Customer Reviews

Devil Doll [VHS]

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

 

 

Lionel Barrymore mightily chews up the scenery in this silly horror movie about a unjustly jailed man who, upon getting paroled, seeks revenge on the crooked businessmen who brought his downfall. There are a few gimmicks here: one is his method of revenge... Using a stolen formula that allows him to shrink humans down to puppet size and control them with his mind (FDA approval pending), Barrymore sends his shrunken zombies out to murder and torment his enemies. The second gimmick is that he uses a false identity as a cover so that he can carry out these nefarious deeds, and his new identity is as an elderly woman who runs a dollmaking shop... a big chance for Barrymore to ham it up in drag. Maureen O'Sullivan plays the daughter who doesn't suspect a thing... The movie is fun in an after-school creature feature kind of way... The revenge plot is ridiculously over-complicated, but hey, I'm sure no one intended this film to be taken as high art. Nice light entertainment, very cool special effects for the 1930s.

MGM, the studio with "more stars than there are in heaven" and the epitome of glamour and style in the golden years of Hollywood's heyday is not normally the studio one associates with the horror movie genre. In "The Devil Doll", however we have one of their biggest male stars (Lionel Barrymore) in a piece of very offbeat casting in a highly original story. It is of great interest to not only old style horror movie lovers but also to those intrigued by the innovative (for the time) special effects employed in this macabre little tale.

A product of the genius of Tod Browning who was responsible for the classic "Dracula", starring Bela Lugosi, "The Devil Doll", was based on a quite startling (for the time), novel titled "Burn, Witch Burn". In it's transfer to the screen it acquired quite a distinguished pedigree as it boasts a screenplay that was partially adapted by the one and only Erich Von Stroheim. It tells the strange story of Paul Lavond, (Barrymore) an escaped convict who was wrongly sent to prison after being framed by his business collegues. Escaping with him is a unbalanced scientist called Marcel (Henry B. Walthall) who prior to his imprisonment was carrying out some very macabre experiments to do with increasing the world's food supply by shrinking animals to tiny size. His wife Malita (Rafaela Ottiano in a suitably over the top performance) has continued these experiments during his absense. Bent on revenge against the men who wrongly set him up, Paul after Marcel's death, takes over the secret formula that Marcel now has used on a poor retarded girl which has shrunk her to miniature size. The formula not only reduces the person's size but also makes them totally obedient to the wishes of those who control them and Paul sets out for Paris to seek his revenge on his former collegues using his "Devil Dolls" to carry out his dirty deeds. To escape detection Paul distuishes himself as an old woman "Madame Mandelip", and goes into a doll making business where under the guise of supposedly selling his "unique and very lifelike little creations" to the families of the guilty men he will be able to destroy them with no way of it being traced back to him. For example one of the men is stabbed by one of Madame Mandelip's little terrors and is doomed to spend the rest of his life in a paralised state. The final man in the guilty trio only saves himself by publicly admitting his guilt which clears the now murderous Paul of any blame at least for the original crime. In a subplot Paul also makes contact with his long estranged daughter Lorriane (Maureen O'Sullivan) in disguise as Madame Mandelip and learns of the hatred she feels for the father that supposedly ruined her and her mother's life. Even after being cleared of the original crime Paul doing the first honourable thing since he escaped, doesn't reveal his identity to Lorraine who has now found a decent man to start her own new life with.

What is undoubtedly the real standout in this story are the innovative special effects employed which might look very simple by today's standards but were for 1936 outstanding in their design and execution on screen. Tod Browning's use of oversized sets and props like chairs, doors and fireplaces set against normal sized humans playing shrunken creatures is stunningly achieved and it gives this whole story a very sinister and at times quite grisly aspect. The horror element of course is very tame by today's horror standards but the film is a unique achievement in the progress of horror special effects. Of course the sterling cast really help to bolster what is essentially a "B" horror tale. Lionel Barrymore has never been more strangely cast than here and his characterisation of the old woman is certainly one of MGM's odder casting efforts. He dominates the proceedings as the macabre Madame Mandelip with her sinister mission to wipe out all "her" enemies and Barrymore helps make "The Devil Doll", memorable viewing as a result. Rafaela Ottiano complete with white streak in her hair a la "Bride of Frankenstein", is wonderful also as the mad scientist who is swept along in Paul's murderous scheme for revenge. Maureen O'Sullivan in one of her numerous MGM supporting roles in the 1930's has the largely unchallenging role of Paul's bitter daughter who never does find out the real identity of the kindly Madame Mandelip.

