Director: Vincent Sherman
Writers: Lee Katz, William J. Makin (based on his 1938 story “The Doctor’s Secret”)
Producer: Bryan Foy
Cast: Wayne Morris, Humphrey Bogart, Dennis Morgan, Rosemary Lane, John Litel, Lya Lys, Charles Wilson, Joe Crehan, Vera Lewis, Huntz Hall, Olin Howland, Cliff Saum, Arthur Aylesworth, John Ridgely, Creighton Hale, Glen Langan, De Wolf Hopper, Howard Hickman (deleted scenes)
When newspaper reporter Walter Garrett (Wayne Morris) goes to interview stage actress Angela Merrova (Lya Lys) in her apartment, he finds her murdered body. After Garrett summons the police to the scene of the crime, Merrova’s body disappears. While Garrett tries to convince the authorities and his editor (Joe Crehan) that he truly discovered a murder, the very-much-alive Angela Merrova appears in the editor’s office. This results in Garrett being fired, though he persists in his investigations along with his friend Dr. Mike Rhodes (Dennis Morgan). Rhodes becomes interested when one of the blood donors (John Ridgely) needed for an urgent operation is found murdered. His body is in the same condition as Garrett found Merrova; bloodless and pale with a deep stab wound below the heart.
The Flashback Fanatic movie review
This movie was made two years before Humphrey Bogart would star as Sam Spade in the private-eye classic The Maltese Falcon (1941). That established Bogie as probably the most unique leading man in Hollywood and a true movie star. But in 1939, Bogart was still just a contract player for Warner Brothers and, like most, had to take the parts that were handed to him in that movie factory. He resented the film and felt it was being foisted upon him out of disrespect, but he does the role justice. If Bogart truly appreciated the horror genre, I could see him becoming another terror titan like Lugosi or Karloff. His voice and intensity would have served him well. His role in The Return of Doctor X is rather limited, yet he always makes the most of his screen time. It is not a very deep role (there are no characters in this film that have the time to reveal much depth), but he is always effective. Bogart’s distinctive voice along with his character’s pasty white pallor, the white streak in his black hair, and his limp make him a distinctive presence.
Wayne Morris, as hapless reporter Walter “Wichita” Garrett, is the person delivering all the narrative drive to this story. He is likable and determined while providing most of the film’s humor. Comedy relief is something a lot of modern film fans don’t appreciate in their horror films. I find that humor here to be enjoyable and breezy. It is not inappropriate shtick that seems out of place, as it usually results from reporter Garrett’s conflicts with others that enliven what could be perfunctory information dumps. I can’t help but admire the big lug’s boyish enthusiasm as he presses on to get his scoop and get his job back.
Future Bowery Boy Huntz Hall has a small role as Pinky, the copy boy that teases reporter Garrett in the newspaper’s “morgue.”
First-time director Vincent Sherman keeps things moving, and cameraman Syd Hickox gives the film a nice look with some well-chosen camera angles and lighting. The horror element is usually quite subdued, so some of those little touches remind us that there is some unsettling stuff going on.
Warner Brothers probably made The Return of Doctor X because Universal Pictures had just revived the dormant horror film genre with their Son of Frankenstein (1939). By comparison, this Warner Brothers B-movie seems to be a rather reluctant effort. It plays out like a light-hearted newspaper drama and crime thriller that happens to have a ghoulish villain and a potentially world shaking scientific breakthrough. This seems to indicate that Warner Brothers was not quite sure if they would embrace horror in the coming decade. Universal would go on to reclaim the horror film crown while RKO Pictures responded with their own very distinctive nine film series of fright flicks produced by Val Lewton. Despite Warner Brothers/First National contributing some of the '30s most memorable horror films earlier in the decade, such as Doctor X (1932) and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), the studio never seemed to fully engage with the genre. Like those two earlier efforts, Warner Brothers once again gives us a horror yarn that has a big city newspaper reporter as the hero.
The Return of Doctor X is an atypical curiosity. It is a film that probably disappoints many, except the eclectic horror fans that can cast aside expectations and appreciate something different. If Humphrey Bogart starring in a horror film isn’t different, I don’t know what is! It is also the horror film that boasts the most rabbit-centric action until Night of the Lepus (1972). Small wonder Warner Brothers would introduce the world to Bugs Bunny the following year. Eh—what’s up, Doctor X?
I confess that I would probably pay good money to watch Bogart sit and drink coffee for an hour. But after binging on his movies last year, I didn't come across even one that wasn't worth watching. And that includes The Return of Dr, X. This is a very cool little movie. You're right in saying it closely resembles one of the Warners lighthearted newspaper programmers that they were so good at making. Still, the creepiness is there, and I think it works very well. Mainly because of Bogart's appearance and restrained performance. It's not surprising that he didn't like the film. Just as Bette Davis hated most of the fast-moving B movies she had to play in. But they're some of the most enjoyable titles in her filmography, and the same is true for Bogart. He probably could have excelled in more horror roles, with his unconventional looks and steely-eyed stare. At least he played some very dark, disturbed characters over the course of his career. I think this film deserves more attention from genre fans.
ReplyDeleteAccording to director Sherman, even though Bogart resented being cast as the villain in a horror film, he was still a true professional and delivered what the role required. While Bogie paid his B-movie dues until his A-list heyday, he provided us horror buffs with a creepy casting curio in a light entertainment. There are far worse ways to spend an hour.
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