The Crystal Ball (1943)
Directed by Elliott Nugent
Genres - Comedy, Romance |
Sub-Genres - Romantic Comedy |
Release Date - Jan 22, 1943 (USA - Unknown), Jan 22, 1943 (USA) |
Run Time - 80 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Overloaded with unreleased films in 1942 and 1943, Paramount Pictures cleaned house by diverting several pictures to United Artists. One such effort was The Crystal Ball, wherein beauty contest loser Toni Gerard (Paulette Goddard) takes a job as a sideshow fortune teller. Subbing for the ailing head (Gladys George) of a fake medium racket, Toni whimsically advises attorney Brad Cavanaugh (Ray Milland) to purchase some property that is coveted by the government. Cavanaugh follows her advice, nearly ruining himself in the process. All turns out okay in the end, but there's a last-minute entanglement when several of Toni's disgruntled clients converge upon her all at once. Strictly second-rate, The Crystal Ball is salvaged by the work of such surehanded supporting players as William Bendix, Cecil Kellaway, Mary Field, Ernest Truex, Iris Adrian, Nestor Paiva and Mabel Paige (in her film debut).
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Keywords
beauty-pageant, chauffeur, con/scam, disguise, employment, engagement, fake, food-fight, fortuneteller, identity, lawyer, marriage, property, romance, seduction, wealth