STRANGE CONFESSION (Universal, 1945), directed by John Hoffman, the fifth in the "Inner Sanctum" mysteries starring Lon Chaney (Jr.), has a lot to recommend mainly because this one stands apart from all the others. There's no detective around waiting for the guilty party to accidentally convict him or herself. There's no real murder mystery involved - the killer is known to its viewers from the start of the story. It's also the only one of the six entries to actually been lifted from an earlier film, THE MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD (Universal, 1934) starring Claude Rains, Joan Bennett and Lionel Atwill. While the Rains version did have limited television broadcasts (1973-1977) on WOR, Channel 9, in New York City, STRANGE CONFESSION did not, making this the most unavailable and least known of the "Inner Sanctum" products for many years.
STRANGE CONFESSION would not be recognized as an "Inner Sanctum Mystery by Arrangement with Simon and Schuster Inc. Publishers" had it not been for David Hoffman's participation as a disembodied head inside a crystal ball addressing his audience by saying, "This is the Inner Sanctum, the strange fantastic world controlled by mass of living, cult seeking flesh. The mind, it destroys, distorts, creates monsters. Yes, even YOU without knowing can commit murder." For the opening scene, a murder has already taken place and central character, introduced as Jeffrey Carter (Lon Chaney), is seen leaving a building as the midnight bells chime, carrying some object inside his valise. After walking a great distance, Carter comes into the home of Brandon (Wilton Graff), his former college classmate now an attorney. Refusing to accept any more clients due to his busy schedule, Brandon is asked to sit down and hear what he has to say. After seeing what he has inside his valise, Brandon, in total surprise, agrees to listen to his story. Flashbacks reveal Carter an idealistic chemist with a beautiful wife, Mary (Brenda Joyce), and little son, Tommy (Gregory Muradian). Although a happy family, Mary resents the fact that her husband's brilliant mind is being taken for granted by his employer, Roger Graham (J. Carrol Naish), a manufacturer who takes credit and riches from Jeff's discoveries. After quitting his employ, Graham arranges for Jeff to be blacklisted from laboratory work, thus, forcing him to work for Mr. Moore (Christian Rub) as a pharmacist in his neighborhood drug store. Unable to succeed without Jeff's assistance, Graham takes him back, this time offering him full control of his discoveries and better financial rewards. Accepting a position in South America with Dave Curtis (Lloyd Bridges) as his assistant, Jeff acquires a special mode used for his vaccine cure for influenza called Zymurgine, sending the formula to Graham, who continues to betray Jeff by using it for his professional gain. After learning the real reason for being sent away for long length of time away from his wife and son, Jeff decides to return home and do something about it.
Other members of the cast include: Milburn Stone (Stevens); Addison Richards (Doctor Williams); Mary Gordon (Mrs. O'Connor); George Chandler (Harper) and Francis McDonald (Hernandez). As in all "Inner Sanctum" mysteries, Lon Chaney, in mustache, plays a victim of circumstance. Like his legendary father of the silent screen, he makes every effort presenting himself as an actor and not one associated solely in the horror genre starting with THE WOLF MAN (1941) and its sequels being his most significant character among everything else he has done.
What makes STRANGE CONFESSION even more special is Chaney's rare opportunity playing a family man with a wife and child this time around, although not as convincing as a chemist as Boris Karloff or Vincent Price had they been cast. Had STRANGE CONFESSION been licensed to broadcast television in the sixties and seventies, no doubt, based on portions in the flashback sequence set during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, it might have been part of its annual Christmas package showings as MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947) for example. Naturally this never occurred mainly due to this particular movie title became victim of some copyright dispute. After decades of obscurity, STRANGE CONFESSION was made available through video distribution in 1997 and again on DVD with prints lifted from a 1950s reissue with Real-Art Studios as distributor instead of Universal Pictures logo used in its closing titles. For anyone insisting that STRANGE CONFESSION did play on television sometime in the 1960s, oddly enough, it was a title inserted over the original title of THE IMPOSTER (Universal, 1944), for a reissue print starring French actor, Jean Gabin.
