JohnHowardReid Lon Chaney, Jr (Alex Gregor), Evelyn Ankers (Maura Daniel), Milburn Stone (George Keene), Tala Birrell (Valerie Monet), Elena Verdugo (Nina), Martin Kosleck (Rudi), Douglass Dumbrille (inspector), Arthur Hohl (inebriated contestant), Pauline Drake (Mabel), Dennis Moore (announcer), William Haade (policeman), Leyland Hodgson (doctor).Director: HAROLD YOUNG. Screenplay: Bernard Schubert, Luci "Quick- Draw" Ward. Story: Henry Sucher (also adaptation), Harrison Carter. Photography: Paul Ivano. Film editor: Fred Feitshans, Jr. Art directors: John B. Goodman and Abraham Grossman. Set decorator: Russell A. Gausman. Costumes designed by Vera West. Sound recording supervisor: Bernard B. Brown. Associate producer: Will Cowan.Copyright 20 November 1944 by Universal. New York opening at the Rialto: 27 July 1945. U.S. release: 29 June 1945. U.K. release: 1 October 1945. Australian release: 19 April 1945. 5,568 feet. 61 minutes. SYNOPSIS: A professional hypnotist fears he has the will to kill.NOTES: This Universal series commenced with Calling Dr Death in 1943. It was followed by Weird Woman, Dead Man's Eyes, The Frozen Ghost (all 1944), Strange Confession, Pillow of Death (both 1945), and Inner Sanctum (1948). The first six films all starred Lon Chaney, Jr. The seventh film, starring Mary Beth Hughes and Charles Russell, was a Film Classics release that is currently available on an Alpha DVD. (Universal DVD box set of six titles rates 9 out of ten).COMMENT: Fourth of the seven "Inner Sanctum Mysteries", "The Frozen Ghost" is much more entertaining than the odd title might suggest, thanks largely to the inventive direction of Harold Young. The story itself is not all that involving. Anyone who is genuinely surprised by the various twists and turns of the complicated plot has obviously not sat through too many of these "B" delights. What makes "The Frozen Ghost" entertaining is not the script, nor even the wooden "acting" of cult hero, Lon Chaney, Jr. (who is actually more animated than usual), but the cast of seasoned players led by such lights as Evelyn Ankers, Elena Verdugo, Tala Birell and particularly Douglass Dumbrille, who easily steals the acting honors. I love all Dmbrille's scenes, whereas Martin Kosleck, who seems ideally cast, disappoints. Paul Ivano's lighting photography is not up to scratch either.

Michael O'Keefe One of the better Inner Sanctum Mysteries, THE FROZEN GHOST is directed by Harold Young and stars Lon Chaney Jr. A famous radio hypnotist Alex Gregor (Chaney) is guilt ridden after an audience member dies accidentally during a broadcast. Gregor "The Great" is so despondent he breaks off his engagement to his assistant Maura (Evelyn Ankers) and refuses to perform again. His business manager George Keane (Milburn Stone) gets him a small job with a wax museum. A mentally unstable sculptor Rudi (Martin Kosleck) becomes jealous of Alex and the attention he gets from the museum's owner Valarie Monet (Tala Birell) and her niece Nina (Elena Verdugo). When Mme. Monet disappears, Gregor desperately walks away and Rudi castes suspicion. Miss Maura appears to champion her former love. Douglass Dumbrille rounds out the cast as Inspector Brant.

Scarecrow-88 Lon Chaney stars as a famous hypnotist, Gregor the Great, crippled emotionally after a belligerent, alcoholic volunteer drops dead while in the middle of his act, performing for an audience, believing he is responsible despite a coroner's report clearing him of any sort of murder. Alex Gregor felt hate for the volunteer due to the idiot's bad behavior, even mentioning that he could kill him, and this is what torments the hypnotist. He is so tormented, Alex quits his gig and decides to help Valerie Monet (Tala Birell) with her wax museum business, using the former celebrity to help bring in customers. Maura Daniel (Evelyn Ankers) was to marry Gregor (she is his assistant, often put under hypnosis and foretells what certain people in the audience are thinking) before the embarrassing death, which led Alex to call of their engagement and leave the profession. Of course, she still loves Gregor and wants to rekindle their broken relationship. Valerie Monet and her niece, Nina (Elena Verdugo; the gypsy in "House of Frankenstein"), both fall for Gregor (haha, these Inner Sanctum mysteries always have all the ladies completely enamored with Chaney's characters) leading to multiple complications. Martin Kosleck (the mad sculptor in "House of Horrors" co-starring Rando Hatton) is a former plastic surgeon, driven from the practice due to a patient's "miscalculation", now Madame Monet's wax sculpture artist, Dr. Rudi Polden, one of those creepy, *eccentric* weirdos who talks to his figures as if they were alive. Rudi is infatuated with Nina and has a severe dislike for Gregor because he "bosses him around". In actuality, Rudi is jealous because Nina carries a torch for Gregor (who considers her a child). There's plenty of jealousy to go around, though, as Valerie competes for Gregor even if he doesn't have the same feelings for her as he does for Maura. Milburn Stone is Gregor's business agent, George Keene, who seems interested in helping his client get over this obsession with causing death through hypnotic suggestion. When Valerie disappears after an argument with Gregor results in him using his hypnotism, out of anger, to "predispose" her, Alex is worried that he has killed again, blacking out for a period before finding himself near a pier. Douglass Dumbrille rounds out the cast as a pesky inspector who considers everyone a suspect in Val's disappearance, soon eyeing Gregor when Nina also vanishes (after making a startling discovery when one of Rudi's wax sculptures is a bit *too* lifelike.).A wax museum, a diabolical sculptor, a double-cross in the works for poor Gregor, hypnotism, disappearances, suspended animation, and a hero's tormented psyche questioning his unique ability as if it were a dangerous weapon he cannot control, "The Frozen Ghost" has a lot going on. I think by this point, the "Inner Sanctum Mysteries" series was starting to show its age, the fourth film has some pretty bland writing and practically little imagination, not to mention, Chaney's role isn't as interesting as, say, Kosleck's. Chaney is a weary, tortured soul—sound familiar? That's all it is, honestly, I wish the series had mixed things up (like they did in "Weird Woman" when Evelyn Ankers was given a juicy villainous part), and given Chaney a chance to play the corrupt character instead of always being saddled with the Lawrence Talbot victim. It isn't that Chaney cannot portray a heel, just watch "The Alligator People".Anyway, there's one surprising moment out of left field, when the story reveals a plot to have Gregor committed, the mastermind perhaps not who you would expect. Evelyn Ankers, after probably her best part at Universal Studios with "Weird Woman", resorts back to beautiful love interest to Chaney, a supporting part that doesn't require much from her other than the "stand by your man" aspect her characters are often provided. Kosleck has a keen ability at portraying the kinds of characters who can make your skin crawl; his love for Nina unrequited, only fueling his psychopathic behavior. The screenplay certainly throws in everything but the kitchen sink so there might be something for fans of Universal horror to enjoy.

Michael_Elliott Frozen Ghost, The (1945) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Fourth in the Inner Sanctum series has Lon Chaney, Jr. playing a mentalist who blames himself for the death of a man. Trying to escape his past, he hides away in a wax museum but soon more deaths turn up. Evelyn Ankers co-stars but I found this one here to be somewhat boring due to the weak supporting cast. The story doesn't really bring any real excitement either.You can now see all six Inner Sanctum films via Universal's set, which features all the movies digitally remastered.