The Phantom Speaks
1945 film by John English
- May 10, 1945 (1945-05-10)
Running time
The Phantom Speaks is a 1945 American supernatural film noir directed by John English and written by John K. Butler. The film stars Richard Arlen, Stanley Ridges, Lynne Roberts, Tom Powers, Charlotte Wynters and Jonathan Hale. The film was released on May 10, 1945, by Republic Pictures.[1][2][3]
Plot
Harvey Bogardus kills a man whom he thinks is having an affair with his wife. After he is sentenced to the electric chair, reporter Matt Fraser is assigned to speak with Dr. Renwick, who is interviewing Bogardus. Matt is dating Renwick's daughter, and agrees. Renwick has a theory that strong-willed souls can survive death, and that Bogardus will do just that. Bogardus is executed. That night, Bogardus' spirit appears and takes over Renwick's mind. "Renwick" shoots and kills the attorney who represented him at trial, accusing him of incompetence. Matt and the police discover that the attorney was using his dictaphone at the time of his death, and Bogardus' voice is on the machine.
The possessed Renwick then kills Bogardus' wife. Renwick, realizing he has large amounts of time he cannot account for, tries to turn himself in but Bogardus once more possesses him. "Renwick" now kills a man who was an eyewitness to Bogardus' crime. Bogardus wants Renwick to kill Matt as well as District Attorney Owen McAllister. Renwick tries to commit suicide, but Bogardus stops him. Matt, thinking Renwick is killing people, goes to McAllister's home to warn him. Matt and McAllister flee in Matt's car, but the possessed Renwick is in the back seat. Matt saves the day, and Renwick is convicted of murder and sentenced to the electric chair.
As Renwick walks to the death chamber, he is still possessed by Bogardus. He speaks in Bogardus' voice, and utters the same last words Bogardus did before his execution. Matt and McAllister, the only witnesses to Bogardus' execution, realize in horror what has happened.
Cast
- Richard Arlen as Matt Fraser
- Stanley Ridges as Dr. Paul Renwick
- Lynne Roberts as Joan Renwick
- Tom Powers as Harvey Bogardus
- Charlotte Wynters as Cornelia Wilmont
- Jonathan Hale as Owen McAllister
- Pierre Watkin as Charlie Davis
- Marion Martin as Betty Hanzel
- Garry Owen as Louis Fabian
- Ralf Harolde as Frankie Teal
- Doreen McCann as Mary Fabian
References
- ^ "The Phantom Speaks (1945) - Overview". TCM.com. April 13, 1945. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ Hal Erickson (2015). "The-Phantom-Speaks - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "The Phantom Speaks". Afi.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
External links
- The Phantom Speaks at IMDb
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Films directed by John English
- His Fighting Blood (1935)
- Red Blood of Courage (1935)
- Arizona Days (1937)
- Whistling Bullets (1937)
- Call the Mesquiteers (1938)
- Hi-Yo Silver (1940)
- Gangs of Sonora (1941)
- Code of the Outlaw (1942)
- The Phantom Plainsmen (1942)
- Raiders of the Range (1942)
- Valley of Hunted Men (1942)
- Westward Ho (1942)
- The Yukon Patrol (1942)
- Dead Man's Gulch (1943)
- Death Valley Manhunt (1943)
- Drums of Fu Manchu (1943)
- The Fighting Devil Dogs (1943)
- The Man from Thunder River (1943)
- Overland Mail Robbery (1943)
- Raiders of Sunset Pass (1943)
- Thundering Trails (1943)
- The Black Hills Express (1943)
- Faces in the Fog (1944)
- Call of the South Seas (1944)
- The Laramie Trail (1944)
- The Port of 40 Thieves (1944)
- San Fernando Valley (1944)
- Silver City Kid (1944)
- Behind City Lights (1945)
- Don't Fence Me In (1945)
- Grissly's Millions (1945)
- The Phantom Speaks (1945)
- Utah (1945)
- Murder in the Music Hall (1946)
- The Last Round-Up (1947)
- Trail to San Antone (1947)
- The Strawberry Roan (1948)
- Loaded Pistols (1949)
- Riders in the Sky (1949)
- Riders of the Whistling Pines (1949)
- Rim of the Canyon (1949)
- The Cowboy and the Indians (1949)
- Beyond the Purple Hills (1950)
- The Blazing Sun (1950)
- Cow Town (1950)
- Indian Territory (1950)
- Mule Train (1950)
- Sons of New Mexico (1950)
- Gene Autry and the Mounties (1951)
- The Hills of Utah (1951)
- Silver Canyon (1951)
- Valley of Fire (1951)
- Whirlwind (1951)
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