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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