Spellbound (1941)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Harlow

Writers:

Hugh Benson (story)
Robert Benson (novel)

Release Date:

10 February 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A young man's fiancé dies after contracting a terminal illness, and in his efforts to contact her he gets involved with a group of spiritualists. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Derek Farr	...	Laurie Baxter
Vera Lindsay	...	Diana Hilton
Hay Petrie	...	Mr. Cathcart
Felix Aylmer	...	Mr. Morton
Frederick Leister	...	Mr. Vincent
Marian Spencer	...	Mrs. Stapleton
Diana King	...	Amy Nugent
W.G. Fay	...	Johnnie
Winifred Davis	...	Mrs. Baxter
Enid Hewitt	...	Lady Laura Bethel
Gibb McLaughlin	...	Gibb
Cameron Hall	...	Mr. Nugent
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Nugent
Hannen Swaffer	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Ghost Story (USA)
Passing Clouds
The Spell of Amy Nugent (USA)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A | USA:Unrated

Company:

Pyramid Amalgamated

Much too low key for my tastes

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Low key "horror" film from England concerning a young man who's fiancé dies. Distraught, he turns to spiritualism in order to try and contact his lady love, with complications arising as a result.

I don't know if it was the lateness of the hour or what but this film just didn't click with me. I found it much too talky and much too slow for my tastes. Actually I found it very "British" in its understatement, with the scene where the doctor calmly telling the girls family and fiancé that she has died jaw droppingly unbelievable (You know how I always said she'd never reach the full blossom of womanhood…) I got to a point where I didn't care and tried to just fall asleep. It didn't work but I tried. I'd take a pass. (though the people who recommended this to me were very shocked I didn't like, so your mileage may vary)