Edgy Pre-Coder with a Number of Memorable Scenes and Some Interesting Camera Shots. Warren William Plays a Sleazy Huckster who Could Con the Feathers off a Pigeon but Could Not Sell a Brush to Keep from Starving.
A Fine Cast and a Carnival Atmosphere with a Second Act Demeaning Rich Folks as Adulterous Asses (typical for Films in the depression) and Deserving of the Exposing that the "Mind Reader" Lays Out for the Suspecting Wives.
In Support, there is the Beautiful Constance Cummings as the Love Interest and Allen Jenkins as a Bombastic and Loud Mouthed Sidekick. It's a Good Entertainment with a Sombre Theme and Enough Angst to Make it a Winner.
Most of the Pre-Code Stuff comes from Implication and Dialog. References to Underage Girls being Preyed Upon and Other Nastiness. The Ending is a Double Edge Contrivance and may Sit Differently Depending on Personal Expectations.
A Powerful Movie but there is One Similar Film that is even Better, Creepy, and Navarious. Nightmare Alley (1942), One of the Best Film-Noir and Starring an Unlikely Tyrone Power.
A Fine Cast and a Carnival Atmosphere with a Second Act Demeaning Rich Folks as Adulterous Asses (typical for Films in the depression) and Deserving of the Exposing that the "Mind Reader" Lays Out for the Suspecting Wives.
In Support, there is the Beautiful Constance Cummings as the Love Interest and Allen Jenkins as a Bombastic and Loud Mouthed Sidekick. It's a Good Entertainment with a Sombre Theme and Enough Angst to Make it a Winner.
Most of the Pre-Code Stuff comes from Implication and Dialog. References to Underage Girls being Preyed Upon and Other Nastiness. The Ending is a Double Edge Contrivance and may Sit Differently Depending on Personal Expectations.
A Powerful Movie but there is One Similar Film that is even Better, Creepy, and Navarious. Nightmare Alley (1942), One of the Best Film-Noir and Starring an Unlikely Tyrone Power.