Strange Confession (1945)

Acceptable "Inner Sanctum" mystery has Lon Chaney Jr. bringing a bag to a powerful defense attorney and telling his story of how ruthless lab owner J. Carroll Naish did him and partner Lloyd Bridges dirt, purposely releasing it to the public before it was ready. His motive, to get Chaney out of the way so he could put the moves on Chaney's wife, Brenda Joyce, makes the revenge on the lecherous man double motivated. Chaney's a good family man, taking the fifth entry of the series to a domestic level, quite different as the short lived series winds down.This is a better than average entry, although the scene sacrificing monkeys for scientific research was disturbing, especially seeing Bridges holding one of the adorable critters. Naish, having earlier played one of the detectives in "Calling Dr. Death", is a great villain, although I found it absurd that Chaney would trust him again after having earlier had his career destroyed by him. Bridges, as usual, is a light hearted joy to watch, and for once, Chaney seems easy going in his work as well, as if Bridges' easy manner rubbed off on him. Mary Gordon gives her typical sweet and funny take as Chaney and Joyce's housekeeper.Topically, this is an interesting take on the subject of medical fraud with medicines made available or tainted, a topical subject today. With a better script than normal, this becomes intriguing because of how much has changed and not changed. It's less melodramatic than others in the series, because the dramatic elements of the story are far more relatable. A twist at the end is a real shocker that makes the revenge on Naish all the more desirable.

Chemist Lon Chaney Jr (Jeff) develops cures for illnesses but it's his boss J. Carrol Naish (Graham) who proudly takes the credit. Chaney is OK with this as he is motivated by the desire to help mankind. However, he is just too nice and doesn't even ask for pay rises. Naish is ruthlessly committed to profit and is prepared to release unfinished products to the public and that's what he does. He comes into direct conflict with Chaney over this point and things escalate. Chaney wants something back.Well, I'm not sure Chaney needed to do what he does given his reasoning at the end of the film. It doesn't make any sense – he's babbling complete nonsense. However, we all sympathize with him. The film is a bit boring given the family situation - I couldn't care less for the family life sections and the kid and the irritating housekeeper.One thing is true about the film, it is indeed a strange confession. And there are loads of products on the market that are no good for you. What's in the bag – yes, you guessed right. No real mystery about this film, it's an obvious narrative.

STRANGE CONFESSION (Universal, 1945), directed by John Hoffman, the fifth in the "Inner Sanctum" mysteries starring Lon Chaney (Jr.), has a lot to recommend mainly because this one stands apart from all the others. There's no detective around waiting for the guilty party to accidentally convict him or herself. There's no real murder mystery involved - the killer is known to its viewers from the start of the story. It's also the only one of the six entries to actually been lifted from an earlier film, THE MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD (Universal, 1934) starring Claude Rains, Joan Bennett and Lionel Atwill. While the Rains version did have limited television broadcasts (1973-1977) on WOR, Channel 9, in New York City, STRANGE CONFESSION did not, making this the most unavailable and least known of the "Inner Sanctum" products for many years.STRANGE CONFESSION would not be recognized as an "Inner Sanctum Mystery by Arrangement with Simon and Schuster Inc. Publishers" had it not been for David Hoffman's participation as a disembodied head inside a crystal ball addressing his audience by saying, "This is the Inner Sanctum, the strange fantastic world controlled by mass of living, cult seeking flesh. The mind, it destroys, distorts, creates monsters. Yes, even YOU without knowing can commit murder." For the opening scene, a murder has already taken place and central character, introduced as Jeffrey Carter (Lon Chaney), is seen leaving a building as the midnight bells chime, carrying some object inside his valise. After walking a great distance, Carter comes into the home of Brandon (Wilton Graff), his former college classmate now an attorney. Refusing to accept any more clients due to his busy schedule, Brandon is asked to sit down and hear what he has to say. After seeing what he has inside his valise, Brandon, in total surprise, agrees to listen to his story. Flashbacks reveal Carter an idealistic chemist with a beautiful wife, Mary (Brenda Joyce), and little son, Tommy (Gregory Muradian). Although a happy family, Mary resents the fact that her husband's brilliant mind is being taken for granted by his employer, Roger Graham (J. Carrol Naish), a manufacturer who takes credit and riches from Jeff's discoveries. After quitting his employ, Graham arranges for Jeff to be blacklisted from laboratory work, thus, forcing him to work for Mr. Moore (Christian Rub) as a pharmacist in his neighborhood drug store. Unable to succeed without Jeff's assistance, Graham takes him back, this time offering him full control of his discoveries and better financial rewards. Accepting a position in South America with Dave Curtis (Lloyd Bridges) as his assistant, Jeff acquires a special mode used for his vaccine cure for influenza called Zymurgine, sending the formula to Graham, who continues to betray Jeff by using it for his professional gain. After learning the real reason for being sent away for long length of time away from his wife and son, Jeff decides to return home and do something about it.Other members of the cast include: Milburn Stone (Stevens); Addison Richards (Doctor Williams); Mary Gordon (Mrs. O'Connor); George Chandler (Harper) and Francis McDonald (Hernandez). As in all "Inner Sanctum" mysteries, Lon Chaney, in mustache, plays a victim of circumstance. Like his legendary father of the silent screen, he makes every effort presenting himself as an actor and not one associated solely in the horror genre starting with THE WOLF MAN (1941) and its sequels being his most significant character among everything else he has done.What makes STRANGE CONFESSION even more special is Chaney's rare opportunity playing a family man with a wife and child this time around, although not as convincing as a chemist as Boris Karloff or Vincent Price had they been cast. Had STRANGE CONFESSION been licensed to broadcast television in the sixties and seventies, no doubt, based on portions in the flashback sequence set during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, it might have been part of its annual Christmas package showings as MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947) for example. Naturally this never occurred mainly due to this particular movie title became victim of some copyright dispute. After decades of obscurity, STRANGE CONFESSION was made available through video distribution in 1997 and again on DVD with prints lifted from a 1950s reissue with Real-Art Studios as distributor instead of Universal Pictures logo used in its closing titles. For anyone insisting that STRANGE CONFESSION did play on television sometime in the 1960s, oddly enough, it was a title inserted over the original title of THE IMPOSTER (Universal, 1944), for a reissue print starring French actor, Jean Gabin.STRANGE CONFESSION is highly recommended viewing. It's only disappointment during its 66 minutes is not knowing much of the outcome after Jeff finishes telling his story. Next and final Inner Sanctum Mystery: PILLOW OF DEATH (1945) casting Lon Chaney and Brenda Joyce once more. (**1/2)

Of the six Inner Sanctum movies Lon Chaney made at Universal, for me this one constantly switches positions with two others in "Top Three" status. Chaney plays Jeff Carter, a good husband and father who's too soft when it comes to handling his domineering boss Roger Graham (J. Carrol Naish). Jeff's a skilled, meticulous lab chemist busy developing medicines with his partner (played by a very young Lloyd Bridges), but for all his achievements still lives modestly with his family in a tiny apartment. Jeff works hard while watching Graham take all the money and credit, and ultimately becomes a pawn in Graham's game when the boss sends Jeff away for a month on a job in South America for his own selfish ulterior motives. STRANGE CONFESSION benefits right away for being somewhat different in style and approach from all the other Inner Sanctum mysteries, and it ropes you in from its prelude where we see a tormented Jeff desperately consulting with a lawyer while carrying a black bag with something unspeakable inside it. The film is then told as a flashback where we can find out what happened and why. Chaney gives a good performance, and J. Carrol Naish (who was so perfect with him in CALLING DR. DEATH) again makes for a fine match. *** out of ****