Lo sguardo che uccide

Erich von Stroheim stars in The Mask of Diijon from 1945, directed by Lew Landers.

Diijon is a former magician who is studying the power of the mind, to the dismay of his partner and wife Victoria (Jeanne Bates). She can't find a job, and he refuses to work. When her ex-accompanist Tony (William Wright) shows up, he arranges for them to work at his club. It's a disaster, but Victoria stays on as a singer.

Thoroughly jealous of Tony, Dijjon tries a hypnosis technique out, then hypnotizes Victoria so her song will end in a spectacular manner.

Lousy cheap production but von Stroheim is always effective. And of course learning hypnosis from a book and convincing people tondo all manner of things is ridiculous.

However, as others have pointed out, the finale is not to be missed! Total genius. Splendid performance by Sheba the cat.