Strange Illusion

1945

1h 27m

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

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Thriller

Mystery

An adolescent believes that his widowed mother's suitor may have murdered his father.

Directors

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers

Fritz Rotter(original story by)

Adele Comandini(screenplay by)

Stars

Jimmy Lydon

Warren William

Sally Eilers

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Top cast

Paul Cartwright

Brett Curtis

Virginia Cartwright

Dr. Vincent

Professor Muhlbach

Benjamin

Dorothy Cartwright

George Hanover

Lydia

District Attorney Wallace Armstrong

Sonia Sorel

Charlotte Farber

Theresa Harris

Maid

Directors

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers

Fritz Rotter(original story by)

Adele Comandini(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Shortly after his father dies, the bright young “Paul” (Jimmy Lydon) starts to have nightmares that his mother’s new beau is, in some way, behind the death. Of course, she (Sally Ellers) doesn’t know of his spooky suspicions, but he does confide in his doctor (Regis Toomey) who is sceptical to begin with, but who begins to wonder if this man “Curtis” (Warren William) is indeed whom he claims to be. Might he have had an hand in the seemingly accidental death of the father - who was a judge? As the story develops, the young lad has to take up residence at the asylum of the enigmatic “Prof. Muhlbach” (Charles Ant) and the plot thickens more. Is there any truth to his dreaming or is he just a succumbing to the stresses and strains of his father’s death and of his mother’s impending nuptials? Lydon holds this together enthusiastically and as the mystery deepens, it has a slightly more sinister feel to it than many of these standard afternoon features. It also touches, albeit superficially, on the effects of grief on the young man and offers us something psychologically plausible for a while as “Paul” struggles to conclude himself whether he is correct or just losing the plot. Speaking of plots, yes there are some familiarities with other noir mysteries here, but Lydon does well and this certainly is just a little more menacingly different.

Geronimo196722 Mar, 2025