Pillow of Death is a 1945 film noir mystery horror film directed by Wallace Fox and starring Lon Chaney, Jr. and Brenda Joyce. The last of the Inner Sanctum mystery films, it is based on a story by Dwight V. Babcock. The "Inner Sanctum" franchise originated with a popular radio series and all of the films star Lon Chaney, Jr. It was the only entry in the series to dispense with the introduction by a disembodied head in a crystal ball, as well as the only one to feature comic-relief characters to alleviate the grim tone. Plot summary Attorney Wayne Fletcher (Chaney, Jr.) intends to divorce his wife and marry his secretary (Joyce), who comes from a wealthy family. When the wife is found suffocated to death, he naturally becomes the suspect. As others are killed in the same manner and a phony medium (Bromberg) also claims Fletcher is guilty, Fletcher begins to imagine his dead wife is communicating with him, making it even more difficult for him to prove his innocence. Cast Lon Chaney, Jr. as Wayne Fletcher (billed as Lon Chaney) Brenda Joyce as Donna Kincaid J. Edward Bromberg as Julian Julian Rosalind Ivan as Amelia Kincaid Clara Blandick as Belle Kincaid George Cleveland as Sam Kincaid Wilton Graff as Cap'n McCracken Bernard Thomas as Bruce Malone (billed as Bernard B. Thomas) References External links Review of film at Variety 1945 films 1945 crime films 1945 mystery films American black-and-white films Films based on radio series Films directed by Wallace Fox Universal Pictures films 1945 horror films American crime films Film noir 1940s American films