IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
After Paul has bizarre dreams about a faceless, sinister man, he suspects the man who is courting his Mother has ulterior motives.After Paul has bizarre dreams about a faceless, sinister man, he suspects the man who is courting his Mother has ulterior motives.After Paul has bizarre dreams about a faceless, sinister man, he suspects the man who is courting his Mother has ulterior motives.
Photos
Jimmy Lydon
- Paul Cartwright
- (as James Lydon)
George Reed
- Benjamin
- (as George H. Reed)
Victor Potel
- Mac - Game Warden
- (as Vic Potel)
Gene Roth
- Police Detective Sparks
- (as Gene Stutenroth)
Edmund Cobb
- Police Driver
- (uncredited)
Theresa Harris
- Maid
- (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim
- Tom
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDraws on the plot of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Hamlet's plot involves a Danish Prince who tries to exact revenge against his uncle, who has murdered the Prince's father in order to seize his throne and marry his mother. While Strange Illusion is by no means completely faithful to the original Shakespeare story-line - the character Ophelia doesn't exist here, and the tragic finale is replaced with a happy ending. In any case, Ulmer's film remains a fascinating attempt at re-imagining Shakespeare's Hamlet. Here, he is young Paul who lives in bucolic Southern California next to exclusive private schools and toney country clubs. To this, the plot adds a bit more - the protagonist admits himself into an insane asylum. This allows time for our scheming director Edgar G. Ulmer to amp up the cinematic tension, with added touches and moody lighting effects.
- GoofsWhen Brett is watching Lydia in the swimming pool, his body position changes in three successive shots from differing angles.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Paul Cartwright: I'm Paul Cartwright, my father was Judge Albert Cartwright, once lieutenant governor of the state, he was killed two years ago in a mysterious accident. We were not only father and son, but friends. The shock of his violent death still haunts my mind, my nights are troubled by strange dreams.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen (2004)
Featured review
After his wealthy and influential father is killed in a suspicious accident, a teenager by the name of "Paul Cartwright" (James Lydon) begins to have nightmares about a mysterious man attempting to ingratiate himself with his widowed mother "Virginia Cartwright" (Sally Eilers) and sister "Dorothy Cartwright" (Jayne Hazard). When he tells his family physician and good friend "Dr. Vincent" (Regis Toomey) about it he is initially told not to worry too much about it. However, Paul becomes even more alarmed when a stranger by the name of "Brett Curtis" (Warren William) arrives at his home bearing an uncanny similarity to the man in his nightmares. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a decent grade-B crime-drama which featured solid acting and an imaginative plot. Admittedly, there were some scenes which were a bit unrealistic but this film was certainly worth the time spent to watch it and have rated it accordingly. Average.
- How long is Strange Illusion?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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