Anthology film from Universal with three stories of the bizarre, as told through a framing story with David Hoffman and Robert Benchley. The first story is about a plain-looking woman (Betty Field) who wears a mask on Mardi Gras that is supposed to make her appear attractive to the man she loves (Robert Cummings). A beautifully photographed story with a somewhat flimsy premise. Good acting by Field and Cummings. The second story is about a fortune teller (Thomas Mitchell) who tells Marshal Tyler (Edward G. Robinson) that he will murder someone. Tyler becomes obsessed with the prediction which leads to a fairly predictable ending. Robinson is excellent as always. The third story is about a circus high-wire artist (Charles Boyer) who has premonitions about falling that involve a woman (Barbara Stanwyck). This is the weakest of the three stories. A fourth story was originally part of the film but Universal removed it. The following year they had a new screenwriter and director do additional material to add to the story, including a new happier ending. They released this as the movie "Destiny." Overall, not a bad movie but not a great one. Certainly it looks good. Director Julien Duvivier creates an ethereal atmosphere throughout.
Review of Flesh and Fantasy
