Strange Illusion (1945)

Paul, a young man whose father was once lieutenant Governor of California before his untimely death, has a strange, recurring dream in which his mother falls in love with a dangerous man (... See full summary »

Director:

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Adele Comandini (screenplay), Fritz Rotter (original story)

Stars:

Jimmy Lydon, Warren William, Sally Eilers

Cast

Cast overview:
Jimmy Lydon	...	Paul Cartwright (as James Lydon)
Warren William	...	Brett Curtis
Sally Eilers	...	Virginia Cartwright
Regis Toomey	...	Dr. Vincent
Charles Arnt	...	Professor Muhlbach
George Reed	...	Benjamin (as George H. Reed)
Jayne Hazard	...	Dorothy Cartwright
Jimmy Clark	...	George Hanover
Mary McLeod	...	Lydia
Pierre Watkin	...	District Attorney Wallace Armstrong
Sonia Sorel	...	Charlotte Farber
Victor Potel	...	Mac - Game Warden (as Vic Potel)
George Sherwood	...	Langdon
Gene Roth	...	Sparky (as Gene Stutenroth)
John Hamilton	...	Bill Allen

Storyline

Paul, a young man whose father was once lieutenant Governor of California before his untimely death, has a strange, recurring dream in which his mother falls in love with a dangerous man (Brett Curtis), a dream which also contains the image of his father's death in an automobile accident under mysterious circumstances. Through the help of his friend, a psychiatrist, Paul realizes that his dream is coming true, and that his mother is falling under Curtis's influence. Curtis, in fact, is a homicidal maniac who lives as an out-patient at the sanitarium of the unscrupulous Dr. Muhlbach. When Curtis makes an attempt to marry Paul's mother, Paul intervenes, and after a series of events discovers the truth behind his dreams.

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Plot Keywords:

dream | governor | maniac | california | psychiatrist | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

First Illusion

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Just an over imaginative dream?

It is told that STRANGE ILLUSION was made in little over two weeks with very, very limited funds and fading star power. But director Edgar G. Ulmer had full reins to do what he could with what he had. Still a decent B-movie with plenty of intrigue. The opening "allusive dream" of college lad Paul Cartwright(Jimmy Lydon)is to set up the story line. His well respected father dies mysteriously in a train/car accident which leads to haunting nightmares in which his father warns him of oncoming danger to his mother(Sally Eilers)caused by a mysterious stranger that wants to cause harm to the family. Inter the mystery man Brett Curtis(Warren William)introduced as the widow Cartwright's suitor. Lydon's character becomes a little obsessed with Curtis wooing his mother and making disturbing advances toward his younger sister. Seeking help sorting out circumstances and illusions, Paul turns to a friend of the family Dr. Vincent(Regis Toomey). Next comes maneuvering in and out of a sanitarium and the revelation of false identity and the reason for the unfinished plot to cause destruction of the Cartwright family. This is an enjoyable little psychological melodrama. Also in the cast are: Charles Ant and George Reed.