The Devil-Doll (1936)
Genre: Scifi / Horror
Duration: 79 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Tod Browning
Stars: Lionel Barrymore, Maureen O'Sullivan and Frank Lawton
IMDb score:
7,0 (5.468)
Releasedate: 10 July 1936
The Devil-Doll plot
"Greater Than "The Unholy Three""
Paul Lavond, a Parisian banker, falls into a trap set by his colleagues and is wrongfully imprisoned in Devil's Island, a prison. Here he comes into contact with a strange scientist, who has devised a technique for turning people into miniatures. Years later they manage to escape and Lavond returns to Paris. With the newly acquired knowledge, he takes revenge on the people who ruined his life.
Actors and actresses
Paul Lavond
Lorraine Lavond
Toto
Malita
Emil Coulvet
Madame Lavond
Marcel
Lachna
Charles Martin
Victor Radin
Reviews & comments
Movsin
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- 8286 messages
- 8441 votes
With "The Unknown" and "Freaks" I already saw 2 excellent Tod Brownings and once again the man made a quite enjoyable film with this "The Devil-Doll".
Lionel Barrymore of course steals the show in this film, which is certainly not too bad because of the scenes with the miniatures. A bit uncomfortable and funny at the same time.
"Jane" Maureen O'Sullivan only has a smaller role, although it is to make her reparation in the story.
Successful light horror film.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Collins
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- 7346 messages
- 4345 votes
The penultimate film by Dracula director Tod Browning is a revenge film that has been enhanced with some fairytale elements. Not a special film. The special effects (certainly set in time) are particularly successful. The story is not very interesting. The film really relies on some striking scenes.
The film tells an unexciting story about an escaped prisoner who has been wrongfully imprisoned and is seeking revenge. His revenge takes shape with the help of a ridiculous cross-dressing act and a technique that shrinks living beings, invented by a crazy professor. An unconventional story. That's for sure. However, it didn't bother me much. The scenes that make you stand up are the scenes with the miniaturized living creatures. They are used as a means of revenge. The way they move through beautifully crafted sets with specially manufactured large furniture is impressive.
Lionel Barrymore plays the avenger. A man who is consumed by feelings of revenge, but nevertheless manages to appear human and sympathetic. There is a click with the viewer. I found his cross-dressing act less convincing. There the film loses a large part of my sympathetic experience. The film does not rely on the other characters. Besides the protagonist, they are rather pale. There was not much pleasure to be derived from them. The Devil-Doll is simply a film where you always eagerly await the special effects. The rest is not very interesting.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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