Inner Sanctum Mysteries

In the late 30's and early 40's, US-radio shows were probably never more popular and there were indeed a great many series being aired around this time. INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES was one of several. Universal Pictures were never slow to catch on to a good thing and the latter radio drama series was picked up pretty quickly. Very soon after 'Inner Sanctum' became one of the most popular B-features. On Blu-ray for the first time in the UK, Lon Chaney Jr. features in six tales of the macabre all very much in the vein of the radio series.

The production values are very similar to those of the old Universal Sherlock Holmes films and all featured the same star (Basil Rathbone) and director (Roy William Neil). This series also has the same star (Lon Chaney Jr.) and the same director (Reginald Le Borg) for the first three films. However, when it came to acting ability Chaney Jr. somewhat lacked his father's inspired genius. That said, back then Chaney Jr. was THE name thanks to Universal’s success with ‘The Wolfman’ (1941) and collectors will still want this 2-disc box set as all six films are easily good enough to stand on their own merits. The first two are nicely photographed by silent film veteran Virgil Miller – you will see the same atmospheric sets re-appearing throughout the series with the same unit team responsible for all.

'Calling Dr. Death' (dir. Reginald Le Borg, 1943) sees Chaney as eminent but perhaps not exactly convincing neurologist Dr. Mark Steele trapped in an unhappy marriage to Maria (Ramsay Ames), a gold digging tramp of a wife who is having an affair literally 'right under his nose'. Soon though she’s found murdered in the couples’ country lodge, her face disfigured with acid… Dr. Steele followed her there but later blacked out and cannot remember his movements. Marias’ lover, Architect Robert Duval (David Bruce), is accused of the murder and finds himself looking at the death penalty. To complicate things further we have Dr. Steele's attractive assistant nurse Stella (Patricia Morison) who btw is in love with him and only too happy to lend a hand to give Mark much needed support, especially since Police Inspector Gregg (J. Carroll Naish) is convinced of Dr. Steele’s guilt – but did he do it? What’s particularly well done here is the film’s climax during which the murder is cleverly depicted via flashback.
‘Weird Women’ (dir. Reginald Le Borg, 1944) is a version of Fritz Leiber’s novel 'Conjure Wife' and the film is among the best of the six one-hour films. It was was re-made in 1962 as ‘Night of the Eagle’ starring Peter Wyngarde and Janet Blair. Here, Chaney is cast in the role of college lecturer Professor Norman Reed married to Paula (Anne Gwynne) whom he had met during a holiday in the South Seas. Paula’s beliefs are deeply steeped in voodoo, resulting in Professor Reed’s superstitious neighbors taking an instant dislike to the ‘weird’ woman. In particular Ilona (Evelyn Ankers) tries to instigate trouble whenever she can, thwarting Reed’s promotional chances as she feels that it was she whom Reed should have married.
‘Dead Man’s Eyes’ (dir. Reginald Le Borg, 1944) is probably the weakest effort on Disc 1 despite the interesting idea of giving someone an eye transplant which – how else should it be – also involves murder. When painter Dave Stuart (Chaney) is blinded after his jealous model Tanya (Acquanetta - who makes Chaney look like an actor of immense gravity) swaps a bottle of soothing eye drops with acid (she insists on her innocence) the wealthy father of his distressed fiancée Heather (Jean Parker) offers his eyes after his death. Of course, the good man’s death comes surprisingly quickly and all fingers point at Stuart as the most plausible murder suspect…


Disc 2 has the same production qualities but here we have three different directors. 'The Frozen Ghost' (dir. Harold Young, 1945) is another misleading title and here we have more than enough elements for the romantic horror aficionado: 'Gregor the Great' (Chaney) is a stage hypnotist who suffers a semi-breakdown after he has 'willed' an obnoxious drunken punter to death during his show - or so he thinks. Guilt-ridden and ashamed he breaks off his engagement to his girlfriend and stage assistant Maura (Evelyn Ankers). Meanwhile, his manager George Keene (Milburn Stone) arranges for Gregor to work as a lecturer for an old friend, Madame Valerie Monet (Tala Birell), the owner of a wax museum. Valerie’s young niece Nina (Elena Verdugo) is equally thrilled to be working with the distinguished Gregor – prompting the jealousy of unhinged former plastic surgeon and museum sculptor Rudi Poldan (Martin Kosleck). Add to this sizzling brew Shakespeare-loving Inspector Brant (Douglas Dumbrille) who is misquoting Hamlet for good measure and we get one hell of a mystery story!
‘Strange Confession’ (dir. John Hoffman, 1945) is a re-working of Jean Bart's 1934 story filmed with Claude Rains under the title 'The Man who reclaimed his Head'. Here Chaney features as brilliant but too idealistic for his own good scientist Jeff Carter working on a vaccine for influenza (imagine what he could have done for Covid!). Unfortunately he falls foul of unscrupulous business tycoon Roger Graham (J. Carroll Naish) who, after some reconciliation, sends him off to South America with a promise of a big lab and accompanied by his pal Dave (Lloyd Bridges). Truth is that Graham wants Jeff out of the way so he can woo his pretty wife Mary (Brenda Joyce) while also taking the credit for all of Jeff’s scientific discoveries - marketing his untried influenza cure which results in the tragic death of Jeff's young son. A grisly revenge is on the cards. This really is the stand-out episode not only because of its more complex plot line but Chaney here is actually stretched with regards to his acting skills while J. Carroll Naish is a splendidly slimy little villain.
'Pillow of Death’ (dir. Wallace Fox, 1945) is probably the weakest entry on offer and suffers from being badly lit. Here we have Chaney as well-to-do attorney Wayne Fletcher who is having an affair with his secretary Donna Kincaid (played by Brenda Joyce again) and thus plans to divorce his wife. He returns home to find his wife has been murdered and the police are already there. Family friend and phony medium Julian Julian (J. Edward Bromberg) claims that Fletcher is indeed the culprit. Pretty soon Fletcher begins to hear the beckoning voice of his dead wife and members of the Kincaid family (his secretary's that is) start to get murdered… Here we are firmly in Agatha Christie territory and although the suspense is held throughout the plot is somewhat predictable.

As explained in the Bonus Features on this set there were certain copyright issues - hence the acknowledgement to publishers Simon and Schuster. Speaking of Extras: No less than six of the original radio shows are thrown in with the likes of Peter Lorre and Mercedes McCambridge (Chaney is not featured here). We also get some informative documentaries about Inner Sanctum, an interview with an old Martin Kosleck (who speaks very disparagingly about Lon Chaney) and a number of commentaries (one featuring Le Borg's daughter Regina). The scores are supplied by Universal’s top suspense specialists Paul Sawtell and the better-known Frank Skinner and Hans Salter. Although INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES is promoted as spooky horror the six episodes on offer are more like film noirs with a macabre undertone, with the exception of the opening sequence in which a talking and severed head floating in a glass globe introduces the show. This set is a real gem and a must-own for every fan of the genre!