Not to be taken too seriously Tod Browning's "The Devil Doll", makes fascinating viewing. It contains what was a very original gimmick which has been employed countless times since in various horror efforts. Here we see it in it's original form and the film really is a great curiosity piece for its special effects and unlikely performance by one of MGM's respected Barrymore clan. Come to this film prepared not to be frightened by this story and you will find it an interesting little addition to 1930's horror stories which also shows how far screen horror has come in over 60 years. Tod Browning really was a total original with his film work and as a piece of macabre cinema "The Devil Doll" has a worthy place in horror movie history.

Wonderful, amazing, the best film I have ever watch (sorry for my English). Lionel s' interpretation is apoteosic, colossal, inhumane... The argument, original, the special effects unimaginable for the epoch. And the finish is able to emotion to Pol Pot or the same Milosevic. A good film is which what after you have seen too many times, you still feel terror, sadness, happiness... in some scenes. So this is a great film. ¡BRAVOOOOO!.

In this (unintentionally?) hilarious movie, Lionel Barrymore, a man put into jail for the crimes of his former business partners, breaks out of prison and vows to get revenge. He escapes with a mad scientist who can shrink people and take away their free will, rendering them incapable of resonding unless powered by the force of another will. When this mad scientist guy kicks the bucket, Barrymore's charcter gets the brilliant idea to dress up like a chick and along with the mad scientist's wife, go and terrorize his former business partners as revenge for all the years he spent in prison. For this he uses the little people, who are marketed to the men as the next big thing in toys. They of course appeal to the greedy capitalistic nature of these evil businessmen, serving to lure them all right in to Barrymore's trap.

Barrymore looks like he's having a bit too much fun playing a woman, and anyone who watches this movie will be having fun along with him. He gives a damn fine performance as an Oscar Wilde-ian old lady, a performance no one should miss. For the corniness, the campiness, and the Freudian symbolism, this is definitely a movie worth watching!

By the time The Devil-Doll was released in 1936 Tod Browning's career was all but dead due to the backlash stemming from his now cult classic Freaks. Though Browning attempted to get his career back on track it never came to be and The Devil-Doll was sadly his 2nd to last movie; after this Browning would make one more movie in 1939 titled Miracles for Sale.

The Devil-Doll isn't exactly a great movie, but it's just so much fun it reaches a certain level of greatness and despite the camp value the movie also has plenty of dramatic elements that also advance the movie and also make it very different than most movies in the horror genre. Though by right The Devil-Doll really isn't a horror flick, while there are horror elements, there is a lot more going on here and I suppose it really doesn't fit any genre, but horror or Sci-Fi is the closest fit.

Lionel Barrymore plays Paul Lavond who has been in prison for 17-years for a robbery and murder that he was set up for. He escapes with another man who is one of those crazy scientists who is able to shrink people to a mere few inches. Lavond takes off for Paris to seek out revenge on those who did him wrong.

The screenplay by Garrett Fort, Guy Endore & Erich von Stroheim was excellent; while the villains aren't all that developed, their script is very well written with plenty of laughs and surprisingly some touching dramatic moments. The Devil-Doll may not have the greatest script, but it's always well written and highly entertaining.

Director Tod Browning once again delivers a classic of the genre; while there aren't many horror moments his scenes are well paced with some really funny moments and he handles the dramatic scenes brilliantly. The Devil-Doll is truly one of a kind and too bad Tod Browning never was able to get his career back on track. His loss was a great loss for the horror genre and one can only wonder what classics he would have brought to us.

Even with Browning's direction, what makes this movie so great is the performance by Lionel Barrymore. Once he gets to France to get his revenge he takes a disguise as the people he's after have offered money for his capture, so his disguise is of that of a kind old lady. Seeing Barrymore dressed up as an old lady was hysterical and Barrymore plays up to the camp value and its quite clear he was having a lot of fun in the role. But he also delivers a very emotional performance that was simply brilliant.

Paul's daughter Lorraine played by Maureen O'Sullivan doesn't know her father was set up and she hates him and blames him for the problems that have come upon her family. There's some really great scenes with Paul dressed as an old lady trying to talk with Lorraine. That subplot plays a pretty big part, but than is dropped for a while before a very touching scene at the end between Paul and Lorraine, which has to rate as one of the all time greatest scenes in horror or any genre for that matter.

