From her hospital bed a woman recounts her life as a "plain Jane" while awaiting plastic surgeries for the injuries she has sustained in an automobile accident.From her hospital bed a woman recounts her life as a "plain Jane" while awaiting plastic surgeries for the injuries she has sustained in an automobile accident.From her hospital bed a woman recounts her life as a "plain Jane" while awaiting plastic surgeries for the injuries she has sustained in an automobile accident.
Photos
Pierre Watkin
- Mr. Hamilton
- (as Pierre Watkins)
James Conaty
- Pool Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Kathleen Freeman
- Shirley
- (uncredited)
Kasia Orzazewski
- Nurse
- (uncredited)
Paul Stanton
- Dr. Crenshaw
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Featured review
Important Topic-- Awkward Treatment
The plight of plain women in a beauty-centered culture has powerful potential— for example, The Enchanted Cottage (1945), The Heiress (1949). I just wish the screenplay here were a stronger one. As another reviewer points out, the script is basically a one-note narrative. On the downswing, it's just one rejection after another for the plain Phyllis (Raines), while on the upswing, with a new face, it's just the opposite. Too bad the point is belabored without much subtlety, as though otherwise the audience won't get the point. Speaking of subtlety, the first 10-minutes does manage a nice bit of subtlety as Paul (Bennett) eases Phyllis out of his employ so that her romantic hopes won't be dashed. Too bad the remainder becomes so tediously obvious. (One wise script point—putting poor Phyllis in the fashion industry where beauty is a commodity and the main topic. That way it's not average folks rejecting her.)
Now I like Ella Raines as well as the next fan. However, the role calls for a performer who specializes in soul (e.g. Ida Lupino, Olivia deHaviland, Sylvia Sydney). Raines does a good job of smiling through adversity, but projects little beyond what's in the script. Inner depth would have added a lot. Clearly, the casting calls for a beautiful woman, which Raines is, so that the transformation can be convincing. But, all in all, the actress is more persuasive as a vamp than a rejected plain-Jane. Then too, Bennett appears miscast. He's just too hunky for a recessive role. Maybe the producers figured the ending could only be justified by using a hunky guy to balance out the re-born Phyllis.
Anyway, the sensitive topic is an important one, and one that old Hollywood usually shied away from. I'm just sorry it didn't get more memorable treatment here, with a bigger budget, a better script, and more astute casting.
Now I like Ella Raines as well as the next fan. However, the role calls for a performer who specializes in soul (e.g. Ida Lupino, Olivia deHaviland, Sylvia Sydney). Raines does a good job of smiling through adversity, but projects little beyond what's in the script. Inner depth would have added a lot. Clearly, the casting calls for a beautiful woman, which Raines is, so that the transformation can be convincing. But, all in all, the actress is more persuasive as a vamp than a rejected plain-Jane. Then too, Bennett appears miscast. He's just too hunky for a recessive role. Maybe the producers figured the ending could only be justified by using a hunky guy to balance out the re-born Phyllis.
Anyway, the sensitive topic is an important one, and one that old Hollywood usually shied away from. I'm just sorry it didn't get more memorable treatment here, with a bigger budget, a better script, and more astute casting.
Helpful•104
- dougdoepke
- Jul 15, 2014
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- ザ・セカンド・フェイス
- Filming locations
- Voltaire Apartments, 1424 N. Crescent Heights Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA(Apartment of Phyllis Holmes and Claire Elwood)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 17 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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