Dead Man's Eyes (1944)

Exotic Aquanetta, aka the captive wild woman, shows off her thespian talents in the third of the "Inner Sanctum" series as the model of that seductive romantic idol, Lon Chaney Jr. Jealous over his engagement to Jean Parker, the cold Acquanetta arranges an accident that leads to Chaney's blindness. The segment of Chaney losing his sight is very scary as his pupils fill the screen all white and the vision blurs down to darkness. A corneal transplant has eye doctor Jonathan Hale hoping that they can restores his sight. Paul Kelly as the psychiatrist friend of Chaney's notices Acquanetta's "primitive" nature, giving way to her obsession growing as she takes care of him after he dumps Parker. When a potential donor is murdered, Chaney's sight is restored, but the so-called dead man's eyes take over Chaney's personality as he faces trial for the murder of the person whose eyes he now possesses. With some intelligent medical information in regards to medical advancements, this has some intriguing developments, but predictably takes some strange twists. Chaney continues his thought process of speaking over the action, but fortunately he's not whispering this time around. The acting isn't bad here, and even Acquanetta is sincere, if unremarkable, but at least she's not insipid. There's just a lack of consistency in her line delivery. I just didn't find her obsession with Chaney realistic. Thomas Gomez is amusing as an easy going police detective with a knack of manipulating the truth out of suspects. Interesting to notice that a nightclub sequence features an outtake of a musical number from a Universal 1932 crime drama, "Night World", superimposed over shots of Chaney and Parker at a night club. A fun but far fetched story, it has periods of superb psychiatric visions into the human soul, but suddenly switches into the absurd with plot developments so outlandish that the film suddenly becomes cartoon like in its development.

Lon Chaney, Jr. plays an artist who is engaged to beautiful Jean Parker and has exotic Acquanetta lusting after him. Sounds like a charmed life. But then this genius goes and accidentally puts acid in his own eyes! Chaney's now blind and must await a donor for a cornea transplant. Parker's father offers his corneas, to be removed after he dies. But someone up and kills the old guy and it looks to everybody like Chaney might have done it to speed things up.This enjoyable entry in Universal's Inner Sanctum mystery thriller series is directed by Reginald Le Borg. Chaney is great in this series. I'm sure he enjoyed getting a break from the monster movies he was making at this time. He gives his all in every Inner Sanctum movie. A really good cast here to back him up. Jean Parker is lovely as always. Thomas Gomez, Paul Kelly, and Jonathan Hale are all great support. Acquanetta is nice to look at but probably the worst actress Universal had in any of their movies. Her monotone line delivery is dreadful.This isn't one of the best of the series but it's good. The biggest problem, aside from Acquanetta's poor acting, is that the mystery part is unsurprising. The killer is obvious, despite all of the red herrings they have in place. Still, it's fun and fans of the series and Chaney will enjoy it.

With character actors like Paul Kelly, Thomas Gomez and Jean Parker, this Inner Sanctum outing has Lon Chaney as an artist and is one of the better vehicles for Lon. He starred in all six films in the Inner Sanctum series, and this one concerns him putting acid in his eyes by mistake, instead of his intended eye-wash. Or did someone plan it that way? When his future father-in-law says he has put it in his will that Lon gets his eyes for a surgical procedure, the old man is mysteriously killed within days. Did Lon - a blind man - do it? Did a young model, who loves him, do it, so that he will be blind and bound to her forever? Did the psychiatrist do it, because he loves her and he will only have her if Lon gets his sight back? Did the old man's daughter do it? Obviously not! They strike again, when she is on the phone with the next victim. But, you won't find out the answer, until you buy this neat Inner Sanctum series DVD set. Or see it on TV. But I think that's less likely. This b-picture is given grade A production with good actors and quick dialogue that pushes you along. So what are you waiting for? Go into the Inner Sanctum.

Artist Dave Stewart is engaged to beautiful rich Heather Hayden (Jean Parker). Unfortunately his model Tania (Acquanetta) loves him too and is insanely jealous. One night he accidentally (???) puts acid in his eyes and becomes blind. There is one chance to regain his sight--an eye operation...but who's eyes will he use? Then someone dies...A little convoluted but enjoyable, compact murder mystery. It's briskly paced and never dull. The acting is OK--Chaney is just OK in his role, Parker is very good but Acquanetta, while being very beautiful, is a terrible actress. The only problem with this is that it IS pushing credibility to believe that Parker and Acquanetta are head over heels in love with Chaney! Still, not bad. I give it a 6.