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Actors: Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Lee Tracy
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Doctor X (1932) |
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A deformed madman is killing people on the streets of New York. The police suspect it's a doctor from the Academy of Surgical Research becuase the victims are cut open with a scalpel used only at that academy.
To spare the academy's reputation, the head doctor, Jerry Xavier, convinces the police to let him conduct his own investigation. Xavier hides all of the doctors away from the cops and a nosey reporter at a remote mansion. He hooks them all up to a crude lie detector and re-enacts the murders to see which doctor's vital signs respond. During the experiment the lights go out and one of the doctors are killed.
The only doctor not to be a suspect is Dr. Wells, because he only has one hand. However, while all the other doctors are handcuffed to their chairs Dr. Wells uses synthetic material to construct a new hand, uses electricity to bring it to life and covers his face in synthetic paste. Dr. Wells attacks Dr. Xavier's daughter, Joan.
Lee, a reporter, had snuck into the mansion to get a story. He tackles and fights with Wells, allowing Joan to get away. He then hits Wells with a kerosene lamp, starting him on fire and pushes him out a window where falls to his death.
--Brandon Swenson, Resident Scholar
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DOCTOR X is a movie in "glorious Technicolor" directed by Michael Curtiz in 1932.
NYC. Six murders in six months, always when it's full moon. Now, the police is sure that the killer hides in the Medical Research Institute of Dr. Xavier. Lee, a journalist, manages to enter the mansion in Long Island where Dr. Xavier is questioning his associates. Is it possible that, amidst these scientists, there is a madman ?
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Doctor X (1932) |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Horror film?
Yes
Horror Plotlets:
- mad guy with knife likes to slice
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- doctor
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
- irritated
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- very skinny (man)
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- doctor
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- super strength
Eccentric:
Yes
- mentally ill
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Genius
Physique
- average physique
- missing body parts/abilities
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
- scientific labs
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- non-gory references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- challenged
- concerned
How many deaths in film?
- 3-4
- 4-8
Kind of violence:
- hand to hand
- knives
Unusual forms of death
- asphyxiation
- dropped from large heights
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Lot of special effects?
Yes
Kinds of F/X
- nasty human transformations
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- play
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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