Corridor of Mirrors [VHS]

This is, along with Von Sternberg's "Scarlet Empress", one of the most visually stunning b&w movies ever made. People complain about the leading lady. The way I look at it, she is used in much the same way as Cocteau used Maria Casares in "Orpheus". The blu-ray presentation is absolutely perfect.

so happy amazon had this film saw it when i was about 12 years old cut to pieces as most films on tv were at the time there is a double surprise was he her lover? was he a murderer ? beautiful clothes and gowns it could be redone today for a certain audience im doing my life seen thru the movies i've loved fun sad too

The plot itself is somewhat flimsy, but is made up for by Eric Portman's unique and haunting style. The set is incredible. There is only one flaw: Edana Romney couldn't act if her life depended on it. Don't watch her and it's a terrific film.

There’s a really good movie

A housewife gets a telegram from her lover to meet at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. There she holds his hand and talks about their love while the camera tilts up to reveal that he's a wax figure of a murderer. All this is eventually resolved, in a leisurely but compelling story, which rushes to its conclusion in the final 10 minutes, as if the budget had suddenly run out. Basically, it's a modern murder story with a gothic coating. I found it entertaining, with a surprisingly headstrong and hedonistic heroine who seems more modern than her times. Christopher Lee makes his debut as the character "Charlie". As with a number of films of that vintage (pre-1955 say), the definition afforded by Blu-ray seems to outstrip the grain of the film. Bland backgrounds look like swirling pixels. It helps to reduce the sharpness of the image, a menu option in many projectors. I suspect that it would look better as a DVD than a Blu-ray. However, the film is still quite watchable.

I have not watched it yet, but saw previews, and look forward to watching it

Eric Portman, a man possessed with the past is intrigued by a bruentte of classical beauty who fits the part perfectly in his "Corridor of Mirrors". It is a corridor any drag queen would die for. This beautiful black and white film has suspense, romance and an exceptional movie score to complement. Wait until you hear that glorious voice of Eric Portman who should have been as popular to the American public as James Mason. Should you agree with my review seek out other films by this excellent British actor.

Another fabulous, if not a most unusual and fascinating movie starring the equally fascinating, yet strikingly frightening Eric Portman! Despite he being one of my all-time favourite actors – and I believe one of Britain’s greatest actors ever, I always found Mr. Portman rather scary; terribly attractive - yet somehow rather menacing, particularly if one was to have found oneself alone with him – you’d have probably been terrified of what he might do to you! (if you were a woman) – that’s how I felt anyway. Well, this movie is one of his best (though he made so many great pictures) where we see him, not only as a brilliant actor, (this part could have been written for him) but rather dashing too as a character at a Masquerade Ball – complete with handsome goatee and earring! This movie is full of mystery and suspense, and you won’t have seen anything quite like it! Several twists and turns throughout, including a grand finale you could not guess to expect! A great movie with an impeccable cast and not to be missed!

