Miracles for Sale (1939)

Years ago Robert Young complained that he got the parts at MGM that Franchot Tone turned down who in turn got the roles Robert Montgomery rejected. Perhaps it was the prospect of working with Todd Browning in what turned out to be his last film that attracted Young.If so he made an error, not as big a one as Browning made in taking on a story that couldn't make up it's mind what it was. Was it, comedy, drama, or mystery? It had bits of all three.Young's character is based on Harry Houdini who when he wasn't performing himself made an avocation of exposing fake mediums. He offers aid and assistance to Florence Rice who is being threatened with death and there are attempts made. But one of the fakers Frederic Worlock is found dead in a locked room, his body displayed in some bizarre ritual.All the suspects but for Rice are magicians/spiritualists, but this is a real murder committed by a very much alive perpetrator and police detectives Cliff Clark and William Demarest have to find him. Young proves valuable in dealing with this particular group of suspects.I rather liked Frank Craven who plays Young's father and Gloria Holden best known for being Dracula's Daughter as one of the spiritualists. Holden looks so deadpan serious yet you know she's not thinking much of this material. And Craven has some funny lines. But they're out of place, not like the banter between Nick and Nora Charles when they're on a case.It's not a horrible film Todd Browning ended his career with, but definitely mediocre.

Producer Joseph Judson Cohn (who rarely took a credit for his work) was once asked how long he had been working for M.G.M. He replied, "I came over with Columbus!" And that was virtually the case. He joined M.G.M. as soon as the studio was set up and remained with M.G.M. until his mentor, Louis B. Mayer, retired. Alas, despite this movie's classy credits, and its comparatively short running time (71 minutes), it's something of a chore to sit through. Director Tod Browning seems to have lost his touch. On this occasion, he fails to grip his audience. Or maybe the unbelievable script was to blame. Promising ideas are often negated by faulty writing. And the acting is not what you would call "charismatic" either. Or maybe the players had already lost faith in the script before shooting had even commenced. Anyway, despite its innovative subject matter, the story is a feeble one at best, and what's worse, it doesn't make a good deal of sense.

As I've watched more and more of MGM's B pictures, courtesy of TCM, I've noticed that quite often they were mostly talk and no action. This is a case in point. Oh, it's not a bad film, but somehow it reminds of some of the series like the Charlie Chan pics and the like -- not a lot of substance.This was director Tod Browning's last film, and although he was quite respected for this genre, what does it say when a director retires 23 years before his death and never makes another film? The cast here is headed by Robert Young, who plays a former magician who is out to expose fakery in the occult; he does rather nicely. Florence Rice plays a woman who is involved in some way with the occult...and this is where the writers kind of jumble around trying to tell a good story. It's nice to see Frank Craven as Young's father...a fine character actor. As is Henry Hull as another magician. Lee Bowman once again portrays a character actor part that simply isn't very interesting. There are other character actors you'll recognize who do fine here, but the one you'll most notice is William Demarest.I'm not sure TCM is doing us a service by playing this pretty much only during Halloween season, because it's really more of a whodunit and how, than horror. Not very substantial, but pleasant enough a diversion...if you have a fair amount of time to divert!

Miracles For Sale (1939) ** (out of 4) Tod Browning directed film about an ex magician (Robert Young) who now spends his days tracking down fake psychics. One night he meets a strange woman (Florence Rice) and soon bodies are showing up and it appears they are being killed by spirits. Browning's direction is really lacking in this film as it really doesn't contain any of the charm or mystery that it's going for. Young is decent in his role and Henry Hull is nice as well even though she's pretty much wasted. Gloria Holden from Dracula's Daughter also has a small part. There are way too many twists in the film and it also contains one of the most obvious red herrings in film history.