The Mystery of Marie Roget (film)

The Mystery of Marie Roget is a 1942 film noir mystery film starring Patric Knowles. The story was adapted from the short story "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt" written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1842. The film, directed by Phil Rosen and produced by Universal Pictures, is set in 1889.

The Mystery of Marie Roget
Theatrical Poster
Directed byPhil Rosen
Produced byPaul Malvern
Written byMichel Jacoby
Based onThe Mystery of Marie Roget by Edgar Allan Poe
Starring
CinematographyElwood Bredell
Edited byMilton Carruth
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • April 23, 1942 (1942-04-23) (United States)
Running time
61 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

In 1889 Paris, musical comedy star Marie Roget has been missing for ten days. Police inspector Gobelin is investigating. The French Minister for Naval Affairs, Henri Beauvais, is a friend of Marie's grandmother, Madame Cecile Roget, and younger sister Camille. He threatens to take Gobelin off the case so he brings in medical officer Dr. Paul Dupin.

The body of a dead woman is found in the river. Although the face is mutilated, Beauvais believes it is Marie. Then Marie returns but refuses to say where she has been. Camille becomes engaged to Marcel Vigneauz. Marcel and Marie are lovers and planning to murder Camille, who is set to inherit a fortune. Cecile Roget asks Dupin to escort Camille to a party as she fears her granddaughter will be murdered there. At the party, Beauvais propositions Marie, telling her that he knows of her affair with Marcel. Marcel hesitates to kill Camille, causing an argument between him and Marie.

Marie disappears. The body of another faceless woman is found. Dupin sneaks into the morgue to remove the brain from the second woman's body, and identifies it as Marie. Cecile tells Camille about Marie's plan to kill her. Marcel confesses to killing Marie, but says he did so to save Camille. Beauvais demands the charges against Marcel be dropped and Dupin agrees. Marcel challenges Dupin to a duel. Gobelin learns from Scotland Yard that the first dead body was that of Marcel's English wife, who had recently come to Paris to find her husband.

Dupin and Gobelin discover Beauvais and Marcel have gone missing. Dupin reveals he accused Camille of having Marie's diary, even though he knew the diary didn't exist, so the murderer would retrieve it. They arrive at the Roget home just as Marcel was going to kill Camille. Gobeblin shoots Marcel dead. Gobelin discovers that Beauvais has been secretly helping Dupin.

Cast

Production

It was the first film version of the short story.[1]

The lead female role was to have been played by Peggy Moran who was cast as of December 1941.[2] Two days before filming started on 10 December, Moran was replaced by Maria Montez. Montez had received much off-screen publicity by this stage due to her beauty, but had not played many lead roles.[3][4]

Reissue

The film was reissued in 1943, after Montez obtained stardom, as The Phantom of Paris. Montez was given prominent billing.[5]

References
  1. Telephone to THE NEW,YORK TIMES. (Dec 6, 1941). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times – via ProQuest.
  2. Schallert, E. (Dec 6, 1941). "Disney to build film around timothy mouse". Los Angeles Times – via ProQuest.
  3. Telephone to THE NEW,YORK TIMES. (Dec 10, 1941). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times – via ProQuest.
  4. "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: ' Teach Me to Live' Bought by Metro for Walter Pidgeon -- Fritz Lang Quits Film BIRTH OF THE BLUES' HERE Paramount Shows Comedy With Music -- 'Cadet Girl' Is New Attraction at Palace". New York Times. 10 December 1941. p. 35.
  5. The Mystery of Marie Roget at Mariamontez.org
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