Synopsis of Supernatural
Supernatural stars Hollywood legend Carole Lombard as a woman possessed by a murderer’s dark soul. Roma (Carole Lombard), whose twin brother has recently been murdered, becomes easy prey for a corrupt medium who arranges a séance to conjure up the lost twin’s supposedly troubled soul. Meanwhile, a murderess (Vivienne Osborne) accused of strangling her lovers awaits her fate in the electric chair. Before she dies, she agrees to donate her body to a scientist for his unique life-after-death research. Eerily, the doctor’s first experiment on the now-deceased woman occurs at precisely the same time as the séance. In an evil twist of fate, Roma becomes possessed by the murderess’ wicked spirit. In a race against time, the doctor and Roma’s fiancé (Randolph Scott) struggle to undo the horrible curse in this compelling and inventive ghost story.
Supernatural (1933), starring Carol Lombard, Alan Rinehart, Lyman Williams, Beryle Mercer, William Farnum, William Farnum, Randolph Scott, Vivienne Osborn
Editorial review of Supernatural courtesy of Amazon.com
“Supernatural” is still available as a videotape because it stars Carole Lombard, but you will appreciate it more if you focus more on director Victor Halperin, whose previous film had been “White Zombie.” We begin with the slimy Paul Bavian (Alan Dinehart), a fake spirtualist who wants to get his hands on the Courtney family fortune. Towards that end he tells young Roma Courtney (Lombard) that he is in communication with her dead brother, John (Lyman Williams). Bavian arranges a seance using his landlay, Madame Gourjan (Beryle Mercer) and uses a mask of John’s face to convince Roma that her brother, reaching out from beyond the grave and tries to convince her that John was murdered by Robert Hammond (William Farnum), Roma’s legal guardian.
Of course, Roma is upset by this news and does not know what to do. Meanwhile, in another part of town, we meet Dr. Houston (H. B. Warner), a psychologist who believes that the spirits of dead criminals can enter the bodies of the living and continue to commit crimes. To prove his theory, the doctor has made arrangements with Ruth Rogen, the “Greenwich Village love-murderess” who is about to be executed for the murder of three of her lovers, to perform experiments on her body when she is dead. Ruth has agreed because she wants to take revenge from beyond the grave on Bavian, who is the one who betrayed her to the police.
Cast of characters
- Carole Lombard (Topper Returns) … Roma Courtney
- Alan Dinehart (Blondie: It’s a Great Life) … Paul Bavian
- Vivienne Osborne … Ruth Rogen
- Randolph Scott (She) … Grant Wilson
- H.B. Warner (It’s a Wonderful Life) … Dr. Carl Houston
- Beryl Mercer (The Public Enemy) … Madame Gourjan – Paul’s Landlady
- William Farnum (The Mummy’s Curse) … Nick ‘Nicky’ Hammond
- Willard Robertson (The Monster and the Girl) … Prison Warden
- George Burr MacAnnan (White Zombie) … Max Schmitt – Glass Blower (as George Burr Mac Annan)
- Lyman Williams … Ghost of John Courtney
Additional Cast
- Bobby Barber (In the Navy) … Man on Jury (uncredited)
- Eddy Chandler … Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Frank O’Connor … Man Removing Black Ribbon from Door (uncredited)