{"id":5819,"date":"2008-07-31T10:02:59","date_gmt":"2008-07-31T17:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5819"},"modified":"2020-12-14T16:52:09","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T23:52:09","slug":"doctor-x-1932","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5819","title":{"rendered":"Doctor X (1932)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I tell you that locked in the human skull is a little world, all its own&#8230;&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Poster-202x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-57864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Poster-202x300.png 202w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Poster-690x1024.png 690w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Poster-86x128.png 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Poster-182x270.png 182w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Poster.png 743w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen detectives inform him that a serial killer known as the &#8220;Moon Killer&#8221; is one of the scientists working at his renowned laboratory, Dr. Xavier (Lionel Atwill) decides to conduct an experiment which will reveal the true identity of the madman. Meanwhile, an intrepid reporter (Lee Tracy) hoping for a big scoop falls in love with Dr. Xavier&#8217;s daughter (Fay Wray) while placing his own life in serious jeopardy.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Amateur Sleuths<\/li>\n<li>Fay Wray Films<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<li>Journalists<\/li>\n<li>Lionel Atwill Films<\/li>\n<li>Mad Doctors and Scientists<\/li>\n<li>Michael Curtiz Films<\/li>\n<li>Murder Mystery<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptation<\/li>\n<li>Serial Killers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs one of the first movies to be filmed in &#8220;two-strip Technicolor&#8221; &#8212; and one of Warner Brothers&#8217; earliest horror films, made in direct competition with Universal Studios&#8217; immensely popular chillers &#8212; Michael Curtiz&#8217;s <em>Doctor X<\/em> holds a special place in cinematic history. Its fame increased during the decades after its release, when only black-and-white copies were available for viewing; it wasn&#8217;t until 1973 that the original color version of <em>Doctor X<\/em> was restored. Unfortunately, the story itself hasn&#8217;t held up very well: for the most part, the dialogue and acting are both stilted and clumsy, and there are precious few genuine chills until the final 20 minutes or so (once the identity of the killer is finally revealed). Comic-relief Lee Tracy is simply annoying, and his romance with beautiful Fay Wray (who, as usual, glows on the screen) is nothing more than pure cinematic convenience. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2-1024x630.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"394\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2-1024x630.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2-1536x945.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2-439x270.png 439w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Romance2.png 1633w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With that said, Lionel Atwill (in one of his first major screen roles) is appropriately regal and mysterious as &#8220;Doctor X&#8221;; his presence, along with reasonably atmospheric set designs and cinematography, are the redeeming features of this otherwise disappointing murder mystery. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lionel Atwill as &#8220;Dr. X&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography-1024x618.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"386\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography-1024x618.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography-768x464.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography-1536x927.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography-447x270.png 447w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Cinematography.png 1675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Effectively atmospheric sets and early &#8220;two-strip&#8221; cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets-1024x624.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"390\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets-1024x624.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets-768x468.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets-1536x937.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets-443x270.png 443w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Sets.png 1671w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The climactic sequences<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax-1024x639.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"399\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax-1024x639.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax-768x479.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax-1536x958.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax-433x270.png 433w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/Doctor-X-Climax.png 1631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though hardcore film buffs will likely be curious to check out the movie that eluded fans in its Technicolor iteration for so many years (now available as part of a box set of Warner Brothers&#8217; horror films called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdbeaver.com\/film\/DVDReviews25\/hollywood_legends_of_horror_collection.htm\">&#8220;Legends of Horror&#8221;<\/a>). Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0022827\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1933\/02\/18\/archives\/lionel-atwill-and-fay-wray-in-a-gruesome-narrative-about-a-mad.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moria.co.nz\/horror\/doctorx.htm\">Moria Review (spoilers alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/doctor-x\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I tell you that locked in the human skull is a little world, all its own&#8230;&#8221; Synopsis: When detectives inform him that a serial killer known as the &#8220;Moon Killer&#8221; is one of the scientists working at his renowned laboratory, Dr. Xavier (Lionel Atwill) decides to conduct an experiment which will reveal the true identity of the madman. Meanwhile, an intrepid reporter (Lee Tracy) hoping for a big scoop falls in love with Dr. Xavier&#8217;s daughter (Fay Wray) while placing&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5819\"> 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-5819","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\/5819","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=5819"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57871,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5819\/revisions\/57871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}