The Mask of Diijon

Infobox Film | name = The Mask of Diijon


caption =Erich von Stroheim practices his mind control skills in "The Mask of Diijon". DVD cover from Image Entertainment
director = Lew Landers
producer = Max Alexander
Alfred Stern
writer = Griffin Jay
Arthur St. Claire
starring =Erich von Stroheim
Jeanne Bates
William Wright
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Producers Releasing Corporation
released = March 7, 1946 (U.S. release)
runtime = 73 min
language = English
budget =
imdb_id = 0038731

"The Mask of Diijon" is a 1946 black-and-white suspense film. The film, considered film noir, was directed by Lew Landers.

Plot

A tired magician gives up his act to study the power of the mind. His wife, once supportive, now is struggling to pay bills. She urges her stubborn and older husband to return to the magic field where Diijon was considered one of the greats. He refuses but does reluctantly agree to do a hypnotism night club act at Victoria's urging. The act goes bad and he's laughed off the stage. He's convinced this is the handiwork of Victoria's ex-lover Tony Holliday. Later, Diijon finds that he does indeed have the power to control men's minds and begins to take revenge on the people he felt made him look like a fool. He hypnotizes his young wife to kill the man. Unfortunately for Diijon, things go horribly wrong.

The opening of the film features a memorable scene depicting a woman being beheaded, with a guillotine --- then revealed to be a man.

Cast

*Erich von Stroheim as Diijon
*Jeanne Bates as Victoria
*William Wright as Tony Holiday
*Denise Vernac as Denise
*Edward Van Sloan as Sheffield