The Hidden Eye *** (1945, Edward Arnold, Frances Rafferty, William Phillips, Ray Collins) – Classic Movie Review 12,030

Edward Arnold stars in the 1945 mystery thriller film sequel The Hidden Eye as a blind detective, who is asked to investigate with his seeing-eye dog after a number of mysterious murders are committed.

Director Richard Whorf’s 1945 American black and white mystery thriller film The Hidden Eye stars Edward Arnold, Frances Rafferty, Ray Collins, Paul Langton, William ‘Bill’ Phillips and Thomas E Jackson. MGM released it on 31 August 1945 as the sequel to their 1942 Eyes in the Night.

Blind detective Captain Duncan ‘Mac’ Maclain (Edward Arnold) and his all-seeing seeing-eye dog Friday set out to find a killer in this glum-toned, but dogged and welcome MGM programmer.

Jean Hampton (Frances Rafferty) is about to wed Barry Gifford (Paul Langton), but this turns out to be literally over her wealthy dad Arthur Hampton (Raymond Largay)’s dead body. Since Barry is first at the crime scene and dad didn’t like him, he is in a lot of hot water. Jean Hampton asks the blind detective to help after both her father and uncle are murdered.

This involving, nimbly handled thriller is a short (69 minutes), slick, pacy and very acceptable if slightly less intriguing sequel to Arnold’s sightless detective role in 1942’s Eyes in the Night, on whose characters (by Baynard Kendrick) this one is based. Acting and production are above par for a 1940s support movie, with Arnold indispensable.

The screenplay by George Harmon Coxe and Harry Ruskin is based on a story in the 1937 novel The Last Express by George Harmon Coxe. It breaks convention by revealing the killer’s identity immediately after the crime.

Despite this sequel, this possible series ended up with just the two films.

Also in the cast are Paul Langton, Raymond Largay, Thomas E Jackson, Morris Ankrum, Robert Lewis, Francis Pierlot, Sondra Rodgers, Theodore Newton, Jack Lambert, Leigh Whipper, Byron Foulger, Lee Phelps, Eddie Acuff, Bob Pepper, Clyde Fillmore, Russell Hicks, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Pepper, Arthur Space, and Audrey Totter as Perfume Saleslady (uncredited).

It was released on August 31, 1945.

The little black terrier who distracts seeing-eye dog Friday was Toto in The Wizard of Oz.

The cast are Edward Arnold as Captain Duncan ‘Mac’ Maclain, Frances Rafferty as Jean Hampton, Ray Collins as Phillip Treadway, Paul Langton as Barry Gifford, William ‘Bill’ Phillips as Marty Corbett, Thomas E Jackson as Insp. Delaney, Morris Ankrum as Ferris, Robert Lewis as Stormvig, Francis Pierlot as Kossovsky, Sondra Rodgers as Helen Roberts, Theodore Newton as Gibbs, Jack Lambert as Louie, Raymond Largay as Arthur Hampton, Leigh Whipper as Alistair, Byron Foulger as Burton Lorrison, Lee Phelps as Polasky, Eddie Acuff as Whitey, Audrey Totter as Perfume Saleslady, Bob Pepper as Sgt Kramer, Clyde Fillmore as Rodney Hampton, Russell Hicks, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Pepper, Arthur Space, and Friday as Himself.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,030

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