"The Great Merlini" was not only one of the best fictional detectives of modern times, he was a top class magician, who specialized in locked-room mysteries, the gold standard of the detective story.
Created by magician and publishing executive Clayton Rawson, two of the four Merlini novels were made into entertaining films - like the one we've tracked down for your viewing pleasure this week, called Miracles for Sale. Its original title was Death from a Top Hat.
Made in 1939, starring Robert Young as Merlini - whose name is changed to Morgan, probably so it wouldn't evoke Mussolini - it features a unique stage illusion right at the top: a beautiful woman sawed in half with a machine gun!
[The only version we could locate has French subtitles, so you can also use this for language training, no extra charge.]
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