Customer Reviews

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Warner Bros. Pictures presents "THE AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE" (1938) (87 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Starring Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor, Humphrey Bogart, Allen Jenkins, Donald Crisp, Gale Page & Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom

Directed by Anatole Litvak

Dr. Clitterhouse (Robinson) works his way into the mob earning everyone's trust even though they find the "professor" a little eccentric. All that is except Humphrey Bogart who resents his presence. Bogie as a vicious type who hates seeing how effortlessly the brilliant Clitterhouse (Robinson) takes leadership of his gang away from him. Bogie's character keeps looking for his opportunities, and even tries to freeze the doctor to death (leading to a powerful moment on the film when a furious Rosenbloom almost pounds him in retaliation).

It's Bogart vs Robinson. Who wins? Can't squeal on this caper, just watch and enjoy the movie and you'll see. This was before Bogie was a headliner and it's fun to see how he was developing his on screen persona. If you're a Bogie and Eddie G. fan, you'll love this one.

BIOS:
1 Anatole Litvak [Director]
Date of Birth: 10 May 1902 - Kiev, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
Date of Death: 15 December 1974 - Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, Īle-de-France, France

2. Edward G. Robinson [aka: Emmanuel Goldenberg]
Date of Birth: 12 December 1893 - Bucharest, Romania
Date of Death: 26 January 1973 - Hollywood, California

3. Humphrey Bogart
Date of Birth: 25 December 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 14 January 1957 - Los Angeles, California

4. Claire Trevor [aka: Claire Wemlinger]
Date of Birth: 8 March 1910 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 8 April 2000 - Newport Beach, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 87 min on DVD ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (07/18/2006)

This Broadway hit was purchased by Warners and Edward G. Robinson replaced Sir Cedric Hardwicke in the title role. All players seem to be having a good time and this is truly an out-of-the-ordinary crime drama. The scene where Detective Johnson is questioned by Dr. Clitterhouse is a gem. Supporting player Humphrey Bogart never cared for this film much, though. Perhaps that's why he always referred to it as "The Amazing Dr. Clitoris". Judge for yourself, since it's a fun way to spend 90 minutes.

"The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse", based on a London west end play, is an unusual Warner Brother's release of 1938, starring the great Edward G. Robinson as a surgeon with an intense interest in criminology. To assist his research, he infiltrates a crime ring. The film traces his switch from a pillar of society to a criminal up for conviction, but always retaining his cultured demeanour. It is full of unexpected twists capped by a terrific ending. Humphrey Bogart is on hand as a particularly dense and vicious hood and the brittle attractive Claire Trevor as his partner. The direction by Anatole Litvak is much smoother than the regular fast shooting Warner's style and Robinson, in particular, creates an ambiguous character who may in fact be insane.

The print of the film is excellent and there is the usual generous array of extras which we have come to expect from these Warner's releases. The commentary is shared between the often irritating Drew Casper of the breathless delivery and the erudite Richard Jewel of the unfortunate nasal drawl. Their content balances each other well even if the aural experience is unfortunate! The most interesting aspect of the commentary is the information about how the film overcame the rules of the censors. The original trailer is included as well as another for a lesser Warner's film "Racket Busters" which promises a much more exciting film than in fact was produced - good marketing. The newsreel is about G Men and the short film is one in a series on true adventures. They are OK. A bizarre musical short parades a series of children singing and dancing in a toy nightclub. You have to like kid performers to cope with this one though some of the tappers are very good. The quality of the sound and picture is poor. There are 2 radio versions of the film but I find these tedious. The obligatory cartoon is also OK.

The DVD is best value if purchased as part of the Warner's Gangster Collection Volume 4.

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse is a fascinating study of crime. Edward G. Robinson (Little Caesar, Hole In The Head, A Boy Ten Feet Tall, etc.) plays Dr. Clitterhouse, a society surgeon who embarks on a life of crime - as an experiment. He hopes to prove his theory about criminal behavior changing the personality of the criminal.
The first part of the film is a bit on the lighter side as the doctor swipes jewels and easily evades police. He eventually leads a band of thieves (formerly led by Humphrey Bogart, who gets noticeably resentful) on bigger and bigger heists. Claire Trevor (Stagecoach, Key Largo, The High and The Mighty, etc.) is their fence. Unfortunately the plot drags a bit in the middle when it's unclear how serious to take it. But it becomes more fascinating as he follows through with his criminal experiences further than you might imagine, follows through to the penultimate experience - and, intelligently, follows through with the consequences as well.
The fine supporting cast includes Donald Crisp (A Dog of Flanders, Whispering Smith, National Velvet, etc.), Allen Jenkins (Five Came Back), Max Rosenbloom (The Boogeyman Will Get You), Ward Bond (The Searchers), John Litel (who appeared in 170 films including Nancy Drew, Reporter, Houseboat, Pocketful of Miracles, etc.) and others.
Recommended if you're interested in crime (e.g. Columbo) or an old movie buff.