STRANGE CONFESSION is highly recommended viewing. It's only disappointment during its 66 minutes is not knowing much of the outcome after Jeff finishes telling his story. Next and final Inner Sanctum Mystery: PILLOW OF DEATH (1945) casting Lon Chaney and Brenda Joyce once more. (**1/2)
STRANGE CONFESSION would not be recognized as an "Inner Sanctum Mystery by Arrangement with Simon and Schuster Inc. Publishers" had it not been for David Hoffman's participation as a disembodied head inside a crystal ball addressing his audience by saying, "This is the Inner Sanctum, the strange fantastic world controlled by mass of living, cult seeking flesh. The mind, it destroys, distorts, creates monsters. Yes, even YOU without knowing can commit murder." For the opening scene, a murder has already taken place and central character, introduced as Jeffrey Carter (Lon Chaney), is seen leaving a building as the midnight bells chime, carrying some object inside his valise. After walking a great distance, Carter comes into the home of Brandon (Wilton Graff), his former college classmate now an attorney. Refusing to accept any more clients due to his busy schedule, Brandon is asked to sit down and hear what he has to say. After seeing what he has inside his valise, Brandon, in total surprise, agrees to listen to his story. Flashbacks reveal Carter an idealistic chemist with a beautiful wife, Mary (Brenda Joyce), and little son, Tommy (Gregory Muradian). Although a happy family, Mary resents the fact that her husband's brilliant mind is being taken for granted by his employer, Roger Graham (J. Carrol Naish), a manufacturer who takes credit and riches from Jeff's discoveries. After quitting his employ, Graham arranges for Jeff to be blacklisted from laboratory work, thus, forcing him to work for Mr. Moore (Christian Rub) as a pharmacist in his neighborhood drug store. Unable to succeed without Jeff's assistance, Graham takes him back, this time offering him full control of his discoveries and better financial rewards. Accepting a position in South America with Dave Curtis (Lloyd Bridges) as his assistant, Jeff acquires a special mode used for his vaccine cure for influenza called Zymurgine, sending the formula to Graham, who continues to betray Jeff by using it for his professional gain. After learning the real reason for being sent away for long length of time away from his wife and son, Jeff decides to return home and do something about it.
Other members of the cast include: Milburn Stone (Stevens); Addison Richards (Doctor Williams); Mary Gordon (Mrs. O'Connor); George Chandler (Harper) and Francis McDonald (Hernandez). As in all "Inner Sanctum" mysteries, Lon Chaney, in mustache, plays a victim of circumstance. Like his legendary father of the silent screen, he makes every effort presenting himself as an actor and not one associated solely in the horror genre starting with THE WOLF MAN (1941) and its sequels being his most significant character among everything else he has done.
What makes STRANGE CONFESSION even more special is Chaney's rare opportunity playing a family man with a wife and child this time around, although not as convincing as a chemist as Boris Karloff or Vincent Price had they been cast. Had STRANGE CONFESSION been licensed to broadcast television in the sixties and seventies, no doubt, based on portions in the flashback sequence set during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, it might have been part of its annual Christmas package showings as MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947) for example. Naturally this never occurred mainly due to this particular movie title became victim of some copyright dispute. After decades of obscurity, STRANGE CONFESSION was made available through video distribution in 1997 and again on DVD with prints lifted from a 1950s reissue with Real-Art Studios as distributor instead of Universal Pictures logo used in its closing titles. For anyone insisting that STRANGE CONFESSION did play on television sometime in the 1960s, oddly enough, it was a title inserted over the original title of THE IMPOSTER (Universal, 1944), for a reissue print starring French actor, Jean Gabin.
STRANGE CONFESSION is highly recommended viewing. It's only disappointment during its 66 minutes is not knowing much of the outcome after Jeff finishes telling his story. Next and final Inner Sanctum Mystery: PILLOW OF DEATH (1945) casting Lon Chaney and Brenda Joyce once more. (**1/2)