Le suicide du professeur X

One of the better films in Universal's INNER SANCTUM series of mysteries to star Lon Chaney, and based on the novel CONJURE WIFE. As a suave and calculated writer of a recent book about dispelling false superstitions, Lon is married to a lovely young girl named Paula (the adorable Anne Gwynne) whom he first met at a voodoo ritual on an island some years ago and who is still interested in the occult, magic, and strange rituals. When all sorts of odd occurrences and deaths transpire, the blame is laid at the feet of the "witchy" Paula, much to her husband's chagrin.

This installment benefits from a good cast. Anne Gwynne has always received my vote for the most attractive of the '40s Universal babes, and Evelyn Ankers (THE WOLF MAN, THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN) is a close second and earns extra points in this one for portraying a baddie this time around, much against type. Elizabeth Russell turns in a strong and compelling performance. Director Reginald LeBorg makes good use of dark, windy nights and eerie atmosphere to nice effect. The subject was tackled again later for the 1962 British film BURN WITCH BURN. *** out of ****

Another installment in the INNER SANCTUM series, WEIRD WOMAN once again stars Lon Chaney Jr. This time out, he plays Professor Norman Reed, whose wife, Paula (Anne Gwynne) just might be returning to her tribal ways.

Cue backstory, complete with bongo drums and leopard skin-clad dancing girls.

Indeed, Professor Reed fell in love with a "jungle woman" while on Safari in Africa. Now, after bringing her back to civilization and marrying her, bizarre hoodoo hijinks have ensued!

Arguably, the best of the SANCTUM films, it features a bevy of horror movie queens, including Evelyn Ankers, Elizabeth Russell, and Lois Collier, in addition to the aforementioned Ms. Gwynne.

Mr. Chaney Jr. Is his usual, remarkable self. This is enjoyable horror hokum for the whole family...

Professor Lon Chaney Jnr (Norman) returns from the jungle with his new wife Anne Gwynne (Paula). He slips back into life at the college but his wife has brought with her a multitude of voodoo trinkets. Two other women at the college, Elizabeth Russell (Evelyn) and Evelyn Ankers (Ilona), don't take kindly to Paula and her jungle ways. Two deaths follow and the guilty party must be brought to justice. Will superstition win the day and dish out some justice?

It's a well-paced film that has good performances from all, especially Elizabeth Russell. She is both funny and scary and has a very direct, no-nonsense approach which gives her the best lines. Evelyn Ankers is also good as Ilona. We know who the guilty party is as the film unfolds but this does not take any mystery away from the proceedings as we are never quite sure what to expect next. There is something lacking with the lead female role, though.

A professor (Lon Chaney Jr.) at a college returns from a visit to a South Seas island with his native wife (Anne Gwynne). His ex girlfriend (Evelyn Ankers) is not pleased. Chaney makes his wife burn all her superstitous, good luck charms. Then everything in his life goes horribly wrong.

Fun movie. It's fast-moving and very interesting. Chaney is just so-so but Gwynne is beautiful and very good as his wife. The best performance is by Ankers--she was usually playing the "good girl" in pictures--here she plays the villain and she's just great! This is one of the few times she was allowed to show her acting ability.

This was remade as "Burn Witch Burn" in the 1960s. That was a better movie but this still is a neat little film. Recommended.

This had always been the one "Inner Sanctum" I was most interested in because it was an adaptation of Fritz Leiber's "Conjure Wife", later filmed as a superior British horror film, NIGHT OF THE EAGLE aka BURN, WITCH, BURN! (1962). This version is highly enjoyable, even if some of the fun to be had is the result of its unexpected goofiness and campiness (at least when compared to the deadly serious 'remake'). The would-be sinister native rituals consist of nothing more than harmless Tahitian dancing and risible mumbo-jumbo! Lon Chaney's irresistibility to the female sex is unconvincingly stretched to no fewer than 3 women in the film when, ultimately, he is no more than an amiable beefcake of a leading man!

Still, the female roles here are surprisingly strong: Anne Gwynne (as Chaney's superstitious native wife), Elizabeth Risdon (as the acid-tongued Dean), Elizabeth Russell (as the ambitious wife of Chaney's senior colleague) and especially Evelyn Ankers (relishing a rare villainous role as Chaney's vengeful ex). Ralph Morgan (as Russell's ill-fated husband and Chaney's direct competitor) also makes a good impression. While the film is occasionally atmospheric, it suffers in comparison with NIGHT OF THE EAGLE and that film's memorable climax is sorely missed (especially since the supernatural element is heavily toned down here). A highlight of the film is Ankers' nightmarish vision as she is haunted by her victims into confessing her crimes.

P.S. As with the previous entry in the series, CALLING DR. DEATH (1943), the Ygor theme from THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942) is incorporated into the music score! By the way, am I the only one bothered by the fact that Chaney is billed merely as "Lon Chaney" rather than "Lon Chaney Jr." - or, for that matter, the fact that the credits merely state that the film is based on a story by Fritz Leiber without mentioning its actual title?