Here's a classy little gem from the late 1940's, with a name sounding like it might feature a mad scientist or a deranged genius bent on creating life. Presumably, a suave gentleman named Alexis (Turhan Bey) is the Mr. X of the title; and though his business card states "Psychic Consultant", he's a bit more of a magician and master of sleight of hand. With these talents, he appears at the beach side home of the wealthy and widowed Christine Faber (Lynn Bari), hoping to cash in on a major payday. Christine's husband died two years earlier in a car crash, but she holds on to his memory faithfully, even as she is about to be engaged to Martin Abbott (Richard Carlson).
The film's mystery seems to be in the voice Christine hears calling to her from her home's rocky outcrops and windswept beaches. But if it sounds like Paul, and looks like Paul, it must be Paul (Donald Curtis). And so, the film's major plot hole makes it's appearance in the "legally" dead husband, needing "lots" of money, and looking none the worse for wear for his accidental fate. So let's think about it, where was Paul for the last two years, how did he live, and how did he support his rather elegant lifestyle? He may have been a better magician than Alexis, or maybe he's the real Mr. X. Either way, he's now trying to cash in on his former wife's estate, and plans on using Alexis as his go between.
Suspending one's disbelief is the best way to go for this movie, while concentrating on the deft cinematography and stylish night time beach scenes. Christine's drug induced slumber is creatively done, though it results in a rather clumsily handled vertigo scene; as she loses her footing and lies injured on a cliff, foam boulders bounce around her body with no ill effect.
Rounding out the main cast, Christine's sister Janet handles her chores with just the right mix of familial concern and teenage innocence, but lapses into goofy infatuation when she gets starry eyed over the psychic - "Alexis, do you think I'd make a good celestial companion?" That was the film's major "good grief" moment.
At the expense of sounding a bit too critical of the movie, let me reverse direction and go on record with a modest recommendation. It's a well done period piece, with classy noir elements and a decent enough story. Throw in the elegant film style and you've got a workable, if not so clever mystery.
The film's mystery seems to be in the voice Christine hears calling to her from her home's rocky outcrops and windswept beaches. But if it sounds like Paul, and looks like Paul, it must be Paul (Donald Curtis). And so, the film's major plot hole makes it's appearance in the "legally" dead husband, needing "lots" of money, and looking none the worse for wear for his accidental fate. So let's think about it, where was Paul for the last two years, how did he live, and how did he support his rather elegant lifestyle? He may have been a better magician than Alexis, or maybe he's the real Mr. X. Either way, he's now trying to cash in on his former wife's estate, and plans on using Alexis as his go between.
Suspending one's disbelief is the best way to go for this movie, while concentrating on the deft cinematography and stylish night time beach scenes. Christine's drug induced slumber is creatively done, though it results in a rather clumsily handled vertigo scene; as she loses her footing and lies injured on a cliff, foam boulders bounce around her body with no ill effect.
Rounding out the main cast, Christine's sister Janet handles her chores with just the right mix of familial concern and teenage innocence, but lapses into goofy infatuation when she gets starry eyed over the psychic - "Alexis, do you think I'd make a good celestial companion?" That was the film's major "good grief" moment.
At the expense of sounding a bit too critical of the movie, let me reverse direction and go on record with a modest recommendation. It's a well done period piece, with classy noir elements and a decent enough story. Throw in the elegant film style and you've got a workable, if not so clever mystery.