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The Devil-Doll

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6.8/10 • 115

1936-07-101h 18m

HorrorScience Fiction

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.

Directors
Tod Browning
Editors
Fredrick Y. Smith

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Lionel Barrymore

    Lionel Barrymore

    Paul Lavond

  2. Maureen O'Sullivan

    Maureen O'Sullivan

    Lorraine Lavond

  3. Frank Lawton

    Frank Lawton

    Toto

  4. Rafaela Ottiano

    Rafaela Ottiano

    Malita

  5. Robert Greig

    Robert Greig

    Emil Coulvet

  6. Lucy Beaumont

    Lucy Beaumont

    Madame Lavond

  7. Henry B. Walthall

    Henry B. Walthall

    Marcel

  8. Grace Ford

    Grace Ford

    Lachna

  9. Pedro de Cordoba

    Pedro de Cordoba

    Charles Martin

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Mar 18, 2019

7/10

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

Media

  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster
  • The Devil-Doll poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
revengescientistcriminalminiature peopleshrunken human