THE CRYSTAL BALL

US, 1943, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Gladys George, Virginia Field, Cecil Kellaway, William Bendix, Ernest Truex.
Directed by Elliott Nugent.

The Crystal Ball is an entertaining piece of '40s fluff. Ray Milland gives a standard performance. Paulette Goddard is very attractive as the heroine. There is a strong supporting cast led by William Bendix. The film is a comedy, has some social comment. It was directed by Elliott Nugent, comic actor and director (Welcome Stranger, My Girl Tisa).

1. An entertaining comedy? Of its time? Now?

2.Production values? Black and white photography, the atmosphere of the American city? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on the crystal ball, the superstitions, seriously and for fun? Carnival crystal balls and fortune-tellers?

4. Toni and her beauty contest, her not winning, in need, meeting Madam Zenobia, their rapport, her fascination with Brad, working at the shooting gallery, her skills with the gun, luring competitors? Her having to take Madam Zenobia's place? The information about property deals? The clash with him? Her pretence as Madam Zenobia? Telling Brad's fortune and engineering it to be fulfilled, the rumpus at the restaurant about the mouse, eating the apple, driving with Brad? The coincidences of her telling his fortune and the accidents? The rapport with Brad, telling her life, appearing and disappearing? Telling Jo her fortune and trying to get her away? The irony of Brad rushing to her? Her trying to save Brad, Madam Zenobia not co-operating, her telling the police, Brad in love with her? A happy character?

5. Ray Milland as Brad, suave, the businessman, dating Jo, hit friend, helping with her affairs? Her being in love with him? Her catty behaviour for him? Madam Zenobia, the maid hiding the jewellery and its discovery? The going back and Jo telling her fortune? her place in society, being catty with her friends? Her discovery of the truth, getting the Information out of the shooting gallery assistant, the confrontation, her losing out? Brad as the victim of the women, his love for Toni, his financial and legal difficulties, the happy ending?

6. Madame Zenobia and the satire on fortune-tellers? Their ability to manipulate their clients? The shooting gallery attendant?, His friendship with , trying to help her not be discovered, His assistant and his giving things away?

7. The attendant, Toni interviewing him and giving information about the buckshot wounds, this information being
meeting Toni again, keeping quiet about his revelation?
businessman's assistant?

8. A smart but gentle comedy, romance, good fortune, American style?