Scent of Mystery (1960)
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50% want to see it
(4 ratings)
Produced by Mike Todd Jr., Scent of Mystery was a misguided attempt to introduce a new gimmick to motion pictures. The plot involved the apparent murder of a mystery woman (Beverly Bentley, at one time the wife of writer Norman Mailer) and the disappearance of several valuables. Denholm Elliott,… More Produced by Mike Todd Jr., Scent of Mystery was a misguided attempt to introduce a new gimmick to motion pictures. The plot involved the apparent murder of a mystery woman (Beverly Bentley, at one time the wife of writer Norman Mailer) and the disappearance of several valuables. Denholm Elliott, Peter Lorre and Paul Lukas were among the good and bad guys chasing all over Spain and England. Whatever cinematic value Scent of Mystery had was dissolved by the film's gimmick, dubbed "Smell-O-Vision." The idea was to rig up a device in each theatre, from which would emanate a scent that corresponded with whatever image was on screen: the smell of roses for a garden, the odor of fish for an ocean scene, and so forth. Mike Todd Jr. should have guessed what the critical response would be, but released the film all the same. Scent of Mystery, though beautifully photographed, was perhaps the only genuine stinker ever produced by the motion picture industry. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jack Cardiff
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
Unrated,
Critic Reviews
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
As theatrical exhibitionism, it is gaudy, sprawling and full of sound. But as an attempt at a considerable motion picture it has to be classified as bunk.
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Variety Staff, Variety
The picture -- with or without the smells -- is a fun picture, expertly directed by Jack Cardiff.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This beautifully photographed mystery/chase film takes its cast through the Spanish landscape, but the real star of the picture is "Smell-O-Vision."
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Cast
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Denholm Elliott
as Oliver Larker
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Peter Lorre
as Smiley
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Liam Redmond
as Johnny Gin
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Paul Lukas
as Baron Saradin
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Peter Arne
as Robert Fleming
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Beverly Bentley
as The Decoy Sally
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Leo McKern
as Tommy Kennedy
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Mary Laura Wood
as Margharita
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Maurice Marsac
as Pepi
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Diana Dors
as Winifred Jordan
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Judith Furse
as Miss Leonard
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Michael Trubshawe
as English Airman
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Elizabeth Taylor
as The Real Sally Kennedy
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Juan Olaguivel
as Truck Driver
