For years this film used turn up often on television, but always at around three in the morning on "The Late Late Show." I only saw it for the first time recently on video. To my surprise, this film was an enjoyable light comedy thriller. Lew Ayres is delightful as the actor who teams up with show girl Day to solve a series of axe murders. The scene where Ayres feigns insanity to get into the files at a mental hospital is price-less. Basil Rathbone is in top form as the shady doctor who orchestrates the murders. Its odd that this film being an MGM production with a good cast is almost never mentioned in books on horror films, while minor poverty row horrors from the same period have had gallons of ink written about them.
The film did end with a few loose ends. Why does Rathbone choose an axe as the weapon for his subjects to kill his victims? Also, it is never made clear as to how he is able to control his subjects. Does he use hypnosis? Telepathy?
The film did end with a few loose ends. Why does Rathbone choose an axe as the weapon for his subjects to kill his victims? Also, it is never made clear as to how he is able to control his subjects. Does he use hypnosis? Telepathy?