The Clairvoyant (US title: The Evil Mind) is a 1935[1] British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Claude Rains, Fay Wray, and Jane Baxter. Based on the novel of the same name by Ernst Lothar, it was made at Islington Studios.[2] The film's sets were designed by the German art director Alfred Junge. Bryan Edgar Wallace contributed to the screenplay.
| The Clairvoyant | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Directed by | Maurice Elvey |
| Written by | Ernst Lothar (novel) Charles Bennett Bryan Edgar Wallace |
| Produced by | Michael Balcon (uncredited) |
| Starring | Claude Rains Fay Wray Jane Baxter |
| Cinematography | Glen MacWilliams |
| Edited by | Paul Capon |
| Music by | Arthur Benjamin |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Gaumont British (UK) Fox Film Corporation (US) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
editMaximus, "King of the Mind Readers", performs an English music hall mind-reading act with the help of his wife, Rene, using a secret code. One night, he sees the beautiful Christine Shawn in the audience, and his act becomes reality. He is able to tell what is in a sealed letter without Rene's assistance.
Maximus does not think much of it, until he and Christine meet by chance on a train and he foresees an impending crash. He pulls the emergency cord to stop the train, but nobody believes him. He, his family and Christine disembark, and a few minutes later the train crashes. Christine tells her father, who owns a newspaper. He publishes the story, making Maximus famous.
Maximus realizes that his power only works when Christine is near. As they spend more time together, Christine falls in love with him and Rene becomes jealous. Maximus' mother believes that no good can come of this new gift, but Maximus pays little attention, enjoying his well-paid success.
Another of his well-publicized predictions comes true: a 100-to-1 long shot wins The Derby. He chooses to ignore his own prophecy of his mother's death; when it comes true, he is so distraught that he decides to follow her wishes and abandon his ability. He feels compelled to act, however, when he foresees a great mining disaster. He is unable to convince the mining company to evacuate the mine. When the disaster occurs, hundreds are killed and more are missing and presumed dead.
He is publicly accused of causing the accident and is brought to trial. The prosecution claims that Maximus himself caused both tragedies, by delaying the train and by panicking the miners into making a mistake. Maximus predicts in the courtroom that the missing miners will be found alive. When this becomes true, he is released. Maximus decides to give up his gift and he and Rene slip away into obscurity.
Cast
edit- Claude Rains as Maximus
- Fay Wray as Rene
- Jane Baxter as Christine Shawn
- Mary Clare as Maximus's mother
- Ben Field as Simon
- Athole Stewart as Lord Southwood
- C. Denier Warren as James J. Bimeter
- Felix Aylmer as prosecutor
- Donald Calthrop as derelict
- Margaret Davidge as lodging housekeeper
- Carleton Hobbs as racing commentator
- Graham Moffatt as page boy
- Jack Raine as customs officer
- D.J. Williams as juror
References
edit- ^ Alison Peirse (30 August 2013). After Dracula: The 1930s Horror Film. I.B.Tauris. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-1-84885-531-1.
- ^ Wood p.85
Bibliography
edit- Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
- Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.