This review is for the Sinister Cinema VHS of Corridor of Mirrors. (This is not the version pictured on this product page; the picture is of the Homevision version.) The Sinister Cinema version runs 96 minutes. (I believe that is the same running time as the Homevision version, but I cannot say for certain, not ever having seen the Homevision version.) According to the IMDb, the film was originally 105 minutes. I do not know if any print of 105 minutes still exists. There are definitely a few places on the VHS where the transition is jumpy; whether any of these spots indicate missing scenes, however, I cannot tell. The Sinister Cinema print is watchable, but flawed. The opening credits are very wide and slightly cut off at the sides. There are many sparkles and other weaknesses in the image, and, as I mentioned, a few jumpy transitions. The sound is generally audible, but not perfect, and the musical score -- which is hauntingly beautiful -- is not as effective as it would be in a better print of the film; the sound is often too thin and faded. This film ought to have a Criterion restoration, as the photography and music and sets are just splendid. It is a shame not to be able to appreciate them in their full glory. But even in their current state, they are impressive. The film is very atmospheric. It gives a sustained creepy feeling throughout. The direction, script, acting, photography, set design and music all work together to achieve this effect. The genre is somewhere between horror film, psychological thriller about madness, and Gothic romance. The casting of relatively unknown actress Edana Romney was wise; she has the stately beauty of an Ava Gardner or a Hedy Lamarr, but because she is not celebrated, one responds to her as a character rather than as a movie star playing the character. Eric Portman turns in a great performance as the near-unhinged millionaire artist who believes himself to have lived a past life in Renaissance Italy. He is reminiscent of Anthony Hopkins in his handling of the role. The supporting cast -- pretty well all British, this being a British film -- is entirely adequate. (Christopher Lee has a trivial role, but it would be foolish to buy the film for that, as he has only a few lines, hardly looks like himself (he's so young), and displays nothing of his classic deep voice.) There are a few places where the script could have been improved. Edana Romney's character's reactions are not always consistent, and at least one of the places where she responds to Portman's character with mocking laughter seems to be a contrivance to move the plot along, not warranted by the emotions of her character up to that point. Also, Eric Portman's character's hatred of any woman's laughter -- even when that laughter is not scornful -- could be better explained. These, however, are minor flaws in a story that is overall well-constructed and dramatically compelling. This is really a classic of its type. It is unfortunate that there is no DVD edition so far. Still, the VHS is watchable once you settle in with it for a few minutes and the typical "old movie" physical flaws drop out of your conscious mind; the power of the story is enough to overcome the weaknesses in the print.

Great film

Simply Media DVD Release. Imagine if you will a film that should be housed in the same strong box or archive as Dead of Night. Something that changes tone, period and demands of the actors a change of style to suit the moment, against a backdrop of deliberate artifice or pure solid present day. There is perhaps the attraction of the cast, the lustrous leads, the opulent magnificence of the surroundings. Disregard the vibrant claim of Chris Lee's debut, which is ten or 15 pleasant seconds, but is hardly the reason for this films excellent pedigree alone. What does occur here is a slightly discombobulating plot, that seamlessly blends a fantasy mind-set and a modern mileu. Indeed i applauded (literally) with a number of the scene transitions, which are worthy of any number of other key films or film-makers...Cottage on Dartmoor, or anything by Welles. Yes, it is that good. The cinematography is superlative, using expressionism & deliberate melodramatic intercutting. To some folk the blatant expressive & vibrant camerawork might seem too visible, understandably, but it is not imposing nor out of place. The flowing storyline is about anachronism as much as it is an apparent bluebeard romance on the surface. Indeed, it is almost the tale of a war damaged, recuperating individual enchanted with an idea or enthralled by a feverdream. Perhaps the sanity is in question... Thankfully the print here, from the Cohen Collection, is excellent and solidly black and white. The one potential irritant in the oyster is the music score by Auric, which is at times overbearing or overzealous, selling us something of the deliberate fantasy world in shrill gargantuan terms and abruptly so. The soundtrack is not perfect, and may seem slightly worn out and brash. Yet again, this might undermine the effort of the picture to shift tones visually or in the balance of the acting. A mere cigarette with the older venetian costumes, coupled with stinging critical dialogue breaks the spell sufficiently. We do not necessarily need to have an orchestra smash us around the ears as it does so. Nevertheless, the final result is a surprisingly consistent subtle play of emotions at a key period in british history. That the film is not up there with the greats is not surprising in that the mood is one part Cormans Poe pictures, one part eerie british melodrama, one part Claude Houghton...look him up, he's very similar. A metaphysics touching upon a very real reality. More than worthwhile, there is more of a film under the fancy costumery and surface frissons than can be suggested by the dvd cover or the claim of Chris Lee's debut. This is gothic, psychodramatic, eerie romance, with an array of endings for all concerned, both worthy and unworthy. Be they tragic or wholly inevitable...

I liked this film, it’s my kind of films. Good quality picture and sound.