Miracles for Sale

1939
Approved
1h 11m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

860

YOUR RATING

Robert Young, Henry Hull, and Florence Rice in Miracles for Sale (1939)

Retired performer Mike Morgan sells original illusions to fellow magicians, and although he believes in the supernatural, likes to expose sham psychics. This involves him in some mysterious murders.

Play trailer1:32

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16 Photos

Crime Mystery

Retired performer Mike Morgan sells original illusions to fellow magicians, and although he believes in the supernatural, likes to expose sham psychics. This involves him in some mysterious ... Read allRetired performer Mike Morgan sells original illusions to fellow magicians, and although he believes in the supernatural, likes to expose sham psychics. This involves him in some mysterious murders.Retired performer Mike Morgan sells original illusions to fellow magicians, and although he believes in the supernatural, likes to expose sham psychics. This involves him in some mysterious murders.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

860

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 1:32

Watch Official Trailer

Photos16

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
According to a book on movie makeup, this is the first known film use of contact lenses to change the color of an actor's eyes.

Goofs
One scene shows Morgan having some fun with a waiter by making sugar bowls disappear and reappear. All three times it is clearly accomplished with a camera or optical effect instead of actual slight-of-hand.

Quotes
Dad Morgan: [in his son's shop: looking at a stage prop skull which moves its jaws up and down] You must've been a woman. You know you're dead, but you're still trying to talk.

Connections
Featured in How Contact Lenses Are Made for Movies (2019)

Soundtracks
Comin' through the Rye
(uncredited)
Traditional
Lyrics from Robert Burns poem (1782]

User reviews25

Review

Featured review

Wonderful magic show courtesy of Browning the Great

I understand this was the famous Todd Browning's final film; well, he certainly picked a good one to go out on. MIRACLES FOR SALE is a murder mystery with a twist: all the suspects are either magicians or oculists. This naturally makes for a very spooky and atmospheric thriller, which is well handled by Browning and the cast. Robert Young is perfect as the glib magician hero, Florence Rice is appealing as the frightened heroine, and Frank Craven and Cliff Clark supply some hilarious dialogue. Unlike many murder mysteries of this vintage, though, MIRACLES doesn't fall into unsuspenseful slapstick by trying to ape the Thin Man films--it gets positively creepy in parts. Also refreshing is the fact that Young's character doesn't deny the existence of the supernatural: he just thinks that the murder in this case is the work of humans. As you would expect in a magician murder mystery, there are several tricks and illusions in the plot, one of which took me in completely. My brother, an amateur magician of sorts, also passed this one on the accuracy of its depiction of the magic profession. Check it out; you won't be disappointed.