Claude Rains has to be one of the finest actors who ever graced the screen and this very early effort proves it. Although in his 40's at the time, this was only his third film. Frankly, it is not one of his best and appears to be a little on the cheapo side, especially noticeable in the interior scenes. But that aside, the story does hold your interest and the cast performs admirably.
Rains is a fake clairvoyant who suddenly finds that he indeed has a power to predict the future, possibly due to the presence of a woman (Jane Baxter) who seems to release his hidden talents. This is complicated by the fact that she is in love with him although he is married to Fay Wray.
His predictions bring him fame until the infamous Humber Shaft disaster which is somehow blamed on him. He is brought to trial (which is rather illogical) but saves the day (and his skin) with a final vision. All ends happily for Rains and Wray (not so for Jane Baxter) and a little humor is tacked on at the end as they stroll through a carnival where a "clairvoyant" is performing.
All in all, this is a neat little package that gives us a peek at Rains before he went on to be the busiest and most dependable second lead in Hollywood.
Rains is a fake clairvoyant who suddenly finds that he indeed has a power to predict the future, possibly due to the presence of a woman (Jane Baxter) who seems to release his hidden talents. This is complicated by the fact that she is in love with him although he is married to Fay Wray.
His predictions bring him fame until the infamous Humber Shaft disaster which is somehow blamed on him. He is brought to trial (which is rather illogical) but saves the day (and his skin) with a final vision. All ends happily for Rains and Wray (not so for Jane Baxter) and a little humor is tacked on at the end as they stroll through a carnival where a "clairvoyant" is performing.
All in all, this is a neat little package that gives us a peek at Rains before he went on to be the busiest and most dependable second lead in Hollywood.