The Upturned Glass

In the past few years, James Mason, one of Britain's leading film stars, has built quite a following among American audiences - especially among women-folk. And from all indications his popularity will continue to rise when "The Upturned Glass," his last picture before leaving England for the United States, is released in this country next month. He is again the same mean, moody, masculine Mason that has made feminine hearts palpitate with his treat-'em-rough style. As a prominent but paranoiac brain surgeon, Mr. Mason's somber performance overshadows even the fine characterizations of Rosamund John and Pamela Kellino. Additionally, the story and main character fit Mr. Mason like a well-made suit. As the lonely specialist finding comfort only in his work and in music as a result of a marital separation, he meets and falls in love with Rosamund John, whose husband is a world-traveling archaeologist. After she commits suicide Mason finds that she was driven to it by a scheming, jealous sister-in-law, played by Miss Kellino. Seeking revenge, Mason wins the love of Miss Kellino, then throws her to her death from a window. Skillfully woven through is the mounting mental struggle taking place in Mason's mind when his paranoia complex passes through the various stages of development while planning and committing the perfect crime. However, unforeseen events cause the murder to be a muddled, amateurish crime, with all clues pointing to him as the murderer, thus bringing about his suicide. The transition from medical genius to paranoiac is likened by a fellow doctor to the cup of life which, in Mason's case, is a delicately carved but fragile glass which shatters at the first disturbance. Co-produced by Mr. Mason and Sydney Box, the somber tone of the picture is further emphasized by directorial touches of Lawrence Huntington; by high and low keyed lighting effects, and by the musical background, played by the London Symphony Orchestra. Since it is a story of complicated romances; of two suicides and a murder, it is of adult audience character. John P. Monoghan wrote the original story and, with Miss Kellino, prepared the screenplay.