THE FACE OF FIRE (1959)

     FACE OF FIRE (1959) Is a good movie that has disappeared thur the cinema cracks. It use to play all the time on late night television before informerials ruined late night entertainment.
     The film is based on a short story by Stephen Crane entitled THE MONSTER. In the film James Whitmore plays Monk Johnson a lovable handyman in a small American town. The film was shot in Sweden but the film takes place in an American  town around the year1900.
     Monk one night runs into a burning house to save the son of the town's doctor who is played by Cameron Mitchell. Monk saves the boy but his face is badly burned and also suffers brained damage. The doctor saves his life even tho others tell him it would be better for him to let him die.
     After surviving the fire Monk is rejected by the town people who once loved him and thought of him a good man.
     The film does not at this point take the easy way of the exploitation movies and make Monk into a monster. It is the people around him who become the monsters.
     One night the brain damaged Monk wanders away from the people taking care of him and walks into town to relive his last normal day before his accident. He is unaware of the fact that people around him are frighten of him. The only one to treat him the same is a dog who brings him a stick to throw. This same dog is used by a mod searching for him later on in the film.
    This is a good drama that is worth seeing if you can find it. I use to see it for sale on EBay from time to time and from time to time someone post it on You Tube.