El espiritista

After two years of mourning, lovely Lynn Bari (as Christine "Chris" Faber) seems ready to re-marry. But, Ms. Bari is haunted by the memories of her dead husband (or her dead husband himself, you will have to decide). Bari lives in a Gothic seaside mansion with her younger sister Cathy O'Donnell (as Janet Burke), who encourages her to wed proposing Richard Carlson (as Martin Abbott). Then, off to date Mr. Carlson, Bari meets spooky spiritualist Turhan Bey (as Alexis), who talks to dead people... John Alton's gorgeous photography should knock you out of your séance chair. Director Bernard Vorhaus is nearly as seamless. Mr. Bey's performance patches up a few irritating production details. The bird is terrific. This film needed a little more effort, but it very often glows like a gem.

******* The Amazing Mr. X (1948) Bernard Vorhaus ~ Turhan Bey, Lynn Bari, Cathy O'Donnell

This unusual little thriller, which turned up in a DVD collection of cheapie horror "classics" that I picked up, turns out to be a real discovery. Unusually fine camera-work, a smart, witty script, and good performances (especially by the feline Bey) suggest the makers took a few tips from the Val Lewton films, and maybe from Gregg Toland's cinematography on "Citizen Kane." (Note the fine deep-focus shots.) The set-up, with Bey as a dubious medium enticing a widow by claiming contact with her late husband, allows for some fun sequences involving the medium's tricky house, and some good spooky haunting scenes. All around, an enjoyable, tightly-made little treat.

This 1948 B-movie is an excellently made thriller. It is well acted, well filmed, moves briskly, and keeps the viewer engaged with clever plot-twists and a couple of nicely done double- reversals of expectations. There are films with perhaps twenty times the budget of "The Amazing Mr. X" that aren't half as successful at telling the kind of story that this film features--which, I admit, was pretty well-worn even in 1948. Modern filmmakers trying their hands at thrillers with supernatural overtones would do well to study this film, as it shows exactly how that kind of film is made.

Don't let the cheesy title fool you. This is a top-notch thriller that's well worth a look by any lover of the genre.

What a cool movie. So much more than your typical B horror flick, loved every second of this one. The plot would be very easily spoiled, so I wont go into that, suffice to say it's very interesting and well-done. On top of that, the ending is great. Turhan Bey was great in the lead role, I'm definitely going to track down some more of his films. He commands the screen, makes each scene his own. Great presence, put simply. The rest of the cast is good enough as well, though they pale by comparison to Mr. Bey. The score is beautifully haunting, and sets the scene perfectly throughout the film. I highly recommend this movie.

8.5/10

I have to echo most of the comments that appear here. This is a stunningly photographed dream of a movie showcasing Alton's genius. I'm hoping the powers-that-be in the film and/or preservation industries read the commentaries on IMDB. The print of this that I taped from commercial television is ATROCIOUS! Another plus for me is that the star is Lynn Bari. What a dame! Someone once called her the Paulette Goddard of B movies. That crack does both of these lovely ladies an injustice. I hope that someday, someone (Criterion?) will restore and reissue this masterpiece on DVD.