Watch The Clairvoyant

The Clairvoyant from 1935 is a British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Claude Rains, Fay Wray, and Mary Clare. The film follows the story of Maximus, played by Rains, a phony stage psychic who discovers that he has real clairvoyant abilities after a near-fatal accident. The movie was produced by Gaumont-British Pictures and is based on a play called The Ghost of a Chance by Evadne Price and Joan Roy Byford.

The story begins with Maximus and his wife Rene, played by Wray, who run a struggling mind-reading act. After one particularly disastrous performance, they are approached by a wealthy socialite named Lady Diana, played by Mary Clare, who wants Maximus to give her a private reading. During the reading, Maximus has a vision of Lady Diana being in danger on a trip she is planning to take. Despite Rene's objections, Maximus convinces Lady Diana to cancel her trip, leading her to avoid a near-fatal accident.

Following this incident, Maximus starts to receive a lot of attention from the press and the public. He even becomes a temporary sensation, outfitting his parlor with an array of technical equipment that enhances his "gift." However, despite his newfound success, Maximus begins to experience unsettling and vivid visions, which blur the lines between reality and fantasy. As his psychic abilities begin to develop, he is drawn into a complicated web of deceit and betrayal, which threatens not only his career but his sanity as well.

Meanwhile, Rene begins to feel more and more disconnected from Maximus. She begins to seek comfort elsewhere, and her attention is drawn to a suave attorney named Richard, played by Athole Stewart. Richard becomes intrigued by the performance of Maximus, curious about the authenticity of his powers. Rene's desire to find a way out of her unhappy marriage threatens to expose Maximus's fraud, leading to an emotional and climactic end to the story.

The Clairvoyant is a visually rich and suspenseful movie that keeps the audience engaged and guessing right until the final climactic scene. The stunning black and white cinematography, along with the intricate and finely crafted sets, create a moody and atmospheric backdrop for the story. The film's use of music and sound also add to the overall feeling of unease and tension.

At the heart of the story is the character of Maximus, played brilliantly by Claude Rains. He brings an intriguing complexity to the role, veering from charming and charismatic to tortured and unstable. As the story progresses, Rains effortlessly portrays the complex emotional journey in which the character is embroiled.

Fay Wray also puts forth a persuasive performance, showcasing a range of emotions that stir both empathy and detraction. Her on-screen relationship with Rains is convincing, adding to the overall sense of urgency and anxiety that permeates the movie.

In conclusion, The Clairvoyant is an engrossing drama that explores the dangerous and often destructive nature of secrets and deception. It examines the blurry line between reality and illusion for a man who is forced to confront the truth about his own self-delusion. With its cinematography, music, and performances, The Clairvoyant brings to life a mesmerizing story that is still captivating to this day.

The Clairvoyant is a 1935 mystery with a runtime of 1 hour and 8 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.