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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Strange Illusion (1945)

Rating: 3 Stars (out of 4)

Ham-Lite

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Strange Illusion on DVD

Director Edgar G. Ulmer is considered one of the kings of the "B's" and actually managed to crank out a good many resourceful, quality films made on extremely low budgets (they could barely afford the shoestrings). "Strange Illusion" is the latest in an excellent series to be released on DVD by All Day Entertainment, though it's definitely lesser Ulmer, updating "Hamlet" and pitting a smarmy college student against his mother's new suitor. Better to check out Bluebeard or Daughter of Dr. Jekyll.

Starring: James Lydon, Warren William, Sally Eilers, Regis Toomey, Charles Arnt, George Reed, Jayne Hazard, Jimmy Clark, Mary McLeod, Pierre Watkin, John Hamilton, Sonia Sorel, Victor Potel, George Sherwood, Gene Roth, Edmund Cobb, Theresa Harris, Charles Wagenheim
Written by: Adele Comandini, based on a story by Fritz Rotter
Directed by: Edgar G. Ulmer
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 87 minutes
Date: March 7, 2002