For a film that deals with an interesting subject like fake mediums, this '34 mystery/comedy fails to hit the mark. It's not particularly impressive as a mystery and the comedy is on the weak side.
It's a B-film programmer with ZASU PITTS and SLIM SUMMERVILLE providing the comic relief while others carry the straight plot line. Pitts and Summerville play WILLIAM GAXTON's assistants in a magic act where he bills himself as The Great La Salle. BRUCE CABOT hires them to take part in a fake seance at a wealthy woman's home where a young woman has been receiving messages from a dead husband. RALPH MORGAN is suspected of being a swindler trying to deceive the woman at her swanky home on Long Island.
Unfortunately, ZASU PITTS is saddled with a ditzy role beyond belief. And to make matters worse, nobody else in the cast has lines that are any smoother or wittier.
"Not a very friendly fellow," says Gaxton.
"About as friendly as a rattlesnake," says Summerville.
That gives you an idea of the wit and sophistication. The suspense, of course, lies in finding out how the fake seance will go and who the real culprits are in the household. Not hard to guess the predictable outcome.
Summing up: A clumsy mystery/comedy hardly worth bothering about.
