Todd Browning? I don’t have any pictures from
the movie because I don’t have a video capture card to get stuff off of
video. I taped it off of TCM
quite a while ago and I think I recorded over it. So if anyone has screencaptures they would like to donate,
I would be very grateful. Back to Dwight
Frye Back to Frankenstein Films Back to Something
to Sing About Back to Dead
Men Walk Back to The
Vampire Bat On to The
Crime of Dr. Crespi On to The
Wayne Murder Case Send
feedback to joeanne_b@hotmail.com Hangmen Also Die is property of Kino Video
and Arnold Production. No infringement of copyright is intended or
inferred. No money ever has or
ever will exchange hand. All
screencaps made by me. |
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