The Devil-Doll featured a lot of special F/X and honestly even today they still look rather decent despite the age of the movie. I've seen movies released after this and even movies released today where the F/X don't look as good as they did in The Devil-Doll.

As I stated after this movie, Browning would only make one more movie before disappearing from the film industry. Browning would pass away in 1962 at the age of 82 and with his death closed the chapter on one of the greatest horror filmmakers of all time. The Devil-Doll in my opinion is a great flick that I feel is better than Dracula, and almost as good as Freaks and Mark of the Vampire and in some ways maybe better. This is a must see for fans of the classic era and fans of Tod Browning.

For those who remember the word "camp," that description would apply to this film and especially the character played by lead actor Lionel Barrymore.

He makes this movie really fun to watch, adding humor to the "horror" story, dressing up and talking like an old woman en route to satisfying his revenge. The story has no credibility - absolutely none - but the movie is so likable that it's still satisfying and always entertaining. I wish this would be put out on DVD.

Another big plus for this movie is the fact it isn't that dated for being so old. The special effects, for its day, are quite good. The combination of humor and horror works, almost 70 years after it was released! Tod Browning, who did some weird movies such as "Freaks," directed this one, if that helps make you want to check this out.

The Devil Doll was directed by Todd Browning who also gave the world Dracula, Freaks, and Mark of the Vampire. This is certainly the least of the bunch but it's not a bad film. Barrymore plays Paul Lavond, a Paris banker who is framed by his three business partners and spends 17 years in prison. He escapes along with a friend named Marcel to Marcel's home in a swamp where his wife Malita is waiting for him. Marcel is a bit of a mad scientist along the lines of an Ernest Thesiger who has found a way to shrink people down to under a foot in height. Supposedly this is to help man by revlieving starvation in the world since smaller people will eat less. Of course...Marcel doesn't seem to take into account the man-sized homes, cars, etc....

Marcel has a heart attack and dies and Lavond agrees to continue the work with the wild-eyed Malita. They travel to Paris where Lavond plots his revenge on his partners. All of Paris is looking for him so he disguises himself as an elderly woman and sets up shop as a doll and toy maker, using the shrunken animals and people to get revenge on his three former partners. The sighy of Lionel Barrymore in drag is one you will not soon forget! Meanwhile his daughter played by Maureen O' Sullivan despises her father because of his alleged crimes and he just wants to make contact with her.

The special effects are similar to what would be used in Dr. Cyclops with trick photography and larger sets to convey the character's and animal's size. As a horror film it isn't really that scary except for the aforementioned Barrymore in a dress and Rafaela Ottiano's psychotic look as Malita. Still an interesting role for Barrymore although the last few minutes degenerates into mundane sappiness as Lavond finally gets to see his daughter.

Although time has reduced this film's "horror" level to nil, DEVIL DOLL remains a reasonably entertaining little movie about an escaped convict bent upon revenge on those who framed him--and who uses the skills of his mad-doctor friend to miniturize normal humans to doll size, so they might act as agents of his revenge.

The film's special effects hold up well enough, but the real pleasure of this film is in the performances of Lionel Barrymore as the escaped convict and Rafaela Ottiano as the mad-doctor, with Barrymore donning drag to escape police detection and Ottiano at her most memorably eccentric. Both have more fun than the law allows!

Creepy. The eccentric genius, Eric Von Stroheim supposedly had a hand in writing the script of this very strange movie and one could believe it; the film has a bizarre edge to it which only someone like him could conceive. This really bizarre Tod Browning production has Barrymore wrongly accused as a convicted prisoner who escapes Devil's Island. Henry B. Walthall (who achieved film immortality as the Little Colonel in BIRTH OF A NATION) is a mad scientist whose miraculous invention is a serum which will shrink living things. Once in Barrymore's hands, the old man seeks revenge on those who framed him... One of Browning's most arresting films, the oversized sets and props are expertly done and the movie is genuinely creepy in a perversely absurd way. Leonard Smith's photography is appropriately eerie with its long shadows & the special effects here are infinitely superior to those used for DR. CYCLOPS, for instance.

Great movie. It was very modern for its time. Came in great shape and plays well. Very happy with the purchase.