THE EVIL MIND (THE CLAIRVOYANT)

UK, 1934, 80 minutes, Black and White.
Claude Rains, Fay Wray, Felix Aylmer.
Directed by Maurice Elvey.

The Evil Mind is a rather overblown title for a modest British thriller of 1934, an Edgar Wallace-type thriller.

Claude Rains is a vaudeville performer who has a clairvoyant act. However, one night when a woman is present in the audience, he actually foresees tragedy. He does not realise it, but it is only when she is present that he is able to see the future. He predicts the crash of a train. He predicts a disaster in a mine. However, he is arrested and is blamed for these tragedies - his suggestions leading to the tragedies. However, in a finale he foresees that the trapped miners will break to freedom.

The film is interesting in its portrayal of the clairvoyant - not only in his power of seeing, but also in his ambitions for wealth and his moving up from vaudeville to more pretentious performances (and the prediction of a steeplechase win). The film is quite well-made on its small budget. (Felix Aylmer appears as the prosecutor.)

1. Entertaining thriller? Clairvoyant? The foretelling of the future? Disasters?

2. Black and white photography, small budget? British production values? The cast? Musical score?

3. The title - and whether Max's mind was evil or not?

4. The portrait of Max: his performances, Renee assisting him, their codes for the clairvoyant act in vaudeville? Her not being able to get upstairs and the audience mockery? His clairvoyance with Christine present? The later predicting of the winning of the race, his going to the racetrack, the photo-finish and protest? His moving up in the world? Lord Southward taking him on? The prediction of the crash of the train and Christine's presence (and the prosecutor later saying that his delay caused the crash)? The prediction of the mine tragedy, his going to the workers? Renee and her desperation? His being hailed in high society, his speeches? Christine and her devotion? The court case, the condemnation? Renee's support? The prediction for the safety of the miners?

5. Renee, her love for Max, participation in the act? Marriage? Going up in the world? Her feeling uncomfortable, leaving him? Final support?

6. Christine, her devotion, her being the medium? Her presence, Lord Southward? Lord Southward feting Max, the dinner and his speech? Christine outside? Confrontation with Renee?

7. His mother, her support? Simon and their working in vaudeville? Their greater wealth?

8. The prosecutor and the relentlessness of his attack on Max?

9. The popularity of this kind of thriller? The fascination of the clairvoyance - even when realising the fakery in the vaudeville? The possibility of clairvoyance? Prediction or cause of the disaster? The temptation of money and fame?

10. The moralising happy ending?