Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113958 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-20
• Format: NTSC

Amazon.com
A clairvoyant who is a sham begins to have real insight into the future that portent disasters and gets into trouble with the police when it is seen that he knows about accidents before they happen.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Claude in his early days but NOT the full film!
This Synergy DVD omits the first 10 minutes of the original theatrical release as well as several minutes of random scenes. The actual 1934 film opened with scenes of Claude Rains and Fay Wray on a boat, going through customs and then backstage rehearsing. These are inexplicably deleted. A serious omission, so be forwarned. They also cut out a scene of Claude Rains shaving after his first moment of clairvoyancy. Though not a vital moment, it's still upsetting to see a nice early film cut to ribbons!

Now, to the review: this was Claude Rains' first movie after his breakthrough role in "The Invisible Man." It's fascinating to watch because Claude had not yet developed his later smooth-as-silk, understated screen persona. Here, he is still perfecting his film technique and it's quite fascinating to watch. In many scenes, he is theatrical, flamboyant and doesn't seem at home in front of the camera. Yet he also has moments where he shows flashes of his later brilliance as an actor. The mature Claude Rains of the 40's and 50's wouldn't have been caught overacting in his life, but here, you see glimpses of it. It's a work in progress and The Clairvoyant is an important piece in the puzzle of Rains' work.

Though he was 44 years old during production, he looks 25, and is extremely boyish throughout. Fay Wray is stunning and though she's overshadowed by Rains, this was par for the course. Their scenes together are unintentionally humorous because she is fawning all over him in great adoration and he is remains a little aloof and awkward. Still, all of their scenes together are adorable.

The Synergy DVD print is not the best, but it's watchable. Actually my old VHS version of the film is infinitely clearer. There are numerous places where hiss and buzz interfere with the soundtrack, which is vacillating and weak sounding. The look of the movie is also uneven, but it's not that bad. This is one unusual movie begging for restoration. If you're a Claude fan, this is a must have for your movie library. But again, beware this is not 90 minutes as advertised on the DVD case and the first 10 minutes are axed.

Good Film, okay print.
This film is great. It has Claude Rains (Casablanca (Two-Disc Special Edition), Invisible Man - The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man's Revenge) and Notorious - Criterion Collection) and fay Wray(King Kong (Two-Disc Special Edition), Doctor X (1932) & the Return of Doctor X (1939) - Authentic Region 1 DVD From Warner Brothers Starring Humphrey Bogart, Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Lee Tracy, Preston S Foster, Rosemary Lane, Dennis Morgan, John Litel, Huntz Hall & Directed By Michael Curt..., The Mystery of the Wax Museum / 1933 / Fay Wray)and was made in 1934. This film is very good, but for your information, the quality of the print is lacking. It is, however watchable.