The Soul of a Monster * (1944, Rose Hobart, George Macready, Jim Bannon, Jeanne Bates) – Classic Movie Review 13,201

George Macready stars in the 1944 horror film The Soul of a Monster as a dying doctor, whose wife (Jeanne Bates) brings in a weird hypnotist (Rose Hobart) to save his life, but the price is his mortal soul.

Director Will Jason’s 1944 Columbia Pictures American horror suspense thriller film The Soul of a Monster stars Rose Hobart, George Macready and Jim Bannon, along with Jeanne Bates, Erik Rolf, Ernest Hilliard, Edith Evanson, Al Hill and Milton Kibbee.

Weird hypnotist Lilyan Gregg (Rose Hobart) bedazzles billionaire doctor George Winson (George Macready) with her special talents to perform her devilish commands, like killing his friend Dr Roger Vance (Jim Bannon), in this sleep-inducing suspenser.

Macready’s wife had brought in the hypnotist to save his life, but the price is his mortal soul.

Anne Winson (Jeanne Bates) has called on the Devil to keep her dying husband alive, prompting the arrival of Lilyan Gregg, who starts caring for George, who miraculously recovers, but he has gone over to the dark side and is now an evil man under Gregg’s spell.

Despite the promising Gothic set-up, and Burnett Guffey’s cinematography, this filler chiller is ultra-cheap and totally unconvincing either as horror or mystery, and it lacks all the required tension and atmosphere. George Macready’s good work notwithstanding, it is good only for a giggle and nothing more.

Cast: Rose Hobart as Lilyan Gregg, George Macready as Dr George Winson, Jim Bannon as Dr Roger Vance, Jeanne Bates as Ann Winson, Erik Rolf as Fred Stevens, Ernest Hilliard as Wayne, Norman Salling as Newsboy, Ray Teal as Truck Driver, Edith Evanson, Al Hill and Milton Kibbee, Ruth Lee, Grace Leonard, Ann Loos, Cy Malis, Ida Moore, Clarence Muse, Ervin Nyiregyhazi, Brian O’Hara, Charles Perry,Harry Strang, Charles Sullivan, Buddy Swan, and John Tyrrell.

It was shot from 25 May 1944 to 13 June 1944 and released on 17 August 1944.

The Soul of a Monster was released as a double feature with Cry of the Werewolf.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,201

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