Edebiyatta modern gerilim türünün mucitlerinden yazar Eric Ambler'in (1909-1998) 1939 tarihli yapıtından uyarlama, 1944 tarihli bir film
The Mask Of Dimitrios. Yönetmen Jean Negulesco'nun 30 yıllık (1940-1970) film kariyerinden izleyebildiklerimin arasına giren bir numaralı "Film Noir", Türkiye'de zamanında gösterime girdiği adıyla "İzmirli Dimitriyos'un Maskesi".
Elbette filmin içinden geçen alttaki karede görebileceğiniz "Eloise" ve "Abelard" adındaki iki muhteşem Siyam kedisine değinmeden de duramayacağım. Kediler gerçekten muhteşemdiler !
[shooting] [movie like speech:]* Frankie: Okay, this is the picture. Johnny's been hurt. He's been hurt bad. Woman: Look, we can't leave him here, we can't. Look, he's in a pool of blood. He's gonna die, I know it. Frankie: We've gotta leave him here, honey. We gotta. He won't talk, I promise you that! Will you Johnny? Woman: Frankie, I don't care whether he talks or not, I just can't leave him like this. Johnny Listen. Leave me here I... I... I can ... I can ... handle it. Woman: Oh, no, Johnny, no... [interlude] Frankie: The cops are outside. Luke's in the car. Come on, let's get the hell outta this joint. Woman: Frankie, when they get here wer're gonna be dead, I know we are! We don't have a gun! Frankie: Listen. We got three million... Listen, [spud]. We got three million in the can, here. We can't look after him, I'll send the bird to his mother. Come on, let's just get out of this place, we can do it! Woman: Oh, no, Johnny, no...[interlude] Frankie: Okay now, just lean up against that door. When I give the word "Go" we just..., we just go through it and blast at the same time. She came, as in the book, Mickey Spillane That Saturday night dark masquerade Had filled his friend with lead, the same, sweetheart But then, as nothing happens quite the same Investigation is the game He had to check her story right away-he dead Sam Spade his buddy Archer first to go he got it-he dead She spelt it out, how could they know the 'Fatman' got it -he dead Her sister didn't really live at all-confusion-he dead His chase led to the Fatman, to face the friends of Mr. Cairo [movie like speech:] Woman: Hey, there's a really terrific dress shop. Can we stop this raid while I buy a new gown? Frankie: I'll buy you the whole factory, sweetheart. Don't worry. That night, the double crosser got it right Pretending he was really dim He slipped to Sam a double gin (Mickey Finn) He woke, the boys had gone, but not his gun They'd left a note to lead him on The chase to find the Maltese Falcon-you bet- Early thirties gangster movies Set to spellbind population From Chicago to Hong Kong Via Istanbul the Talking Tong Dirty rats thru' prohibition Money flowed thru gangsterism Acting out this fantasy In Hollywoods vicinity The best part for the best rendition Al Capone he sent to prison Citizen Kane came fast and quickly Conquerin ol' New York City Poking fun at superstition Media became television Give me Cagney anyday Or Jimmy Stewart for President Or Edward 'G' and all those guys Who always shoot between the eyes Between the eyes Between the eyes... [movie like speech:] Kasper: ha, ha, well done Mr. Cairo, and what do you have to say about that, my friend? Spade: Allright. So you've got me in it. What about her? Brigid: Don't worry about me, I'm okay Kasper: Very magnanimous, sir, very magnanimous indeed, ha, ha, ha Mr. Cairo: You mean..., you won't make us an offer we... we can't refuse... Father love do you work, do you work for Mother Chances could call, and accept that, be no other Science as it might, disappear correspond with colour Chance is the fruit, will outlive, what is now the brother Call for total wealth to distribute like a picture In black and white, give it joy, give it, let it hit you Spoil our existence by extreme gift to population Father love do you work, do you work for Mother Tell me straight be the Godfather be no other Media Kings give us now give us total movie Straight right now, give it clear, give us total movie Now being here, being now, being here believing [movie like speeches:] Man: I don't know which words to put in there sweetheart, you know, I can't do it. Pretty kind of useless, though, don't you think so Mary? Man: Come with me to the far lands of Baghdad. Woman: Oh, if only I could. That's what I want more than anything in the world, but it could never be... Man: Of course it can... Woman: But my father would find us wherever we went. Yes, he has forbidden me to... to even speak to you, if he finds me now. I don't know what he'd do... Man: But he doesn't know that I'm... I'm a prince. Before, I was the thief of Baghdad now... Woman: It doesn't matter... Man: Then follow me, darling, follow me now to the ends of the Earth One on one to talk to you Like film stars they get close to you You've mirrored his appeal He wants you so, he wants to be beside you Then you pass by giving him the other side of you Like the mystics do So that every time he moves, he moves for you Soul and light can always see The meeting of true love and she This silent night and I, I guess a lonely mind might see I've seen love on the screen I've seen a screen goddesss and me-oh How often this, how often, this the power of you And so, I must confess Whatever I see I'm meant to be there with you With you, with you... Silent golden movies, talkies, technicolour, long ago My younger ways stand clearer, clearer than my footprints Stardom greats I've followed closely Closer than the nearest heartbeat Longer that expected-ther were great- Oh love, oh love just to see them Acting on the silver screen, oh my Clark Gable, Fairbanks, Maureen O'Sullivan Fantasy would fill my life and I Love fantasy so much Did you see in the morning light I really talked, yes I did, to Gods early dawning light And I was privileged to be as I am to this day To be with you... To be with you... [movie actor like speech:] Mr. Cairo: Listen. I have arranged this display for... For all of you people to... To come here this evening and I... I know you have been searched, but, what you... You don't realize is, is that in the back of the Maltese Falcon, I have it...
*Based / inspired on the three movies: "The Maltese Falcon" (1941). Directed by John Huston. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond, Barton MacLane, Gladys George, Lee Patrick, Elisha Cook Jr., Jerome Cowan and Walter Huston. "It's a wonderful life" (1946). Directed by Frank Capra. The speaker is imitating Jimmy Stuart in the section: "I don't know which words to put in there sweetheart.."). "The thief of Bagdad" (1924). Directed by Raoul Walsh. Cast: Douglas Fairbanks. [The section starting with: "Come with me to the far lands of Baghdad"].
