The Mind Reader

1933
Approved
1h 10m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

647

YOUR RATING

Constance Cummings and Warren William in The Mind Reader (1933)

Chandler, a con-man, and his helper Frank decide to create a clairvoyant act for the carny circuit, as a little research reveals Americans spent $125 million on mind-readers and astrology. The carny, renamed Chandra, falls for one of his marks, Sylvia, but their love is tested when he brings tragedy to other peoples' lives and she asks him to go straight.

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Action Crime Drama Mystery Romance

Con-man Chandler and his partner Frank decide to start a clairvoyant act. Chandler falls for Sylvia, one of their marks, but their relationship is challenged when his deception impacts other... Read allCon-man Chandler and his partner Frank decide to start a clairvoyant act. Chandler falls for Sylvia, one of their marks, but their relationship is challenged when his deception impacts others' lives and Sylvia urges him to reform.Con-man Chandler and his partner Frank decide to start a clairvoyant act. Chandler falls for Sylvia, one of their marks, but their relationship is challenged when his deception impacts others' lives and Sylvia urges him to reform.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

647

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Blonde girl
(uncredited)

Irving Bacon

Reporter
(uncredited)

Robert Barrat

Detective
(uncredited)

Harry Beresford

Chief Wilson
(uncredited)

Clara Blandick

Auntie
(uncredited)

Symona Boniface

Gossip in Phone Montage
(uncredited)

George Chandler

Reporter
(uncredited)

Sidney D'Albrook

Brakeman
(uncredited)

Don Dillaway

Jack
(uncredited)

Robert Greig

Swami
(uncredited)

Grace Hayle

Shill
(uncredited)

Director
- Roy Del Ruth
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
When Chandra has a local girl join the travelling show, Frank says, "Ever hear of a guy called Mann? Well, he's got an act." Sam adds, "Yeah, and it ain't in vaudeville." The Mann Act was a notorious law that made it a federal offense for a man to transport a woman across state lines for immoral purposes. Though it was aimed at pimps and prostitutes, in practice it meant that an unmarried man and woman who crossed a state border for sex, even with the woman's consent, and even if the state had no law against fornication, could be arrested. It was disproportionately used against celebrities, especially black ones.

Goofs
While the secondary headline and first 2½ paragraphs of The Evening News article "Mrs. Munro Collapses; Murder Trial Is Delayed" relate to the case, the following five lines in each of two half-columns is gibberish.

Connections
Featured in TCM Guest Programmer: Stephen Sondheim (2005)

Soundtracks
The Stars and Stripes Forever
(1896) (uncredited)
Music by John Philip Sousa
Played by the band during the painless dentist segment at the beginning

User reviews24

Review

Featured review

Warren William is perfectly cast as smooth psychic swindler

I'm a real sucker for movies about fake psychics and occult scammers, and "The Mind Reader" makes for a very fine entry in that sparsely populated genre. Warren William really gets to muck it up as a skeevy huckster who makes his money as a traveling fortune teller. Always one one step ahead of the simple-minded authorities, he never stays long enough in one whistlestop town for his parlor tricks to get exposed. When he falls for Constance Cummings, he begins to seriously question some of his life choices.

Although the tone is rather jaunty compared to something like "The Spiritualist" or "Nightmare Alley", there are a few dramatic moments showing the moral peril and self-centeredness inherent to psychic swindling. William has one great dramatic moment where he breaks down on stage in Mexico, drunkenly abusing the crowd while showing a truly hideous side of his personality. It's one of his finer bits of acting. The film also looks great, with plenty of imaginative angles and vivid lighting that emphasize Chandra's crooked nature.