Miracles for Sale
Miracles for Sale | |
---|---|
Directed by | Tod Browning |
Written by | Clayton Rawson Harry Ruskin Marion Parsonnet James Edward Grant |
Produced by | J.J. Cohn |
Starring | Robert Young Florence Rice |
Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. |
Edited by | Fredrick Y. Smith |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 71 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Miracles for Sale is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Tod Browning, and starring Robert Young and Florence Rice. It was Browning's final film as a director.[1] The film is based on a locked-room mystery novel by well-known mystery writer Clayton Rawson, Death from a Top Hat, which was the first to feature his series detective The Great Merlini. In this film, Merlini's character has been changed into Michael Morgan (The Amazing Morgan) as portrayed by Robert Young. Don Diavolo, another series character in Rawson's work under his pseudonym, Stuart Towne, appears here as Dave Duvallo.
Plot[]
In the late 1930s, inactive New York magician Michael "Mike" Morgan exposes fraudulent magicians and psychics who prey on the unsuspecting. When demonologist Dr. Sabbat is mysteriously murdered, Mike assists the police in developing suspects which include Tauro and Dave Duvallo - two magicians last seen with Sabbat; a couple named La Claire who perform tricks by telepathy; a psychic named Madame Rapport; and, a young lady named Judy Barkley who is in New York to prevent Madame Rapport from claiming a $25,000 prize offered by a local psychic association.
Cast[]
- Robert Young as Michael 'Mike' Morgan
- Florence Rice as Judy Barclay
- Frank Craven as Dad Morgan
- Henry Hull as Dave Duvallo
- Lee Bowman as Mr. Al La Claire
- Cliff Clark as Police Inspector Marty Gavigan
- Astrid Allwyn as Mrs. Zelma La Claire
- Walter Kingsford as Colonel Herbert Watrous
- Frederick Worlock as Dr. Caesar Sabbatt (Credits) / Sabbat in Film (as Frederic Worlock)
- Gloria Holden as Madame Rapport
- William Demarest as Detective Quinn
- Harold Minjir as Tauro
References[]
- ^ Nugent, Frank S. (August 10, 1939). "Miracles for Sale (1939) THE SCREEN; Murder in Magicians' Row Is the Theme of 'Miracles for Sale,' the New Mystery at the Criterion". The New York Times.
External links[]
- 1939 films
- English-language films
- 1939 mystery films
- American films
- American black-and-white films
- American mystery films
- Films directed by Tod Browning
- Films based on American novels
- Films based on mystery novels
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films about magic and magicians
- Mystery film stubs