Behind the Mask

This medical drama set in the fictitious Graftondale Royal Hospital marks the screen debut of Vanessa Redgrave (who appears alongside her father Michael) and provides an interesting insight into the profession and the elite snobbery that comes with the territory.

At the start we are introduced to one of the film’s main characters when Philip Selwood (Tony Britton) is about to undertake his examination for ‘College Fellowship’ amidst the grander than grand setting of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. Waiting in the wings is Selwood’s fiancée Pamela Benson Gray (Vanessa Redgrave) who just happens to be the daughter of Sir Arthur Benson Gray (Michael Redgrave) – Selwood’s future father in law and (somewhat conveniently) the senior surgeon of the aforementioned Graftondale Hospital where he leads an expert team specialising in heart surgery. Despite the tough questions asked during the exam, Selwood passes - much to the delight of Pamela and Sir Arthur who naturally offers him a position at the Graftondale where he will become the latest addition to the surgical team. Hesitant to accept the offer on grounds of ‘nepotism’ bestowed upon him by his soon-to-be father in law, Selwood initially has doubts about accepting the offer but then decides otherwise.

Consequently the first half of the film concerns itself with Dr. Selwood’s trials and tribulations and his getting acquainted with the daily routines of the hospital ward, not to mention the life and death decisions any surgeon is required to make if the medical condition of a patient proves particularly fragile. Or simply just differences in opinions, as exemplified when Sir Arthur and his colleague Dr. Isherwood (Niall MacGinnis) can’t decide whether to refer to their patients as ‘human beings’ or as ‘test tubes’. Never mind there’s always plenty of competition going on, especially when Sir Arthur comes over dizzy during a rather tricky surgical procedure which is projected via camera to the adjoining lecturing room. And so the daily routine continues while Pamela has to adapt to the fact that as regards Dr. Selwood’s life his workplace and the patients must come first. One of his colleagues is Polish anaesthetist Carl Romek (Carl Möhner) who, despite his outwardly charming and apparently professional nature, seems nervous and troubled. Sure enough, one day he asks Dr. Selwood if his could lend him 50 quid (a proud sum at the time) and states there is a problem because of a lady “who has now arrived in London” as an excuse while remaining vague about the specifics. Despite the 50 quid loan Romek seems to become ever more irritated and nervous and thus Selwood decides to take matters into his own hands by meeting with said lady in question, one Elizabeth Fallon (Brenda Bruce) who reveals to the shocked doctor that it is in fact Romek who is in debt to her (hence her visit to London) because he is… a dope fiend!

Soon after this unexpected revelation things take a turn for the worse when Romek collapses (presumably from cold turkey) and Selwood and his colleague carry the unconscious anaesthetist to one of the ward’s staff rooms where he’s attended to. At the same time, the Night Sister (Margaret Tyzack) desperately tries to phone Dr. Selwood (who is supposed to be on call and on duty) as a patient’s condition rapidly deteriorates – unfortunately by the time Selwood can finally be reached the patient has died and Selwood finds himself in big trouble for apparently having left his post. Faced with a humiliating grilling from the hospital board (in particular Lionel Jeffries) Selwood decides to take the rap to protect and help Romek, even going as far as to offer his immediate resignation. But the board members have other plans and when Sir Arthur falls ill himself with a heart condition he has but one doctor in mind who should follow in his footsteps…

Based on John Rowan Wilson’s novel ‘The Pack’, BEHIND THE MASK offers a fascinating glimpse at medical practices at a time when the NHS was still relatively young, female doctors (let alone female surgeons) were the stuff of Sci-fi and every doctor was smoking like a chimney. For one, Dr. Crabtree (Ian Bannen) never stops pinching ciggies! It’s a wonder they weren’t busy treating each other with lung cancer and one can only imagine the stench of cigarette smoke inside the hospital. How times have (thankfully) changed in that respect!
Michael Redgrave exudes the necessary aloofness and self-assurance of a man who is only too aware of his prestigious position while Tony Britton convinces as the young doctor who isn’t always easily persuaded to play the game. Vanessa Regrave doesn’t have much to do in her first movie role other than to look pretty and be supportive of her man.

Bonus material of this newly restored Blu-ray release include a 2021 interview with actor John Gale, theatrical trailer, image gallery.