Lon Chaney stars as a famous hypnotist, Gregor the Great, crippled emotionally after a belligerent, alcoholic volunteer drops dead while in the middle of his act, performing for an audience, believing he is responsible despite a coroner's report clearing him of any sort of murder. Alex Gregor felt hate for the volunteer due to the idiot's bad behavior, even mentioning that he could kill him, and this is what torments the hypnotist. He is so tormented, Alex quits his gig and decides to help Valerie Monet (Tala Birell) with her wax museum business, using the former celebrity to help bring in customers. Maura Daniel (Evelyn Ankers) was to marry Gregor (she is his assistant, often put under hypnosis and foretells what certain people in the audience are thinking) before the embarrassing death, which led Alex to call of their engagement and leave the profession. Of course, she still loves Gregor and wants to rekindle their broken relationship. Valerie Monet and her niece, Nina (Elena Verdugo; the gypsy in "House of Frankenstein"), both fall for Gregor (haha, these Inner Sanctum mysteries always have all the ladies completely enamored with Chaney's characters) leading to multiple complications. Martin Kosleck (the mad sculptor in "House of Horrors" co-starring Rando Hatton) is a former plastic surgeon, driven from the practice due to a patient's "miscalculation", now Madame Monet's wax sculpture artist, Dr. Rudi Polden, one of those creepy, *eccentric* weirdos who talks to his figures as if they were alive. Rudi is infatuated with Nina and has a severe dislike for Gregor because he "bosses him around". In actuality, Rudi is jealous because Nina carries a torch for Gregor (who considers her a child). There's plenty of jealousy to go around, though, as Valerie competes for Gregor even if he doesn't have the same feelings for her as he does for Maura. Milburn Stone is Gregor's business agent, George Keene, who seems interested in helping his client get over this obsession with causing death through hypnotic suggestion. When Valerie disappears after an argument with Gregor results in him using his hypnotism, out of anger, to "predispose" her, Alex is worried that he has killed again, blacking out for a period before finding himself near a pier. Douglass Dumbrille rounds out the cast as a pesky inspector who considers everyone a suspect in Val's disappearance, soon eyeing Gregor when Nina also vanishes (after making a startling discovery when one of Rudi's wax sculptures is a bit *too* lifelike.).
A wax museum, a diabolical sculptor, a double-cross in the works for poor Gregor, hypnotism, disappearances, suspended animation, and a hero's tormented psyche questioning his unique ability as if it were a dangerous weapon he cannot control, "The Frozen Ghost" has a lot going on. I think by this point, the "Inner Sanctum Mysteries" series was starting to show its age, the fourth film has some pretty bland writing and practically little imagination, not to mention, Chaney's role isn't as interesting as, say, Kosleck's. Chaney is a weary, tortured soul—sound familiar? That's all it is, honestly, I wish the series had mixed things up (like they did in "Weird Woman" when Evelyn Ankers was given a juicy villainous part), and given Chaney a chance to play the corrupt character instead of always being saddled with the Lawrence Talbot victim. It isn't that Chaney cannot portray a heel, just watch "The Alligator People".
Anyway, there's one surprising moment out of left field, when the story reveals a plot to have Gregor committed, the mastermind perhaps not who you would expect. Evelyn Ankers, after probably her best part at Universal Studios with "Weird Woman", resorts back to beautiful love interest to Chaney, a supporting part that doesn't require much from her other than the "stand by your man" aspect her characters are often provided. Kosleck has a keen ability at portraying the kinds of characters who can make your skin crawl; his love for Nina unrequited, only fueling his psychopathic behavior. The screenplay certainly throws in everything but the kitchen sink so there might be something for fans of Universal horror to enjoy.
A wax museum, a diabolical sculptor, a double-cross in the works for poor Gregor, hypnotism, disappearances, suspended animation, and a hero's tormented psyche questioning his unique ability as if it were a dangerous weapon he cannot control, "The Frozen Ghost" has a lot going on. I think by this point, the "Inner Sanctum Mysteries" series was starting to show its age, the fourth film has some pretty bland writing and practically little imagination, not to mention, Chaney's role isn't as interesting as, say, Kosleck's. Chaney is a weary, tortured soul—sound familiar? That's all it is, honestly, I wish the series had mixed things up (like they did in "Weird Woman" when Evelyn Ankers was given a juicy villainous part), and given Chaney a chance to play the corrupt character instead of always being saddled with the Lawrence Talbot victim. It isn't that Chaney cannot portray a heel, just watch "The Alligator People".
Anyway, there's one surprising moment out of left field, when the story reveals a plot to have Gregor committed, the mastermind perhaps not who you would expect. Evelyn Ankers, after probably her best part at Universal Studios with "Weird Woman", resorts back to beautiful love interest to Chaney, a supporting part that doesn't require much from her other than the "stand by your man" aspect her characters are often provided. Kosleck has a keen ability at portraying the kinds of characters who can make your skin crawl; his love for Nina unrequited, only fueling his psychopathic behavior. The screenplay certainly throws in everything but the kitchen sink so there might be something for fans of Universal horror to enjoy.