The special effects show an obvious lack of means, but it does not matter; "the search for Bridey Murphy" is definitely off the beaten track .
A man who is immune to hypnotism decides to learn the tricks of the trade;after reading and studying a good deal of books ,he begins to practise ;his first effort is not very exciting , but with the case of Ruth (played by the wonderful Teresa Wright) ,the movie hits its stride: it seems that this woman lived in the past ,in Ireland ,and she might be the reincarnation of a woman named Bridey Murphy ; as if it were not enough , the movie also depicts life after life : the ghost of Bridey goes on "living" but cannot communicate with the living (a subject which would be resumed in plenty of other movies such as "the sixth sense" (1999) and had been used before notably in the masterful "beyond tomorrow" (1940).)But in both movies ,the dead had an influence on the living whereas Bridey has none ;her depiction of the great beyond remains neuter and the questions of the hypnotist remain unanswered or very vague : she speaks about the dead she meets in the hereafter, but she's not able to express what she really feels .
This vision of the great beyond is probably not that of the priest who intervenes at the meeting : he's tolerant ,but reincarnation is not his creed (which is not the case of other beliefs )
The movie also insists hypnotism be used to cure some diseases,which is certainly true;but it also shows it may be dangerous if the hypnotist can no longer control his patient.
A man who is immune to hypnotism decides to learn the tricks of the trade;after reading and studying a good deal of books ,he begins to practise ;his first effort is not very exciting , but with the case of Ruth (played by the wonderful Teresa Wright) ,the movie hits its stride: it seems that this woman lived in the past ,in Ireland ,and she might be the reincarnation of a woman named Bridey Murphy ; as if it were not enough , the movie also depicts life after life : the ghost of Bridey goes on "living" but cannot communicate with the living (a subject which would be resumed in plenty of other movies such as "the sixth sense" (1999) and had been used before notably in the masterful "beyond tomorrow" (1940).)But in both movies ,the dead had an influence on the living whereas Bridey has none ;her depiction of the great beyond remains neuter and the questions of the hypnotist remain unanswered or very vague : she speaks about the dead she meets in the hereafter, but she's not able to express what she really feels .
This vision of the great beyond is probably not that of the priest who intervenes at the meeting : he's tolerant ,but reincarnation is not his creed (which is not the case of other beliefs )
The movie also insists hypnotism be used to cure some diseases,which is certainly true;but it also shows it may be dangerous if the hypnotist can no longer control his patient.