{"id":32640,"date":"2013-10-17T10:25:38","date_gmt":"2013-10-17T17:25:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32640"},"modified":"2020-11-29T12:05:18","modified_gmt":"2020-11-29T19:05:18","slug":"devil-commands-the-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32640","title":{"rendered":"Devil Commands, The (1941)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Your mother is not dead &#8211; not really. She&#8217;s come back to me!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Poster-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-32642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Poster-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Poster-674x1024.jpg 674w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Poster.jpg 1965w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA scientist (Boris Karloff) mourning the loss of his beloved wife (Shirley Warde) enlists the help of a corrupt &#8220;medium&#8221; (Anne Revere) in making contact with Warde through brainwave technology.\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>Boris Karloff Films<\/li>\n<li>Edward Dmytryk Films<\/li>\n<li>Life After Death<\/li>\n<li>Mad Doctors and Scientists<\/li>\n<li>Obsessive Love<\/li>\n<li>Widows and Widowers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nBoris Karloff starred in numerous B-level &#8220;mad doctor&#8221; flicks during the 1930s\/1940s, five of which are listed in <em>GFTFF<\/em> (see <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=30662\">here<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=25549\">here<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=25594\">here<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3125\">here<\/a> for my other reviews). This title &#8212; part of a five-film &#8220;Karloff series&#8221; produced by Columbia Pictures &#8212; is, comparatively speaking, one of the best, thanks to a compelling rationale behind Karloff&#8217;s obsessive quest: his love for his dead wife (convincingly played by Shirley Warde in just a few minutes of early screentime). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Warde.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Warde.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Warde.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Warde-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Warde-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Warde-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Also lifting the film a notch above average is a strong performance by Anne Revere, playing a quietly psychopathic &#8220;medium&#8221; whose love of money overrides all other concerns, even her own safety. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere3.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere3-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere3-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere3-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other elements of the quickie screenplay (just over an hour long) feel somewhat conventional, but there&#8217;s certainly enough here &#8212; including a typically committed performance by Karloff:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Karloff.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Karloff.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55674\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Karloff.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Karloff-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Karloff-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Karloff-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and atmospheric cinematography &#8212; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-32644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography1.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography1-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; to recommend this one for fans of the genre. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anne Revere as Blanche Walters<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-32643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Revere-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-32645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography2.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-32646\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography3.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography3-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Devil-Commands-Cinematography3-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s certainly recommended for Karloff fans. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0033530\/\">IMDb entry<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1941\/02\/14\/archives\/at-the-rialto.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s904devil.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2014\/11\/17\/the-devil-commands-1941\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/london\/film\/the-devil-commands\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Your mother is not dead &#8211; not really. She&#8217;s come back to me!&#8221; Synopsis: A scientist (Boris Karloff) mourning the loss of his beloved wife (Shirley Warde) enlists the help of a corrupt &#8220;medium&#8221; (Anne Revere) in making contact with Warde through brainwave technology. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Boris Karloff Films Edward Dmytryk Films Life After Death Mad Doctors and Scientists Obsessive Love Widows and Widowers Review: Boris Karloff starred in numerous B-level &#8220;mad doctor&#8221; flicks during the 1930s\/1940s,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32640\"> 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":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32640","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=32640"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55676,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32640\/revisions\/55676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}