Miracles for Sale (1939)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Tod Browning

Writers:

Clayton Rawson (novel)
Harry Ruskin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 August 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Plot:

Mike Morgan creates the illusions that magicians use in their shows. While his business is Miracles for Sale...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Magician | Nightclub | Medium | Psychic

Cast

Robert Young	...	Michael 'Mike' Morgan
Florence Rice	...	Judy Barclay
Frank Craven	...	Dad Morgan
Henry Hull	...	Dave Duvallo
Lee Bowman	...	Mr. Al La Claire
Cliff Clark	...	Police Inspector Marty Gavigan
Astrid Allwyn	...	Mrs. Zelma La Claire
Walter Kingsford	...	Colonel Herbert Watrous
Frederick Worlock	...	Dr. Caesar Sabbatt (Credits) / Sabbat in Film (as Frederic Worlock)
Gloria Holden	...	Madame Rapport
William Demarest	...	Detective Quinn
Harold Minjir	...	Tauro

Also Known As:

Cuda na sprzedaz (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5489) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

Frank Sully is listed in studio records as the bus driver, but he was replaced by Matt McHugh. A modern source lists Fred Warren as police surgeon, but the role of the coroner (the only surgeon in the movie) was played by E. Alyn Warren.

It's Magic

Tod Browning's final feature length film is a dandy. It seems someone is killing off New York City's prestidigitators, and one of them, Mike Morgan (Robert Young) wants to know why; plus he may be the next victim. As Red Buttons used to say, "Strange things are happening." Murder victims disappear; murder victims reappear as apparitions. Never fear. Police Inspector Marty Gavigan (Cliff Clark) is hot on the case with his at times able assistant Detective Quinn (William Demarest).

A mysterious blond, Judy Barclay (Florence Rice), dashes from a taxi cab seeking sanctuary in Mike Morgan's abode of tricks and treats. Who is after her? Why is she interested in Mike Morgan? What is her relationship to the other magicians of New York City? The plot thickens as one by one some of the questions are answered, but not all until the very end. Mike Morgan is a topnotch magician who doesn't believe in the hocus-pocus of fake mediums out to scam innocent citizens. Yet so much is cloudy and mysterious he and the Inspector contact spiritualist Madame Rapport (Gloria Holden). Even though rapport with her is lacking, they hope to flush out the killer and uncover the motive behind the crimes.

With Tod Browning's circus background, the magic tricks and other special effects sequences are given an authentic presentation. Given the technological limitations of the day, some of the feats of magic shown are amazing. Another positive note, all the ethereal occurrences are explained through reasoning by Mike Morgan.

Robert Young shines in the lead role. Later, he became typecast twice. First as the perfect father, Jim Anderson, in "Father Knows Best" and then as everybody's perfect family doctor, "Marcus Welby, M.D." Many of the present generation don't realize that he had a long, successful screen career previous to his TV roles. He made many good movies, in particular the noir thrillers "They Won't Believe Me," and "The Second Woman." Florence Rice too turns in a fine performance. She failed to survive the 1930's because critics claimed she was in films as a result of her father's (Grantland Rice) influence. That's a pity since she showed so much promise.

For some reason, mystery movies of the 1930's required a dumb detective, most of whom acted so stupid that they became annoying rather than funny. This time around the supposed nitwit turns out to be the great character actor William Demarest. As always, he really can deliver the laughs.

The prestidigitator Tauro is played by Harold Minjir who usually overacts in his many supporting film appearances. This time, maybe because Tod Browning keeps him in check, he turns in an effective performance.

And, oh, yes, look for Charles Lane the indefatigable as the Fleetwood Apartments desk clerk, still alive at 101 and still available for work.