Strange Fascination

Strange Fascination is a 1952 American film noir directed by Hugo Haas, starring Cleo Moore, himself and Mona Barrie. This was the first of six films pairing Haas and Moore.

Plot
The life of Paul Marvan (Haas), a world-famous concert pianist, is ruined after his marriage to beautiful femme fatale Margo (Moore). Margo is hardly a femme fatale. She's one of many blondes in Hugo Haas' films who is trying to do her best with men coming at her every second. She's actually sensitive, smart and compassionate. If you actually listen to the dialogue of this movie it's quite grown up, especially the final conversation between Margo and Marvan's patron, Diana Fowler. The level of honesty in this film is as powerful as it is unexpected.

It has also been noted, especially by Czech scholar Milan Hain, that the plot also recalls Hugo Haas' brother Pavel (1899-1944) who died in the camps. Not only does the main character take on the career of a musician, but his brother's name as well.

Cast

 * Cleo Moore as Margo
 * Hugo Haas as Paul Marvan
 * Mona Barrie as Diana Fowler
 * Rick Vallin as Carlo
 * Karen Sharpe as June Fowler