"The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse" is an offbeat drama with a very solid cast, whose main players would reunite 10 years later in the screen classic "Key Largo".

The venerable Edward G. Robinson well known for his tough mobster roles plays Dr. T.J. Clitterhouse an eminent and sophisticated physician. His upper crust clientele gains him entrance into the highest society functions. Unfortunately, Robinson has been using his celebrity to engineer several successful jewel heists in the guise of using the experience to do medical research on the workings of the criminal mind.

One of Robinson's patients, the police chief, played by Donald Crisp inadverantly reveals the identity and wherabouts of the largest fence in the area, where Robinson might sell the jewels. Robinson, takes his advice but is startled when the fence turns out to be a woman, actress Claire Trevor. Trevor is in cahoots with a criminal mob headed by a paranoid and vicious Humphrey Bogart playing "Rocks" Valentine. Robinson soon assumes control of the mob from Bogart using them to mastermind further robberies, performing medical tests on them while they're commiting the crimes to further his research. All doesn't necessarily end well in this screwball drama.

Anatole Litvak adroitly directed an outstanding cast in this far fetched drama. The terrific cast includes excellent character actors such as Ward Bond, Thurston Hall, famous as bank boss Mr. Schuyler in the TV show Topper and boxer Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom.

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse is a good movie showcaseing Bogies talent even though the script and plot for the movie is not the greatest but none the less a great 87 mins of bogart and edward g. Robinson show caseing their talents Robinson plays Dr. Clitterhouse as a doctor eager to study the physical and mental states of lawbreakers(suspenseful charater)!!Bogarts plays Rocks Valentine a gang memberThis movie also stars Claire Trevor as Jo Keller as the leader of a gang of safecrakers.Now the storylineClitterhouse is a overzealous psychologist who joins a small time safecracking gang(bogart is in it!!!!) who takes the gang members and take their blood and examins it to furgure out what makes a criminal do criminal things!!!!!Overall this is a good movie because of two main elements the first which is edward g. Robinson plays the overzealous doctor who joins a gang for medical purposes!And 2nd element is bogart playing his usual pre- maltese falcon gangstergood movie to see great movie to own to complete your collection of bogart or robinson4 of 5 starsI hope you like the movie

I saw this movie on TV almost ten years ago. When I went to look for purchase, no luck. Every now and again, I would--well, here it is. Edward G. Robinson is fantastic in a milder role where he isn't as bad as BOGART, leader of a rough gangster group. In fact, Robinson plays a medical doctor taking an interest in crime's effect on the human condition. Great story, wonderful character interaction--tension. This is the type of movie that cries to be seen over and over because of its subtle messages on society, law, and the psyche. Enjoy!

Director Anatole Litwak took quite a chance in 1939 with THE AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE. He reunited such stars as Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart, who had squared off only three years earlier in THE BATTLING BELLHOP. Bogart, as usual, plays the back-stabbing criminal who sees the world only in terms of how it may enrich him. The real star, however, is Robinson, who goes against type as the suave and urbane surgeon who decides that the origins of crime are biological, rather than sociological. As Doctor Clitterhouse, Robinson is successful and widely admired, yet he feels that despite his stature as a respected high class physician, there is something missing from his life. That missing something is his contribution to the then ongoing controversy about the origin of crime. To Clitterhouse, crime is organic and its effects on the human body are quantifiable and measurable. He intends to prove to the world that, beyond doubt, criminals are born, not made. He joins a mob of thiefs led, improbably enough by Claire Trevor, who later develops feelings for him, much to the chagrin of Bogart, who has eyes for her himself. Clitterhouse leads the gang into several highly successful robberies, and at each step of the way, he examines each thief for variations in organic responses to light, heat, sound, and stress. The movie slows a bit in the second half when Trevor and Robinson reach out for a romance that goes nowhere. The ending, which places Clitterhouse in a trial, is both funny and on point. Throughout the movie, Clitterhouse is a doctor driven to prove his point that crime is organically based. The ending allows the film to shift focus to the question as to whether Clitterhouse had things wrong after all. The ending implies that a criminal's mental state of mind ought somehow factor not only into the origin of crime, but its punishment as well. Clitterhouse's reaction to the jury's verdict ironically implies that a many-layered blanket of origin versus punishment can never be neatly decided by any jury. At the end, even Clitterhouse realizes that.

I ordered this for my co-worker. He is satisfied and very happy with the movie.

Edward G. Robinson stars as Dr. Clitterhouse, a man fascinated by criminals and what makes them tick. In the name of science, he pulls of a series of heists, observing his accomplices in action and then later checking their vital signs, etc to determine the effect that crime has on men. A suspicious Humphrey Bogart leads the accomplices, while Claire Trevor as the fence, and Gale Page as his nurse, are the women who worry about him. The story is pretty unbelievable but it maintains interest, and the performers are good, especially Robinson. It's not a bad movie, but it's not likely the film that you'll remember Robinson, Bogart, or Trevor for.