Tuesday 2 August 2016

42 Supernatural ( 1933 )


This  is  a  mildly  entertaining  film  about  possession  from  beyond  the  grave. It's  an  intriguing  premise  that   isn't  satisfactorily  developed.

Ruth  Rogen  is  a  serial  murderess  awaiting  execution. Doctor  Houston  persuades  her  to  leave her  body  to  him  to  test  out  some  theory  about  malingering  evil  influence.
While  this  is  going  on  her ex-lover  Paul  Batvian , himself  a  murderer  who  betrayed  her  to the police ,  is  preparing  a  fake  seance  to  ensnare  Roma  Courtenay, an  heiress  whose  twin  brother has  recently  died.  Her  fiance has  doubts  about  the  seance  and  takes  her  to  see   Houston  just as  he  is  experimenting  with  Rogen's  corpse. Her  spirit  transfers  to  Roma  who  seeks  to revenge  herself  on  Batvian. This  is  contrived  enough  but  there  are  plentiful  red  herrings  that only  confuse  the  viewer. Just  for  starters  we  don't  know  how  Roma's  brother  died, what  really happened  between  Ruth  and  Batvian  or  why  the  latter  accuses  the  family  lawyer  of  killing Roma's  brother.

Carole  Lombard  ( as  Roma  Courtenay ) 

Sex : As  possessed  by  Ruth, Roma  seeks  to  seduce  Batvian  but  only  gets  so  far  as  his  hand  on  her  clothed  breast  before  their  tryst  is  interrupted.

Death : Survives

Carole   was  happier doing  comedy   and  didn't want  this  part but she does well enough in a dual personality role. She  became a big star after Twentieth Century in 1934 and especially  after becoming Mrs   Clark  Gable in 1939. Alas  they  only  had  three  years  together  as  she  was  killed  in  an  air  crash  returning  from  a  War  Bond  tour  in  1942  aged  33.

Vivienne  Osbourne  ( as  Ruth  Rogen )

Sex : No

Death : Executed  in  the  electric  chair  ( offscreen ) .  Her  spirit  leaves  Roma  upon  the  death  of  Batvian  so  presumably  is  at  peace ?




Vivienne  ( who  doesn't  look  very  scary )  was  originally  Vera  Spragg. She  was  a  character  actress  who  flitted  between  stage  and  screen  throughout  her  career  and  was  a  more  than  capable  singer. She  died  in  1961  aged  64.  

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