{"id":11743,"date":"2010-07-24T13:02:10","date_gmt":"2010-07-24T20:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11743"},"modified":"2021-01-19T14:34:42","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T21:34:42","slug":"devil-doll-the-1936","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11743","title":{"rendered":"Devil Doll, The (1936)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;We&#8217;ll make the whole world SMALL!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Devil-Doll-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Devil-Doll-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-31976\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Devil-Doll-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Devil-Doll-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Devil-Doll-Poster-672x1024.jpg 672w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Devil-Doll-Poster.jpg 1930w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA falsely accused convict on the lam (Lionel Barrymore) collaborates with a mad scientist (Rafaela Ottiano) in using miniature &#8220;live&#8221; dolls to seek revenge on his three ex-partners.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Erich von Stroheim Films<\/li>\n<li>Falsely Accused<\/li>\n<li>Fugitives<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<li>Lionel Barrymore Films<\/li>\n<li>Mad Doctors and Scientists<\/li>\n<li>Maureen O&#8217;Sullivan Films<\/li>\n<li>Mind Control and Hypnosis<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken or Hidden Identities<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<li>Tod Browning Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nIn his brief review of this &#8220;unsettling&#8221; horror flick &#8212; directed by Tod Browning and co-written by Erich von Stroheim &#8212; Peary notes that the special effects are &#8220;good&#8221;, pointing out that when Barrymore uses mind control to send the &#8220;doll people&#8221; (Grace Ford and Paul Foltz) to &#8220;sneak through [the] houses [of his ex-partners], they&#8217;re like wily rodents or insects on the loose &#8212; they&#8217;ll give you chills&#8221;. I would argue that the effects are more than merely &#8220;good&#8221;: they&#8217;re actually quite impressive, given that the miniaturized humans blend seamlessly into their life-sized surroundings, through the creative used of both <a href=\"http:\/\/entertainment.howstuffworks.com\/blue-screen2.htm\">travelling mattes<\/a> and over-sized sets. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime-1024x773.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime-358x270.png 358w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-Crime.png 1355w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary also neglects to mention in his review how effective Barrymore is in the plum central role, as a righteously vengeful fugitive who spends most of his screen time in convincing cross-dress as &#8220;Madame Manderlip&#8221;; to that end, the make-up department on the film set deserves special mention as well. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3-1024x785.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"491\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3-1024x785.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3-300x230.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3-768x589.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3-352x270.png 352w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore3.png 1361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Also memorable (if a tad one-note in her performance) is &#8220;crazed&#8221; Ottiano, with a wild streak of white running through her hair, reminiscent of Elsa Lanchester&#8217;s iconic &#8220;bride of Frankenstein&#8221;. Her presence here is refreshing simply as one of cinema&#8217;s few <em>female<\/em> &#8220;mad scientists&#8221; &#8212; and her obsession with making <u>all<\/u> living creatures tiny borders on ludicrously campy, allowing for a surprising twist of tension in the final act of the film. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana-1024x778.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana-1024x778.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana-355x270.png 355w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Ottiana.png 1373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While the narrative gets bogged down occasionally by a sappy, Stella Dallas-esque backstory involving Barrymore&#8217;s attempts to befriend his estranged adult daughter (Maureen O&#8217;Sullivan): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2-1024x777.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2-1024x777.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2-356x270.png 356w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-OSullivan2.png 1361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230;there are enough surreal, chilling elements throughout this memorable film to make it a minor cult classic. Film fanatics should take note that several of the story&#8217;s central elements are evident in both Browning and von Stroheim&#8217;s earlier efforts: Browning&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1880\"><em>The Unholy Three<\/em> (1925)<\/a> featured Lon Chaney in drag as a wily old woman, for instance, while von Stroheim&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8436\"><em>The Great Gabbo<\/em> (1929)<\/a> dealt with a human-like ventriloquist&#8217;s doll. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lionel Barrymore as Paul Lavond\/Madame Manderlip<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond-1024x778.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond-1024x778.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond-356x270.png 356w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Lavond.png 1363w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5-1024x770.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5-1024x770.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Barrymore5.png 1363w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Impressive special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-1024x776.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"485\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-1024x776.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-768x582.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll-356x270.png 356w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Devil-Doll-Doll.png 1363w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an enjoyable cult horror classic. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Classic<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0027521\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1936\/08\/08\/archives\/hollywood-opens-its-bag-of-tricks-for-the-capitols-the-devil-doll.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2123horr.html\">DVD Savant Review (scroll down)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/devil-doll-1936.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/3340\/the-devil-doll#articles-reviews?articleId=36829\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/65371\/the_devil-doll.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll make the whole world SMALL!&#8221; Synopsis: A falsely accused convict on the lam (Lionel Barrymore) collaborates with a mad scientist (Rafaela Ottiano) in using miniature &#8220;live&#8221; dolls to seek revenge on his three ex-partners. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Erich von Stroheim Films Falsely Accused Fugitives Horror Lionel Barrymore Films Mad Doctors and Scientists Maureen O&#8217;Sullivan Films Mind Control and Hypnosis Mistaken or Hidden Identities Revenge Tod Browning Films Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: In his brief review of this&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11743\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11743"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64495,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11743\/revisions\/64495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}