Movie Review: The Amazing Mr. X (1948) directed by Bernard Vorhaus (aka The Spiritualist)
Christine Faber (Lynn Bari) is not dealing well with the death of her husband Paul (Donald Curtis). He died in an automobile accident two years ago, burnt so badly that the corpse was unidentifiable. It seems impossible that he’s really gone, and sometimes Chris could swear she still hears his voice calling from the beach of her oceanside estate. She’s trying to move on with the help of her neighbor, staid attorney Martin Abbott (Richard Carlson). One night, on her way to meet Mark, Chris runs into a mysterious man on the beach. This man seems to know her far too well for a stranger, including details of her relationship with Martin she’s never told anyone. Much might be explained when the stranger, Alexis (Turhan Bey), gives her a business card calling him a spiritualist.
Christine is understandably a bit skeptical at first, but spooky things keep happening that he couldn’t possibly have arranged (without having a plant in the house) and Alexis keeps producing nebulous but convincing evidence that he can in fact contact the Other Side and in particular Paul.
Martin hires a private investigator to look into Alexis, who turns out to have a criminal record for using the spiritualist racket to swindle people. Chris’ sister Janet Burke (Cathy O’Donnell) volunteers to help expose Alexis, but he already knows who she is and dazzles her with his knowledge of her character (or what she would like to believe is her character.) She comes to believe in Alexis too, but with a rather more personal motive.
And yes, Alexis is indeed a phony, and we see several of his tricks. But just when it seems Martin and the detective have him cold, he finally seems to actually manifest Paul in a manner that can’t be dismissed as trickery. Even Alexis himself seems surprised! Could it be that there is something truly sinister going on?
This movie isn’t a classic in the way the other movies I’ve reviewed this last month are, but it’s an enjoyable, moody B-movie with enough twists to keep the audience guessing. Turhan Bey’s slightly exotic looks work well with the character type, and he sells Alexis’ charm. He seems to genuinely like Chris and especially Janet, even as he plans to defraud them, so his final actions make sense.
The suspense ratchets up in the last act of the story as the big twist comes in, and lives are endangered from beyond the grave.
And the last shot with Alexis’ pet raven is perfect.
At no time is Alexis ever referred to as “Mr. X.”
Content note: alcohol, smoking, a character is drugged. A bit of bloodless violence.
Overall: Modern audiences might find this movie a bit creaky, but it’s fun and at about 70 minutes would make a good double feature with another spooky or mysterious short film.
