Flesh And Fantasy (1943)

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(66 ratings)

In the tradition of his earlier Carnival in Flanders and Tales of Manhattan, director Julien Duvivier's Flesh and Fantasy is a "pormanteau" film, consisting of several short stories. Linking the three tales unfolded herein are clubmen Doakes (Robert Benchley) and Davis (David Hoffman), who carry on… More In the tradition of his earlier Carnival in Flanders and Tales of Manhattan, director Julien Duvivier's Flesh and Fantasy is a "pormanteau" film, consisting of several short stories. Linking the three tales unfolded herein are clubmen Doakes (Robert Benchley) and Davis (David Hoffman), who carry on a spirited debate about Destiny. In the first story, homely Henrietta (Betty Field) is made beautiful through the love of handsome Mardi Gras reveller Michael (Robert Cummings)-and the help of an enigmatic mask-maker (Edgar Barrier). The second story, based on Oscar Wilde's "Lord Arthur Saville's Crime", concerns a fortune teller named Septimus Podgers (Thomas Mitchell) who predicts that socialite Marshall Tyler (Edward G. Robinson) will commit a murder. In the final tale, psychic high wire artist Paul Gaspar (Charles Boyer) dreams that he will meet his doom during the performance of his act-and then falls in love with Joan Stanley (Barbara Stanwyck), who looks exactly like the girl who appeared in that dream. A fourth story, detailing the doomed romance between a fugitive from justice (Alan Curtis) and a blind girl (Gloria Jean), was cut from Flesh and Fantasy, then expanded and released separately as Destiny (1944). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Julien Duvivier
Written By: Ellis St. Joseph, Oscar Wilde
Genres: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Nov 1, 1943 Wide
Studio: Passport

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Trio of fine stories with the kind of star studded cast only possible in the studio era.

Cast

            Edward G. Robinson as Marshall Tyler

            Charles Boyer as Paul Gaspar

            Barbara Stanwyck as Joan Stanley

            Betty Field as Henrietta

            Robert Cummings as Michael

            Thomas Mitchell as Septimus Podgers

            Charles Winninger as King Lamarr

            Anna Lee as Rowena/Story 3

            Dame May Whitty as Pamela Hardwick

            C. Aubrey Smith as Dean of Norwalk (story 2)

            Robert Benchley as Doakes

            Edgar Barrier as Stranger

            David Hoffman as Davis

            Eddie Acuff as Policeman

            Anita Bolster
            
            Paul Bryar
            
            Lane Chandler as Satan

            James Craven as Radio Announcer

            Joseph Crehan as Acrobat

            Marcel Dalio as Clown

            Jacqueline Dalya as Angel

            Edward Fielding as Sir Thomas

            Mary Forbes as Lady Thomas

            Jack Gardner as Gunman

            Charles Halton as Old Man Prospector

            Leyland Hodgson as Cop

            Olaf Hytten as Chemist

            Eddie Kane as Immigration Officer

            June Lang as Angela/Story 3

            Peter Lawford as Pierrot

            Bruce Lister as Young Man

            George J. Lewis as Harlequin

            Doris Lloyd as Mrs. Caxton

            Arthur Loft as Detective

            Marjorie Lord as Justine/Story 1

            Grace McDonald as Gaspar's helper

            Ferdinand Munier as Relative

            Clarence Muse as Jeff/Story 3

            Lee Phelps as Detective

            Clinton Rosemond as Elderly Man

            Harry Stubbs as Proprietor

            Heather Thatcher as Lady Flora

            Philip Warren
            
            Ian Wolfe as Librarian

            Frank Arnold as Clown

            Frank Mitchell as Acrobat

            Gil Patric as Grim Reaper

            Sandra Morgan as Neighbor

            Harold De Becker as Clerk

            Mary Ann Hyde as Gaspar's Assistant

            Jerry Maren
            
            Carl Vernell
            
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