Claysaba
Excellent, Without a doubt!!
Freeman
This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.
Billy Ollie
Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
gridoon2018
"Strange Confession" may be a part of the "Inner Sanctum Mysteries" series, but it's really more of a tragedy than a mystery. It's well-made and polished, but also very slow and "civilized" and low-key; for most of its length any mystery or suspense elements are downplayed to the point of non-existence. And it's not that hard to guess what's inside the bag that Lon Chaney carries in the beginning which shocks the first man who sees it so much. Chaney continues to show his versatility in this series, by playing an entirely different character in each entry, much like Richard Dix in the concurrent "Whistler" series. As for Brenda Joyce, her role appears to be thankless for much of the running time, but she also has some powerful moments near the end. "Strange Confession" is worth seeing - but be forewarned about the genre it belongs to. **1/2 out of 4.
AaronCapenBanner
Lon Chaney Jr. plays Jeffrey Carter, an underpaid and exploited chemist who works for a highly unethical drug company president called Roger Graham(played by J. Carol Naish) After Jeff quits in frustration, Roger tries unsuccessfully to prevent him for working anywhere else. Desperate, Roger hires Jeff back, and puts him to work on a cure for a deadly strain of influenza, which requires him to travel to South America with his friend Dave Curtis(played by Lloyd Bridges)They discover a cure, but too late, as Roger puts an untested drug on the market that leads to deaths, including Jeff's young son...Enraged, he confronts Roger, who was also trying to steal his wife Mary! Much potential here that goes unrealized sadly, though the acting is fine, the budget is too low and running time too short to put this film over-the-top; a real shame that.
JoeKarlosi
Of the six Inner Sanctum movies Lon Chaney made at Universal, for me this one constantly switches positions with two others in "Top Three" status. Chaney plays Jeff Carter, a good husband and father who's too soft when it comes to handling his domineering boss Roger Graham (J. Carrol Naish). Jeff's a skilled, meticulous lab chemist busy developing medicines with his partner (played by a very young Lloyd Bridges), but for all his achievements still lives modestly with his family in a tiny apartment. Jeff works hard while watching Graham take all the money and credit, and ultimately becomes a pawn in Graham's game when the boss sends Jeff away for a month on a job in South America for his own selfish ulterior motives. STRANGE CONFESSION benefits right away for being somewhat different in style and approach from all the other Inner Sanctum mysteries, and it ropes you in from its prelude where we see a tormented Jeff desperately consulting with a lawyer while carrying a black bag with something unspeakable inside it. The film is then told as a flashback where we can find out what happened and why. Chaney gives a good performance, and J. Carrol Naish (who was so perfect with him in CALLING DR. DEATH) again makes for a fine match. *** out of ****
Karl Ericsson
In only about 70 minutes, the situation of inventors and altruistic people in USA is brought to us along with thrills, sentiment and mystery. Those believing in the official fairy-tales will find this film disturbing if they will find it all. For all you others (you few?): Enjoy! OK, there is maybe more to say, like that the only film as tightly scripted as this film (that I know of) is "Cabin in the Cotton". And shall I perhaps add that when I saw the final scene in which minimum justice was done (I mean with the sword), then I was cheering. Finally, I can state that this kind of film (this critical of USA) is extremely rare today (latest example: 'They Live' by John Carpenter and maybe "Matrix").
