The Crystal Ball
Performance & Direction: The Crystal Ball Review
Last updated: January 29, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Crystal Ball (1943) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Crystal Ball features a noteworthy lineup led by Paulette Goddard . Supported by the likes of Ray Milland and Gladys George , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Crystal Ball
Quick Plot Summary: The Crystal Ball is a Comedy, Romance film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: The Crystal Ball
Ending Breakdown: The Crystal Ball attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Crystal Ball reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Crystal Ball?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Comedy films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Top Cast: The Crystal Ball
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The Crystal Ball Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Shout! Factory Amazon Channel🎟️ Rent on
Amazon Video🏷️ Buy on
Amazon VideoThe Crystal Ball Parents Guide & Age Rating
1943 AdvisoryWondering about The Crystal Ball age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Crystal Ball is 81 minutes (1h 21m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.8/10, and global performance metrics, The Crystal Ball is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1943 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Crystal Ball worth watching?
The Crystal Ball is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 5.8/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Crystal Ball parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Crystal Ball identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Crystal Ball?
The total duration of The Crystal Ball is 81 minutes, which is approximately 1h 21m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Crystal Ball
Paulette Goddard is good in this daft mystic caper. Down on her luck, she arrives in New York with just 38 cents. She decides to learn her future by consulting the fortune-telling "Madame Zenobia" (Gladys George) who is quite clearly making it all up as she goes along; but on discovering that "Toni" is quite a decent sort, gives her a job trying to lure some more gullible folks to her booth. Meantime, another of her suppliers manages to send her the wealthy "Mrs. Ainsley" (Virginia Field) who is on the lookout for a missing emerald ring which low and behold the medium tells her to look for in the bathroom drain pipe... When "Zenobia" has a slight mishap, "Toni" takes her place and also sets her sights on Ray Milland - the dapper "Brad" who is the lawyer and would-be beau of the wealthy woman. Add to this a dodgy property scam and we have quite a fun mix of stories that allows Milland and the three quite characterful women to do their jobs quite well. Sadly, the humour is very predictable and the dialogue a bit too lightweight to sustain much interest once the original scenario thins out, but it is still a workmanlike vehicle for the stars that is enjoyable enough.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
