Corridor of Mirrors

Adapted from a novel by Christopher Massie, Terence Young's feature bow is a visually striking and unashamedly melodramatic study in obsession that draws on the fantastical tales of Pygmalion, Bluebeard and Beauty and the Beast. Flashing back from Edana Romney's visit to the Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussaud's, the narrative recalls her dalliance with Eric Portman, a boulevardier who is convinced that she is the reincarnation of the 15th-century Italian woman he believes he loved in a former life. Overlooking the grim secret of the mirrored corridor in Portman's mansion, Romney is torn between the finery showered upon her and the tightening grip of her admirer's fixation. Yet, the more eccentric the action gets (and the more manic Georges Auric's score seems), the more compelling it becomes. In her sole starring venture, Romney (who also co-scripted) isn't quite up to the task. But Portman is magnificently unhinged and Terence Verity's art direction is outstanding.