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The Man with a Cloak

    Good evening, and welcome to the author's green retreat. Tonight I had the privilege to watch a very good movie entitled The Man with a Cloak. It is the story of a failed poet in New York City circa 1848. He is a charming rascal called Dupin. He meets a young French woman named Madeline Minot, played by the lovely Leslie Caron. Madeline has just arrived in the states from France, at the behest of her fiance. She goes to the mansion of Charles Thevenet, her fiance's wealthy grandfather. (Played by (Louis Calhern.)
     When she finds Thevernet old, sick and being cared for by servants that want him dead, she enlists the aid of Dupin. (Played by Joseph Cotton). Dupin and the girl quickly run afoul of housekeeper Lorna Bounty (Played by Barbara Stanwyck) and butler Martin (played by Joe De Santis.)
     There are a multitude of surprises in store for the poet and the young woman. Mr. Thevernet is being denied his medicine and despite his age and infirmity, likes to party. The Frenchwoman wants him to leave his money to her idealistic fiance. The housekeeper and butler feel they deserve it for putting up with the aged rascal. The poet would just like enough money to pay his rent and bar tab. He wouldn't use the money for that purpose but he would certainly like to have enough to do these things. Ha, ha.
       If you watch this older movie you may find out:
1) Will Thevernet change his will?
2) Will he be murdered by his servants?
3) Will the poet steal the demure French girl away from her fiance?
4) Why does Thevernet wear a ring with a secret compartment?
5) Why does Thevernet have arsenic in that hidden compartment?
6) Who will die, who will live? Who will get rich?
7) For the final mystery, who is the poet, really? Is he truly named Dupin, or has he another alias?
8) Is a crow really someone you can trust with important papers?
     Do yourself a favor and rent this film from Amazon, Blockbuster or wherever. I give it a hefty 4.5 stars out of 5.
     I'm CE Wills.
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