The Man with a Cloak

Infobox Film
name = The Man with a Cloak


image_size = 150px
caption =
director = Fletcher Markle
producer = Stephen Ames
writer = Frank Fenton
narrator =
starring = Joseph Cotten
Barbara Stanwyck
Louis Calhern
music = David Raksin
cinematography = George J. Folsey
editing = Newell P. Kimlin
distributor =
released =
runtime = 84 mins
country = USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0043782

"The Man with a Cloak" is a 1951 film directed by Fletcher Markle and starring Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron.

Plot summary

Set in 1848 New York, the film's mysterious title character (Cotton) - an impecunious heavy drinker who goes by the name of Dupin - helps a young Frenchwoman, Madeline Minot (Caron), to claim her rightful inheritance from her wealthy old father-in-law, a crusty expatriate Frenchman named Thenevet. To do this, they have to circumvent the machinations of his maid (Stanwyck) and butler, who were hoping to cash in on his fortune. At the end of the film, Dupin's true identity is revealed to be Edgar Allan Poe.

Casting

Markle originally wanted Marlene Dietrich for the role of the scheming maid and Lionel Barrymore for the ailing millionaire, but Barrymore was too ill in real life and when Marlene said no, Barbara Stanwyck jumped in. During filming, Stanwyck was going through a difficult divorce with actor husband Robert Taylor.

Cinematic clues as to Dupin's true identity

*He shares the same name as Poe's famous detective.
*He is a heavy drinker.
*He runs up a large bar bill which he cannot pay.
*The presence of a raven, as a pet of the old man.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043782/ IMDb entry]