Watch Inner Sanctum

Inner Sanctum is a gripping mystery-thriller from 1948 directed by Lew Landers. The film stars Charles Russell as Phillip Wells, a man plagued by dark dreams and a guilty conscience. Mary Beth Hughes plays his wife, Virginia, and Billy House is cast as their eccentric butler, Charles. The film begins with Phillip having a recurring nightmare in which he is killing his wife. He wakes up in a cold sweat and can't shake the feeling that he might actually be capable of murder. This fear is only heightened when he learns that his wife has been seeing another man, Dr. Paul Bauer (Dale Belding).

Phillip becomes increasingly paranoid and starts to see signs of foul play everywhere he looks. He begins to suspect that someone is trying to drive him mad and make it look like he's lost his grip on reality.

The tension builds as Phillip's mental state deteriorates and he becomes more and more convinced that he's being set up. Meanwhile, Virginia and Charles both seem to be hiding something from him, adding to his sense of unease.

As the plot thickens, it becomes clear that there is much more going on than meets the eye. Phillip's dreams start to become more and more vivid, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

The film's black and white cinematography is moody and atmospheric, adding to the overall sense of foreboding. The scenes take place largely in the Wells' mansion, which is filled with long shadows and creepy corridors.

The acting is strong throughout, with Russell giving a compelling performance as a man on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Hughes is equally convincing as his distant and secretive wife, while House is the perfect foil as the eccentric butler with a dry wit.

The script, based on a series of novels by Simon Oakland, is taut and suspenseful, with twists and turns that keep the audience guessing until the very end. The film's score, composed by Paul Sawtell, is suitably eerie and unsettling.

Overall, Inner Sanctum is a classic example of film noir, with its sense of dread and claustrophobia, and its exploration of the dark side of the human psyche. It's a must-see for fans of the genre, and for anyone who loves a good mystery.

Inner Sanctum is a 1948 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 2 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.