I stretched to give this film eight stars because the screenplay is not worthy of that. The script is not only choppy, with many holes in places, but it's confusing, especially with the opening. It's never clear what Malcolm Scott's background or standing is - his business, family, stature, etc. Rather, the film is replete with references to him as a womanizer, adulterer, probable alcoholic, maybe even a crook and all around ne'er-do-well. His real background and physical problems are just touched on toward the end.
My stretch in rating "The Man Who Lost Himself" is based on the acting. First, of Brian Aherne's character, especially after his John Evans gets into the role of his look-alike, Malcolm Scott. And second, by the wonderful cast of some of the top comedy supporting actors of the period. Any comedy that includes S. Z. Sakall or Sig Ruman is bound to be good if only for their presence and roles. They aren't rollicking roles here, but play very nicely with Aherne's character(s). Henry Stephenson is another supporting actor who always adds a nice touch to any film he is in. And Kay Francis is very good as Adrienne Scott.
It's sort of amusing when someone comments on a movie made in 1941 as similar or identical to one made 50 years later. I've read some reviews like that. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Or is this some sort of different prescience - in reverse, maybe (defying the very logic of the meaning)? There have probably been three dozen or more movies made based on two characters who look alike (doppelganger is the term for look-alikes who are not related, as in identical twins, or look-alike cousins).
Anyway, this movie is based on a 1918 English novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. In it, American Victor Jones travels to London and finds that he's an exact look-alike of a member of the British aristocracy. Other than the fact that this and many other movies have doppelgangers as the core of the stories, there is little similarity in plots.
Here are a couple favorite lines from this film.
Adrienne Scott, "You know, you really shouldn't leave boobie woobie all alone in the library. She might be frightened by a book."
John Evans, "I didn't sleep a wink. I don't know what bothered me more - my thoughts or your snoring."
