The Amazing Mr. X

Fun performances and an entertaining story, but it's all pretty airy. It only really catches fire towards the end, and just as things were getting good it was over.

A neat little film that may not be heavy with substance but provides great atmosphere and small delights.

Think Lynch in the 40s. Beautiful, often suggestive, cinematography makes it a somewhat fascinating horror-melodrama-film noir with characters not too black or white; although the characters' intentions often are clear as a cloudless sky, they never seem particularly one-dimensional in their mind-set. There's some really tasty imagery, fascinating because of the often flagrant use of shadows. Check this out if you like elderly mysterious thrillers.

This makes for an odd viewing experience: there is nonsensical writing that is delivered by the actors to great dramatic and comedic effect; there is considered writing delivered by the actors in the great B movie tradition of a wooden performance; nothing much of interest really happens until the final 30 minutes or so when all hell breaks loose. The séance scenes are brilliantly constructed to spook the viewer and Donald Curtis as Paul is one of the great villains of cinema (so ruthless!!!)

I enjoyed the atmosphere and was rooting for Alexis, but just when things started to get interesting, the movie abruptly ended. Fav scene: Bey ducking into the locked closet through his secret back room just before detective and the fiancé interrupt his séance.

Haunting atmosphere, but I wasn't that enchanted by the plot. There's certainly enough to be entertained, and Turhan Bey & Lynn Bari emerges themselves with the feel going on in this ghostly affair. Worth a look if in the mood.

53.000

This road company _Nightmare Alley_ has a good cast and some effective direction but is terminally predictable.