The Devil's Mask

The Devil's Mask is a 1946 American crime film directed by Henry Levin and starring Anita Louise, Jim Bannon and Michael Duane.The film was the second of three B pictures based on the popular radio series I Love a Mystery.^[1] As well as its crime theme, the film also incorporates elements of horror.^[2] It was preceded by I Love a Mystery, and followed by The Unknown.^[3]

The Devil's Mask
Directed by	Henry Levin
Written by	Charles O'Neal Dwight V. Babcock
Based on	I Love a Mystery 1939-52 radio series by Carlton E. Morse
Produced by	Wallace MacDonald
Starring	Anita Louise Jim Bannon Michael Duane Mona Barrie
Narrated by	Frank Martin
Cinematography	Henry Freulich
Edited by	Jerome Thoms
Music by	George Duning Irving Gertz
Production company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	May 23, 1946 (1946-05-23)
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Two private detectives are asked to go to a museum to meet a woman who claims she is about to be murdered by her stepdaughter. The case becomes linked to a plane crash, a shrunken head just sent to the museum, and a scientist who disappeared during an expedition to South America.

Cast

• Anita Louise as Janet Mitchell
• Jim Bannon as Jack Packard
• Michael Duane as Rex Kennedy
• Mona Barrie as Louise Mitchell
• Barton Yarborough as Doc Long
• Ludwig Donath as Dr. Karger
• Paul E. Burns as Leon Hartman
• Frank Wilcox as Prof. Arthur Logan
• Bud Averill as Museum Guard
• Edward Earle as E.R. Willard
• John Elliott as John the Butler
• Fred Godoy as Mendoza
• Richard Hale as Curator Raymond Halliday
• Coulter Irwin as Frank
• Thomas E. Jackson as Detective Captain Quinn
• Frank Mayo as Gordon R. Mitchell
• Mary Newton as Karger's Nurse
• Harry Strang as Brophy - Night Watchman

Critical reception

TV Guide called it an "enjoyable programmer".^[4]