The Crystal Ball
(1943)
80-82 mins | Comedy | 22 January 1943
Director:
Elliott NugentWriter:
Virginia Van UppCinematographer:
Leo ToverEditor:
Doane HarrisonProduction Designers:
Hans Dreier, Roland AndersonProduction Companies:
Cinema Guild Productions, Paramount Pictures, Inc.During production, this film's title was changed from The Crystal Ball to Redheads Are Dangerous, and back again to The Crystal Ball. A pre-production HR news item noted that Ginger Rogers was originally considered for the lead role, while a modern source noted that Charles Boyer was intended as her co-star. The film marked Helen Walker's feature film debut. According to a HR news item, the picture was originally to close with a train sequence, but the script was rewritten as all forms of transportation were restricted due to the war. The picture was among a package of films that were produced by Paramount Pictures, Inc. and purchased by United Artists in 1942 for release under the Cinema Guild label. ...
During production, this film's title was changed from The Crystal Ball to Redheads Are Dangerous, and back again to The Crystal Ball. A pre-production HR news item noted that Ginger Rogers was originally considered for the lead role, while a modern source noted that Charles Boyer was intended as her co-star. The film marked Helen Walker's feature film debut. According to a HR news item, the picture was originally to close with a train sequence, but the script was rewritten as all forms of transportation were restricted due to the war. The picture was among a package of films that were produced by Paramount Pictures, Inc. and purchased by United Artists in 1942 for release under the Cinema Guild label.
After her emerald ring disappears one day, wealthy New York City widow Jo Ainsley is advised by her maid to seek the help of Madame Zenobia, a medium, to find it. Unknown to Jo, her maid deliberately hid the jewel and is working with Zenobia, who tells Jo that her missing ring can be found in the drainpipe of her sink. Back at home, Jo is happy to find the emerald ring exactly where Zenobia said it would be. Later, Zenobia meets Texas beauty contestant Toni Gerard, and gets her a job as a shill at a shooting gallery run by Pop Tibbets. On her first day on the job, Toni falls in love with one of the shooting gallery customers, Brad Cavanaugh, who is Jo's attorney. After Zenobia injures herself in a fall, she drafts Toni to impersonate her at an upcoming charity ball. Before the ball, Toni is sent out to interview some of the expected guests and extract personal information about them, which she can later use at her fortune-telling booth. Her first interview is with Brad's personal valet, Biff Carter, who tells Toni that his boss has a buckshot scar on his body in the shape of a heart. During the party, Toni looks into her crystal ball and advises Brad to purchase a particular parcel of land for Jo. Zenobia, who scripted Brad's fortune, knows that the government is considering buying the land for a defense plant, and hopes to earn a profit by selling it to Jo. The next day, Toni, as herself, goes on a date with Brad, and they fall in love. Brad's good fortune runs out, ...
After her emerald ring disappears one day, wealthy New York City widow Jo Ainsley is advised by her maid to seek the help of Madame Zenobia, a medium, to find it. Unknown to Jo, her maid deliberately hid the jewel and is working with Zenobia, who tells Jo that her missing ring can be found in the drainpipe of her sink. Back at home, Jo is happy to find the emerald ring exactly where Zenobia said it would be. Later, Zenobia meets Texas beauty contestant Toni Gerard, and gets her a job as a shill at a shooting gallery run by Pop Tibbets. On her first day on the job, Toni falls in love with one of the shooting gallery customers, Brad Cavanaugh, who is Jo's attorney. After Zenobia injures herself in a fall, she drafts Toni to impersonate her at an upcoming charity ball. Before the ball, Toni is sent out to interview some of the expected guests and extract personal information about them, which she can later use at her fortune-telling booth. Her first interview is with Brad's personal valet, Biff Carter, who tells Toni that his boss has a buckshot scar on his body in the shape of a heart. During the party, Toni looks into her crystal ball and advises Brad to purchase a particular parcel of land for Jo. Zenobia, who scripted Brad's fortune, knows that the government is considering buying the land for a defense plant, and hopes to earn a profit by selling it to Jo. The next day, Toni, as herself, goes on a date with Brad, and they fall in love. Brad's good fortune runs out, however, when a government investigator accuses him of buying the land with the intent of fleecing the government. Hoping to clear his name, Brad seeks out his fortune-telling advisor, taking Jo and Toni along with him. Toni later asks Zenobia to confess her guilt, but Zenobia, fearing trouble, locks Toni in a closet and flees. Jo finds Toni and tells her that she knows that she was working with Zenobia. Toni then threatens to tell the police about Zenobia's scheme unless the seer clears Brad's name and leaves town. With the help of Biff's intervention, however, Brad and Toni are reunited, and they embrace and kiss.
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