The Man in Half Moon Street

This article is about the film. For the play on which it is based, see The Man in Half Moon Street (play).

The Man in Half Moon Street is a 1945 science fiction romantic melodrama dealing with a man who retains his youth and cannot die, living throughout the ages. The plot is similar to Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray, except that there are more logical explanations for the eternal youth of the main character. The film is based on a 1939 West End play of the same title by Barré Lyndon, and stars Nils Asther and Helen Walker with direction by Ralph Murphy.

The Man in Half Moon Street
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Ralph Murphy
Screenplay by	Garrett Fort (adaptation) Charles Kenyon (finished screenplay)
Based on	The Man in Half Moon Street by Barré Lyndon
Produced by	Walter MacEwen
Starring	Nils Asther Helen Walker
Cinematography	Henry Sharp
Edited by	Tom Neff
Music by	Miklós Rózsa
Production company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	January 19, 1945 (1945-01-19) (New York City)
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

A scientist, Dr. Karell (Asther), has discovered a treatment that can indefinitely prolong his life, using glands stolen from human victims. Having kept his achievement secret for over a century of continuous youth, Karell now has to contend with the curiosity of his new girlfriend Eve (Walker), the increasing guilt of his colleague Dr. Van Bruecken (Schünzel), and a police investigation of his most recent murder. Above all, he needs a renewal of his treatment, or else the mortality he has been evading will catch him at last.

Cast

• Nils Asther as Dr. Julian Karell
• Helen Walker as Eve Brandon
• Reinhold Schünzel as Dr. Kurt van Bruecken
• Paul Cavanagh as Dr. Henry Latimer
• Edmund Breon as Sir Humphrey Brandon
• Morton Lowry as Alan Guthrie
• Matthew Boulton as Det. Insp. Ned Garth
• Brandon Hurst as Simpson-Butler

Home media

Never released officially on DVD, the film was released on Blu-ray in 2023 by Imprint Films, Australia from a new 2K scan. The 1959 Hammer Films remake, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, is available on DVD and Blu-ray from several labels.

External links

• The Man in Half Moon Street at IMDb