The Miracle Man (1932) Film Review - Cinecon 45 Screening

Plot Summary - POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD - - Pre-code drama about four con artists who join forces to pull con games on the streets to get people to hand over their money - John Madison (Chester Morris), his girlfriend/bad girl Helen (Sylvia Sidney), wisecracking, deadpan Harry (Ned Sparks), and The Frog (John Wray), who twists his body up Lon Chaney style to pose as a leg-dragging, deformed cripple. John must get out of town after pushing Boris Karloff over a stairwell - soon he's arrived in the small town of Meadville (reminded me of Peyton Place), where dwells "the Patriarch" (Hobart Bosworth), a faith healer with many local followers, especially the owner of the hotel where John has checked in. John makes plans for an elaborate scheme to rook dough out of the believers - and recruits his con gang to come to town to help pull it off. Helen arrives in town posing as the Patriarch's long unseen, innocent "grand-niece" (to pull off the deception she has to wipe off her heavy makeup, and boyfriend John says "now you look like you've never even seen a gin bottle" - hehe). She easily fools the Godly old Patriarch and moves in with him. Ned Sparks arrives sporting a fake cough - and The Frog drags himself to town too, both of them with plans to be "healed" by the Patriarch, then get money out of the suckers for a fake chapel. But when they arrive before the Patriarch to be healed, others arrive too - with real ailments - and a wheelchair-bound woman as well as a crippled little boy are both actually healed. Some of the con quartet begin to gradually become charmed by the town, the people, and the spirit of the Patriarch and change their evil ways.

Review - This is an excellent, moving film - it is set in a nice, small town, peaceful setting and was shown with a very good-looking print. I think Hobart Bosworth had some fun with his hoked-up part - I love him! Sylvia Sidney gives a very well done, memorable performance here - her face is so expressive. Robert Coogan, slightly plumpish younger brother of Jackie Coogan, plays the crippled lad - he's okay, though lacks the real charm that Jackie displayed on-screen. John Wray as The Frog - great job. Ned Sparks - gotta love him! Rating - 9/10 stars