bkoganbing These Inner Sanctum stories that Lon Chaney, Jr. starred in over at Universal Pictures are the only ones out there where he actually gets the girl. He usually didn't star in parts that called for him getting the girl. But not only does he get the girl in this case Anne Gwynne, but he's got women falling all over the place for him including Evelyn Ankers, Elizabeth Russell, and even the Dean of Women in the college where Chaney plays an archeology professor Elizabeth Risdon gives him the old fish eye.Chaney tells this one in flashback as he describes bringing home a bride from the South Seas. It's Gwynne who is the daughter of a colleague, but was raised by the witch practitioner on the island and taught all the voodoo tricks of the trade. Not exactly material to be in the faculty wives club.Anyway Chaney gives the air to Evelyn Ankers and Evelyn ain't about to take being dumped lying down.No use in going through the rest of the film as bad things start happening to folks around the campus. It's pretty obvious who's responsible. In a camp sort of way Weird Woman is a whole lot of fun.

utgard14 While on a South Seas island, Professor Norman Reed (Lon Chaney, Jr.) meets and falls in love with beautiful but superstitious Paula Clayton (Anne Gwynne). The two marry and return home where Reed's career quickly flourishes. Soon, Reed discovers his wife has brought her island's voodoo practices home with her. When he makes her stop, bad things start to happen to him.The second in Universal's fun Inner Sanctum series starring Chaney. This one has an excellent supporting cast, led by Evelyn Ankers in a rare villainous role as Chaney's witchy ex-girlfriend Ilona. Ankers seems to be having a lot of fun with the part. Wait til you see her final scene! Anne Gwynne and Lois Collier join Ankers as the movie's trio of lovely actresses. The rest of the cast includes Ralph Morgan, Elisabeth Risdon, Harry Hayden, and Val Lewton regular Elizabeth Russell. They're all great. The novel on which this is based, "Conjure Wife," would be adapted again with the sixties classic Night of the Eagle (aka Burn, Witch, Burn!). Weird Woman is another cool Inner Sanctum movie. Definitely check it out and see the whole series as they are all fun.

kevin olzak 1944's "Weird Woman" was the second of six 'Inner Sanctum' mysteries, later included in Universal's popular SHOCK! package of classic horror titles issued to television in the late 50s. An improvement on "Calling Dr. Death," based on a real novel, Fritz Leiber's "Conjure Wife," which received its best film adaptation in 1961's British "Burn, Witch, Burn" aka "Night of the Eagle," a far more sober and frightening version. This first take may be a lot more fun however, as Lon Chaney, again cast as a suave 'mental giant' irresistible to women, struggles against more clumsy dialogue and characterization, Prof. Norman Reed's calls for rationality over superstition reducing him in stature to more of a bungler before it's over. As his new bride Paula, a 'superstitious child' he found in the jungle, Anne Gwynne is faced with the most difficult role, using old world charms and medallions to ensure safety for her sadly doubting husband. In a real change of pace, Evelyn Ankers truly sinks her teeth into the role of Ilona Carr, vindictive 'woman scorned,' Norman's former lover, whose offer to continue their affair is rebuffed. Lois Collier, who debuted opposite Chaney in the still unreleased "Cobra Woman," is college student Margaret Mercer, constantly swooning over the prof, until he catches on and throws her out of his office, giving her dimwitted boyfriend (Phil Brown) homicidal ideas to avenge her honor (pity he never thought to ask her what actually happened). Elisabeth Risdon actually has the best female role as the college Dean, tossing off one pithy comment after another on the various foibles of faculty members such as Millard Sawtelle (Ralph Morgan), whose recently published book Ilona discovers to be a work of plagiarism, planting in his head that Reed also knows and plans to blow the whistle on him; the distraught man, fervently driven to succeed by his domineering wife Evelyn (Elizabeth Russell, in her only Universal horror), confesses all before committing suicide, Evelyn pointing the finger of guilt on both Norman and Paula. Appearing in one scene opposite William Hudson (both gossiping students) is Kay Harding, whose brief career included "The Scarlet Claw," "The Mummy's Curse," and "The Woman in Green." Lois Collier followed this film with "Jungle Woman," "The Naughty Nineties," "The Crimson Canary," "The Cat Creeps," and "A Night in Casablanca," later co-starring opposite Kent Taylor on television's BOSTON BLACKIE. Director Reginald Le Borg effectively builds to a surprise climax that leaves every character stunned, Evelyn Ankers remaining the shining jewel among jewels, obviously relishing the opportunity to play a black hearted femme fatale, which she would also do in "The Pearl of Death" and "The Lone Wolf in London." "Weird Woman" only made one appearance on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater, paired Dec 22 1973 with second feature "The New Invisible Man," a 1958 Mexican remake of Universal's "The Invisible Man Returns."

JoeKarlosi One of the better films in Universal's INNER SANCTUM series of mysteries to star Lon Chaney, and based on the novel CONJURE WIFE. As a suave and calculated writer of a recent book about dispelling false superstitions, Lon is married to a lovely young girl named Paula (the adorable Anne Gwynne) whom he first met at a voodoo ritual on an island some years ago and who is still interested in the occult, magic, and strange rituals. When all sorts of odd occurrences and deaths transpire, the blame is laid at the feet of the "witchy" Paula, much to her husband's chagrin. This installment benefits from a good cast. Anne Gwynne has always received my vote for the most attractive of the '40s Universal babes, and Evelyn Ankers (THE WOLF MAN, THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN) is a close second and earns extra points in this one for portraying a baddie this time around, much against type. Elizabeth Russell turns in a strong and compelling performance. Director Reginald LeBorg makes good use of dark, windy nights and eerie atmosphere to nice effect. The subject was tackled again later for the 1962 British film BURN WITCH BURN. *** out of ****