Face to Face

Two short stories rolled into one film. The first sees Michael Pate appear, like a bit of a merman, before James Mason's rail-side captain seeking sanctuary on his ship after an incident on his previous vessel. The second, a story of the wild west with newly married lawman Robert Preston (Jack Potter) caught up in some lawlessness in his small town as he returns from his nuptials with his bride Marjorie Steele. The former story has more to it, I thought. Despite never quite knowing why the sailor absconds, Mason keeps him secret from his crew - and that involves quite some skill and synchronicity aboard his small ship, particularly when his former captain Gene Lockhart comes to visit. The second a simpler story, with less depth, but a fun formal breakfast scene on their train and plenty of action once they arrive keeps it interesting enough. The films fit well together, though could equally have been presented in isolation, and James Agee has adapted the Joseph Conrad and Stephen Crane short stories skilfully and enjoyably.