THE FROZEN GHOST-1945-Radio hypnotist
Gregor the Great (Lon Chaney) believes he killed a man through his
hypnotism act. After much soul searching he comes to believe he's
losing his mind so his manager George (Milburn Stone) suggests
he take a job helping Madame Monet (Tala Birell) at her wax museum.
Naturally trouble brews between Monet and Greg's girlfriend Maura
(Evelyn Ankers) and then between Rudi (Martin Kosleck), the weird
sculptor and Gregor over the affections of Monet's niece Nina (Elena
Verdugo; Chaney's romantic lead in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN the year
before). Later Monet disappears and Greg thinks he killed her. A
cynical Shakespeare loving police captain Brant (Douglas Dumbrille)
investigates and at one point says "I'm not paid to think".
When Nina discovers her aunt's corpse in a wax display she's chased
by a knife packing Rudi but comes to suspect Greg when she sees him
with aunt's scarf. Soon it's revealed that George and Rudi are in
league to drive Greg crazy. Fortunately Gregor and Brant devise a
plan and arrive just in time to save Nina from being burned alive.
This was the fourth of six “Inner Sanctum” miseries, I mean
mysteries. It's ok but the story and direction are kind of slipshod.
Harold Young had directed Chaney earlier in 1942's THE MUMMY'S TOMB
and later made THE JUNGLE CAPTIVE (the last of the Paula Duree/ape
woman series). A drunk at the beginning of the film is played
(un-billed) by Arthur Hohl (Montgomery from ISLAND OF LOST SOULS).
Thanks for reading!
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