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Mask of Dust
Mask of Dust
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Terence Fisher
Written by	Paul Tabori; Richard H. Landau
Based on	The Last Race by Jon Manchip White
Starring	Richard Conte; Mari Aldon; Peter Illing
Cinematography	Walter J. Harvey
Edited by	Bill Lenny
Music by	Leonard Salzedo
Production; company	Hammer Film Productions
Distributed by	Exclusive Films; Lippert Pictures (US)
Release date	10 December 1954;
Running time	79 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Mask of Dust is a 1954 British second feature^[1] motor racing drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Richard Conte, Mari Aldon and Peter Illing.^[2] It was written by Paul Tabori and Richard H. Landau based on the 1953 novel The Last Race by Jon Manchip White. It was released in the United States by Lippert Pictures as A Race for Life.

Plot

A freestyle racing driver must choose between his love for racing, and his wife. His friend's accident will help him to choose, and his loyal ways will get him a new friend – his main rival.

Cast

Richard Conte as Peter Wells
Mari Aldon as Patricia Wells
Peter Illing as Tony Bellario
Alec Mango as Guido Rosetti
James Copeland as Johnny Jackson
George Coulouris as 'Pic' Dallapiccola
Meredith Edwards as Laurence Gibson
Edwin Richfield as reporter in lounge
Richard Marner as Hans Brecht
Tim Turner as Alvarez
Jeremy Hawk as Martin
Stirling Moss as himself
Reg Parnell as Reg Parnell
John Cooper as John Cooper
Alan Brown as Alan Brown
Leslie Marr as Leslie Marr
John Welsh as priest
Paul Carpenter as racetrack announcer
Raymond Baxter as racetrack announcer

Production

The film was produced by Hammer Films at the company's Bray Studios, with sets designed by the art director J. Elder Wills.

Critical response

Monthly Film Bulletin said "Skilful use of newsreel material in the actual racing sequences raises this routine story slightly above the average. Shots of racing at Crystal Palace, Silverstone and Le Mans are effectively put together, giving some excitement and realism to this part of the film. In contrast, the familiar squabbles and domestic difficulties of Wells and his wife take on a decidely hollow look. The playing on the whole is adequate, but the cast sems resigned to the fact that the cars are the real stars"^[3]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Servicable drama with well-integrated racing sequences."^[4]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "Hammer's American partner imposed a Hollywood scriptwriter and sent over not one, but two minor US stars for this cheap action drama. British racing drivers such as Stirling Moss appear as themselves and double for lead Richard Conte and other players in this cliché-ridden tale. The intercut footage of real races shows up the artificiality."^[5]

References

^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
^ "Mask of Dust". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
^ "Mask of Dust". Monthly Film Bulletin. 22 (252): 10. 1955 – via ProQuest.
^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 345. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 596. ISBN 9780992936440.