Steinesongo Too many fans seem to be blown away

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Kirandeep Yoder The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

kevin olzak 1945's "Pillow of Death" marked the last of Universal's six Inner Sanctum mysteries, adding some genuine supernatural elements to its undernourished brew of a script. Lon Chaney again stars, here as wealthy attorney Wayne Fletcher, whose affection for his secretary, Donna Kincaid (Brenda Joyce), has her family in an uproar, since he's still legally married to wife Vivian. The disapproving Kincaid matriarch is Belle (Clara Blandick, "The Wizard of Oz"), who, like Vivian Fletcher, has fallen under the questionable spell of a spiritualist who calls himself (I kid you not) Julian Julian (J. Edward Bromberg). Wayne decides to ask his wife for a divorce, only to return home to a murder scene, Vivian having been smothered to death by pillow (thus the title). Every damn character is so determined to railroad Wayne for the crime, that even a patently phony séance depicts Vivian's spirit accusing him herself. It's this aspect of the film that makes one fervently wish that Chaney will again be innocent of all charges, not one likable character in the entire sour bunch, apart from the old man obsessed with food (naturally, he's the next to go). Even lovely Brenda Joyce (his wife in "Strange Confession") doesn't escape intact, winding up in the arms of the juvenile trespassing neighbor (Bernard B. Thomas, only seven other credits on his resume), whose obnoxious ego resorts to body snatching in his maniacal effort to win her over (sneaking around at all hours of the night proves him irresistible). This entry's rudimentary police detective is the forgettable Wilton Graff, quite a comedown from character star J. Carrol Naish, from "Calling Dr. Death." One positive aspect of the film, unlike all previous entries, is the (apparently) genuine presence of Vivian's ghost actually communicating with her husband on two occasions, first luring him to the graveyard (her crypt empty), then lending him some help in the climactic clinch (that bedroom door didn't just close by itself!). In the 17 months since beginning the Inner Sanctums, Chaney changed from a still-handsome, believably suave professorial type to a noticeably older frazzle of his former self, the only monster titles done in that same period being "House of Frankenstein" and "The Mummy's Curse." With only "The Daltons Ride Again" and "House of Dracula" still ahead, it's apparent that the actor himself saw the writing on the wall at Universal. Included in the popular SHOCK! package of classic Universals issued to television in the late 50s, "Pillow of Death" appeared twice on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater- Sept 8 1973 (following 1967's "Journey to the Center of Time") and Oct 16 1976 (following Al Adamson's "Blood of Dracula's Castle").

DLewis "Pillow of Death" is such a ridiculous title that one figures it must be good, and for the first two-thirds it more or less is so. Jerome Ash's cinematography is outstanding, Frank Skinner's music is appropriately dramatic; the sets -- left over from something else -- are fabulous and the performances are at least adequate in most cases to suit Babcock and Bricker's rather prosaic tale. However, a sense of routine starts to set in as the storyline advances -- each turn of the plot is accompanied by a shot of a screaming headline; characters begin to behave in a potted way and don't have very much dimension. Even given that, one can still have fun trying to figure out whodunit in this whodunit, but my crystal ball tells me very few will find the solution of this riddle particularly satisfactory. Ultimately, some may find the time spent watching "Pillow of Death" spent better in the company of one's own pillow, catching one hour's sleep rather than patiently enduring this title.

loves_the_oldies I recently purchased the Inner sanctum box set with all 6 of the Inner sanctum movies and was not disappointed at all.I really enjoyed Pillow of Death, OK its a corny title but it had everything in it if you enjoy old dark houses, whodunits,murders in the night etc.Lon chaney gave a decent enough performance in it and was supported by a good cast including the lovely Brenda joyce and the solid J.Edward bromberg i have read a few reviews which slate this film so i watched with trepidation and was pleasantly surprised it is a great little B movie which universal made in the 40's to much credit, it is atmospheric with many twists and turns moving along at a lively pace, i personally didn't find it dull or slow..if you enjoy the old black and white horrors from this period i am sure you wont be disappointed..just watch it with no great expectations and im sure you will see its not as bad as it has been painted. Without giving anything away it will keep you guessing all the way through..enjoy it for what it is.

bsmith5552 "Pillow of Death" was the sixth and final film of Universal's "Inner Sanctum" series based on the popular radio series of the day and starring Lon Chaney Jr.Lawyer Wayne Fletcher (Chaney) and his attractive secretary Donna Kincaid (Brenda Joyce) return to Donna's home after working late one night. Fletcher promises her that he is going to talk to his wife that night about a divorce so that he and Donna can be together.Fletcher returns home to learn that his wife has been murdered and is greeted by Police Captain McCracken (Wilton Graff) and his wife's psychic Julian Julian (J. Edward Bromberg). McCracken immediately suspects Fletcher and arrests him. Next he goes to the Kincaid house, a creepy old mansion, to question the family.Among those questioned are Belle Kincaid (Clara Blandick), her brother Sam (George Cleveland), an English relative Amelia Kincaid (Rosiland Ivan) and Donna. McCracken discovers a neighbor, Bruce Malone (Bernard B. Thomas) peeping through a window and brings him in for questioning. Julian arrives and is also under suspicion.Fletcher is released for lack of evidence and he and Donna try to identify the killer. Julian later holds a séance where the voice of Fletcher's wife is apparently heard. Strange noises emanate from the attic of the old house. Secret panels are revealed. Suddenly other murders begin to take place. Finally, the murderer is discovered to be.............. And I'll bet you'll never guess what the murder weapon turns out to be.For Chaney, this film marked the end of his Universal contract. He would appear in two more films for them, "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948) and "The Black Castle" (1952). Over the period 1941-45 Chaney managed to appear as all four of the Universal monsters (Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, The Wolfman and The Mummy) as well as, in several other films and serials. They never really developed the promise he showed in "Of Mice and Men" (1939) and was effectively type cast for the rest of his career.The "Inner Sanctum" series (1943-45) at least gave him a chance to star in his own series, playing a different character in each film. The series, although a low budget "B" series was nonetheless an entertaining six mysteries and served to further display Chaney's talent.Brenda Joyce is probably best remembered as "Jane" in the RKO "Tarzan" films with Johnny Weissmuller produced between 1943-48. Watch for old timer J. Farrell MacDonald as the cemetery Sexton.Arguably the best of the six "Inner Sanctum" mysteries.