The Mystic | |
---|---|
![]() Lobby card | |
Directed by | Tod Browning |
Written by | Tod Browning Waldemar Young |
Produced by | Louis B. Mayer Irving Thalberg |
Starring | Aileen Pringle Conway Tearle |
Cinematography | Ira H. Morgan |
Edited by | Frank Sullivan |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 70 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent with English intertitles |
The Mystic is a 1925 American MGMsilentdrama film directed byTod Browning, who later directed MGM'sFreaks (1932). It was co-written by Browning andWaldemar Young, writing a similar storyline to their earlier 1925 hit filmThe Unholy Three. Browning was unable however to hire his favorite starLon Chaney this time around, andThe Mystic wound up a little-known film with a cast of now-forgotten names.[1]Aileen Pringle's gowns in the film were by already famousRomain de Tirtoff (known as Erté).[2]A print of the film exists.[3]
As described in a film magazine reviews,[4] Zara is a gypsy rogue who joins with confederate Zazarack to aid Michael Nash, the crooked guardian of heiress Doris Merrick, to gain control of her estate by way of fakeseances. Jimmie Barton with the aid of Zara and her gypsies succeeds in swindling the Wall Street financier out of his fortune. Jimmie tries to tell Zara that he loves her. In a fight with her confederates, he proves his love for her. Zara and her band are captured by the police, and Jimmie escapes with the loot. Zara’s suitor tries to get her to marry him, but seeing the hopelessness of his cause, he notifies Jimmie. They are reconciled after Jimmie returns the stolen money.
After years of being a VHS exclusive,The Criterion Collection announced a Blu-Ray set that also includesFreaks andThe Unknown released on October 17, 2023.[5][6]