Summary
The Man in Half Moon Street is a 1945 science fiction romantic melodrama dealing with a man who retains his youth and cannot die, living throughout the ages.[1] The plot is similar to Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray, except that there are more logical explanations for the eternal youth of the main character. The film is based on a 1939 West End play of the same title by Barré Lyndon, and stars Nils Asther and Helen Walker with direction by Ralph Murphy.
| The Man in Half Moon Street | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Ralph Murphy |
| Screenplay by | Garrett Fort (adaptation) Charles Kenyon (finished screenplay) |
| Based on | The Man in Half Moon Street by Barré Lyndon |
| Produced by | Walter MacEwen |
| Starring | Nils Asther Helen Walker |
| Cinematography | Henry Sharp |
| Edited by | Tom Neff |
| Music by | Miklós Rózsa |
Production company | Paramount Pictures |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
A scientist, Dr. Karell (Asther), has discovered a treatment that can indefinitely prolong his life, using glands stolen from human victims. Having kept his achievement secret for over a century of continuous youth, Karell now has to contend with the curiosity of his new girlfriend Eve (Walker), the increasing guilt of his colleague Dr. Van Bruecken (Schünzel), and a police investigation of his most recent murder. Above all, he needs a renewal of his treatment, or else the mortality he has been evading will catch him at last.
Cast edit
- Nils Asther as Dr. Julian Karell
- Helen Walker as Eve Brandon
- Reinhold Schünzel as Dr. Kurt van Bruecken
- Paul Cavanagh as Dr. Henry Latimer
- Edmund Breon as Sir Humphrey Brandon
- Morton Lowry as Alan Guthrie
- Matthew Boulton as Det. Insp. Ned Garth
- Brandon Hurst as Simpson-Butler
Home media edit
Never released officially on DVD, the film was released on Blu-ray in 2023 by Imprint Films, Australia from a new 2K scan. The 1959 Hammer Films remake, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, is available on DVD and Blu-ray from several labels.
References edit
- ^ "The Man in Half Moon Street". afi.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
External links edit
- The Man in Half Moon Street at IMDb
