If you should find a cannibal is running loose among the staff of your mad scientist college, it's best to conduct an investigation yourself in your enormous emerald mansion. 1932's Doctor X presents just such an administrative problem and solution. The result is a truly fantastic early Technicolor horror film.
Dr. Xavier (Lionel Atwell) presides over the college and his daughter, Joanne, is played by the beautiful Fay Wray.
It's times like this I'm reminded Wray was not just some lucky girl who happened to be picked up by the right giant gorilla at the right time. Her expressions imply a perceptive and sensual nature. She seems innocently indignant and then just turned on by the goofy newsman who functions as the film's hero, Lee Taylor (Lee Tracy).
He's a practical joker and there are multiple scenes featuring his hand buzzer. It kind of works, though, and in fact leads to one of the best scenes in the film which begins with a shot of surprisingly effective horror and ends with a surprisingly effective payoff for Lee's penchant for practical jokes.
The film was shot in two colour Technicolor, which means everything's shades of green or red. The film has been restored thanks to the George Lucas foundation (nice to see how those Star Wars billions are being spent) and that limited colour palette looks stunning, particularly the greens.
Doctor X is available on The Criterion Channel.
X Sonnet #1745
Her castle wall was lined with secret glass.
With ev'ry step a trap, her hem was scratched.
Through darkened halls, she'd see a figure pass.
Her old and tattered drapes were crudely patched.
Explaining dolls to castle guards, she rushed.
Her words became a soup before she ate.
But soupy meals could never sate a lush.
You see, her pulpy shelves had fed her pate.
The em'rald curtains wreathed her stealthy trip.
The danger built on stones beneath her feet.
She poised the lemon rind across her lip.
The hobbled guest prefers her trick to treat.
She found a horse behind the wall at ten.
A royal crown was left where last she'd been.
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