The Return of Doctor X (1939)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

Lee Katz (screenplay)
William J. Makin (story)

Release Date:

2 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD...TO HAUNT THE LIVING!!!

Plot:

A hotshot reporter and a young doctor team up to investigate a series of grisly murders and a mysterious sample of synthetic blood.

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Reporter | Doctor | Murder | Actress

Cast

Wayne Morris	...	Walter 'Wichita' Garrett (onscreen credit reads 'Walter Barnett')
Rosemary Lane	...	Joan Vance
Humphrey Bogart	...	Dr. Maurice Xavier, aka Marshall Quesne
Dennis Morgan	...	Dr. Mike Rhodes
John Litel	...	Dr. Francis Flegg
Lya Lys	...	Angela Merrova
Huntz Hall	...	Pinky
Charles C. Wilson	...	Detective Roy Kincaid (as Charles Wilson)
Vera Lewis	...	Miss Sweetman
Howard C. Hickman	...	Chairman (scenes deleted) (as Howard Hickman)
Olin Howland	...	Undertaker
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Guide (scenes deleted)
Cliff Saum	...	Detective Sgt. Moran
Creighton Hale	...	Hotel Manager
John Ridgely	...	Stanley Rodgers

Also Known As:

The Return of Dr. X (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15 | UK:H | USA:Approved (PCA #5541)

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

When Walter 'Wichita' Garrett reviews the press clippings, two of them refer to "Eugene Xavier", the remainder refer to "Maurice Xavier."

Quotes:

Detective Roy Kincaid: What is this Group 1, Group 4 business?
Dr. Mike Rhodes: Well, you see, medical science has discovered that human blood is divided into four different groups, #1 being the most rare and #4 the most common,. We must see to it that certain of these types are not mixed in the transfusion.
Detective Roy Kincaid: Then would you say that whoever came into Rodgers' room to kill him was looking for #1 blood?
Dr. Mike Rhodes: It's possible. That's why I think the coronor made a mistakre in his report, so do you mind if I make a test of these stains for myself?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Creature Features: The Return of Doctor X (#1.15)" (1970)

Bogie's only horror film is a hoot.

You've got to see it to believe it. Bogie in makeup looking ghostly white with a white streak in his hair, in a combination Frankenstein and vampire horror film. It actually happened, due to knuckleheads at Warner Bros. who put him in this film against his wishes. I was amused as well as amazed throughout, and enjoyed watching Bogie stroke his pet rabbit and playing it all straight. Others in the cast (Wayne Morris, Rosemary Lane and Dennis Morgan) were fine, but Bogie is the only reason to see this movie. Be prepared to shake your head in disbelief.

The movie must have gone through some heavy editing, because there were many credit errors. First, the end credits bill Wayne Morris as Walter Barnett, but he is called Walter Garrett in the movie throughout and that name is also printed in newspapers several times. Next, Charles Wilson is billed as Detective Ray Kincaid, but he is called Roy throughout. Finally, many of the actors who were supposed to be in the movie never turn up, including two who were credited onscreen - Howard Hickman and Arthur Aylesworth.