Corridor of Mirrors (film)

Synopsis

In London, the wealthy and reclusive artist Paul Mangin lives in a house devoted to evoking earlier centuries, fixated on the past. He encounters Mifanwy Conway at a nightclub and becomes convinced they were lovers in Renaissance Italy, where she betrayed him. She is attracted to his lifestyle but alarmed by his obsessive manner and the warnings of his housekeeper, Veronica. Mangin claims Veronica is insane, but Mifanwy is unconvinced.

She attempts to escape his control by visiting the Welsh countryside with explorer Owen Rhys, who wants to marry her. Her escape is interrupted by an invitation to a costume ball at Mangin's house. That night, dressed as Cesare Borgia, Mangin is arrested for strangling his former lover Caroline Hart. He is convicted and hanged.

Years later, Mifanwy receives threatening letters and a telegram requesting a meeting at Madame Tussauds, where she sees Mangin's waxwork. The butler Mortimer reveals Veronica sent the letters and has worsened in insanity. Veronica enters the museum, speaks to the waxwork, and confesses she killed Caroline out of jealousy, mistaking her for Mifanwy. She then threatens Mifanwy, who retorts that Veronica turned Mangin into an effigy of horror.

Dazed, Veronica runs into the street and is hit by a lorry. Mifanwy returns to Wales and her family with Owen, who tells her Veronica confessed before dying, vindicating Mangin.

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin noted that effects were sometimes good but admired only for technical merit, with cold detached camera work and over-exaggerated sets. Some cast members seemed confused about their scenes. Picturegoer criticized Eric Portman's performance and found no inspiration in the film. Variety described Portman's character as a day-dreaming narcissist moving like a pan-faced actor in search of a part. In the Radio Times, David Parkinson gave a 4/5 star review, finding the action more compelling as it grew eccentric, with a manic score by Georges Auric. He felt Romney was not quite up to the task in her sole starring venture, but praised Portman as magnificently unhinged and Terence Verity's art direction as outstanding.