The Frozen Ghost (1945)

When a skeptical member (Arthur Hohl) of his audience dies on stage, a famous hypnotist (Lon Chaney Jr.) is convinced he killed him by wishing him dead. Distraught, he gives up performing and goes to work at a wax museum owned by a woman (Tala Birell) who wants their relationship to be more than professional. Directed by Harold Young (THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL), this was the fourth entry in the six Inner Sanctum films Universal ground out in the 1940s. They were all compact in their running times, usually barely over an hour long which was long enough to get the tale told and not wear out its welcome. Despite its title, it isn't a horror movie but more along the lines of a mystery. The biggest stumbling block for me was buying that three beautiful women (Birell, Evelyn Ankers, Elena Verdugo) were all fighting over the stolid Lon Chaney's affections! If you've a taste for these minor B flicks, this one is perfectly harmless if unconvincing. With Martin Kosleck, Milburn Stone and Douglass Dumbrille.