Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

bkoganbing 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.

mark.waltz Just the whole set-up alone seems ridiculously unbelievable, even if it is set up to be light-hearted entertainment in "The Thin Man" mold of complex situations. The world of mind reading and prophecy dominates the background of murder, set up by the light-hearted banter of mind reader Robert Young, paired with the beautiful Florence Rice, an almost forgotten leading lady of MGM's golden age, overshadowed by Garbo, Shearer, Crawford, MacDonald and Loy, seemingly second string among those legends. She possesses light charm and a witty demeanor, yet lacks in the glamorous mystery of MGM's more famous leading ladies. By now one of MGM's longest leading men, Young benefited from the ability to provide both comedy and drama in his teamings with practically every available leading lady at the studio where the make stars were practically all interchangeable.In support, a huge cast of character actors add amusement in contrast with the outlandish plot. Of them, Frank Craven (very funny as Young's acerbic father, Gloria Holden as an obviously phony psychic (reunited with director Tod Browning from "Dracula's Daughter"), and Henry Hull as one of the more obvious suspects. Rather rushed together as part of MGM's B unit, this has the typical MGM gloss but too many convoluted moments to really be a success. At least in the twists and turns of "The Thin Man" movies, the humor and droll observations of Nick and Nora mixed well with the elements of surprise. The only surprise that exists here is that the script wasn't sent back for necessary improvements.

MartinHafer Back in the 1930s and 40s, a bazillion B-mystery movies were made. Some were quite good, others rather cheap and indifferent. Despite his status as an occasional A-film actor, Robert Young was given the lead in this MGM B--and with very satisfying results.Young plays a debunker and magician named Michael Morgan. His character is a lot like today's Amazing Randi--and not surprisingly, psychics dislike him because he often is able to expose their trickery. He wanders into a strange situation where the trickery is so good that he seems almost ready to believe that these psychics MIGHT be real--especially because their tricks are amazing. How amazing is apparent after a murder occurs--and LOTS of weird things occur, such as folks dying and then seeming to come to life! The film, despite the magic angle, is at heart much like a Charlie Chan, Falcon or Boston Blackie picture. However, its writing is just a bit better as are the rest of the production values. In fact, it's done so well that it really sucks you into the story. Well done all around and a film I nearly gave an 8. And, incidentally, this is director Tod Browning's final film. Although he lived another 23 years, he directed no more films and I'd sure love to know why since so many of his films are brilliant.

Michael_Elliott 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.