HorrorScience Fiction

The Devil-Doll

- Greater Than "The Unholy Three"

Wrongfully convicted of a robbery and murder, Paul Lavond breaks out of prison with a genius scientist who has devised a way to shrink humans. When the scientist dies during the escape, Lavond heads for his lab, using the shrinking technology to get even with those who framed him and vindicate himself in both the public eye and the eyes of his daughter, Lorraine. When an accident leaves a crazed assistant dead, however, Lavond must again make an escape.

Release Date : 1936-07-10

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Paul Lavond

Original Name : Lionel Barrymore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lorraine Lavond

Original Name : Maureen O'Sullivan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Toto

Original Name : Frank Lawton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Malita

Original Name : Rafaela Ottiano

Gender : Female

Character Name : Emil Coulvet

Original Name : Robert Greig

Gender : Male

Character Name : Madame Lavond

Original Name : Lucy Beaumont

Gender : Female

Character Name : Marcel

Original Name : Henry B. Walthall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lachna

Original Name : Grace Ford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charles Martin

Original Name : Pedro de Cordoba

Gender : Male

Character Name : Victor Radin

Original Name : Arthur Hohl

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marguerite Coulvet

Original Name : Juanita Quigley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mme. Coulvet

Original Name : Claire Du Brey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Detective

Original Name : Rollo Lloyd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Commissioner

Original Name : E. Alyn Warren

Gender : Male

Character Name : Apache Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Jean Alden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective Pierre (uncredited)

Original Name : King Baggot

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Egon Brecher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Du Couedic

Gender : Male

Character Name : Apache Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Foltz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Christian J. Frank

Gender : Male

Character Name : Matin's Butler (uncredited)

Original Name : Billy Gilbert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gendarme (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Graves

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Sherry Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Mahlon Hamilton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gendarme (uncredited)

Original Name : Sydney Jarvis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gendarme (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Keane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eiffel Tower Elevator Operator (uncredited)

Original Name : Gus Leonard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Off-Screen Voice (voice / uncredited)

Original Name : Wilfred Lucas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Laundry Supervisor (uncredited)

Original Name : Eily Malyon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Reicher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Flower Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Evelyn Selbie

Gender : Female

Character Name : Police Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : Nick Thompson

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Browning's creepy miniatures. Paul Lavond is a wrongly convicted prisoner serving his time on the hellish Devil's Island. Engineering an escape with loopy scientist, Marcel, they take refuge at Marcel's old laboratory. Here Lavond finds to his initial horror just how brilliant Marcel's work is, he has invented a serum that can turn any living being into a miniature of itself. Upon learning of the formula, and disguising himself as an old woman, Lavond plans to wreak horrific revenge on those who framed him and sent him to prison. It's not very often that I actually wish myself to be older than I am, but this is one such case, I can't believe I wouldn't have been terrified back in 1936 as Todd Browning's little people went out bidding Lionel Barrymore's vengeful work! Now of course the picture looks wearily hokey, but as hokey films go, this is up with the best of them. The special effects stand up to repeat viewings even in this day and age of overkilled S/E purely for ticket selling purposes, with the over-sized sets and props of the trade expertly realised. Barrymore has a great time and entertains fully from first shot till last, with great support coming from the gorgeous Maureen O'Sullivan and a gruff Robert Greig. Adapted from Abraham Merritt's novel called Burn Witch Burn! (co screenplay credit to Erich von Stroheim no less!), it's actually cinematographer Leonard Smith who deserves the biggest pat on the back. Capturing the fantastical nature of the piece perfectly, it's really only now with crisper DVD (etc) transfers available that we can see just what a difference a great cinematographer can make to films in need of atmospheric touches. Still wish I could have seen this on a big old creaky screen in 1936 though! 7.5/10