Doctor X

In Doctor X, the beautiful Fay Wray, daughter of a mysterious scientist (Lionel Atwill), is suspected of either harboring the murderer–or committing the grisly crimes himself.

Doctor X (1932) starring Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, directed by Michael Curtiz

Product Description 

Is there a (mad) doctor in the house? “Yes!” shrieks Doctor X, filmed in rare two-strip Technicolor . An eminent scientist aims to solve a murder spree by re-creating the crimes in a lab filled with all the dials, gizmos, bubbling beakers and crackling electrostatic charges essential to the genre. Lionel Atwill is Doctor Xavier, pre-King Kong scream queen Fay Wray is a distressed damsel and Lee Tracy snaps newshound patter, all under the direction of renowned Michael Curtiz. Also includes the separately filmed B&W version, originally intended for small U.S. markets and International distribution, which has been unavailable for over 30 years.

Editorial review of Doctor X courtesy of Amazon.com

Doctor X (1932) is presented in a recently-restored 2-strip Technicolor process (a lot of throbbing greens and oranges), which gives the movie an antique appeal. Doctor Xavier (Lionel Atwill) brings his colleagues together to figure out which of them might be the Full Moon Killer; daughter Fay Wray and reporter Lee Tracy (a typical fast-talking role for this fun actor) tag along. Michael Curtiz directed; he also did the similar Mystery of the Wax Museum, again with Atwill (available on the House of Wax disc). The Return of Doctor X (1939) is more of a curio than a full-fledged horror movie, as it has Humphrey Bogart, resplendent in a Bride of Frankenstein hair streak, in a rare supernatural outing.

Cast of characters

• Lionel Atwill (Mystery of the Wax Museum) … Dr. Jerry Xavier
• Fay Wray (Most Dangerous Game) … Joanne Xavier
• Lee Tracy (Bombshell 1933) … Lee Taylor
• Preston Foster (Kansas City Confidential) … Dr. Wells
• John Wray (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town) … Dr. Haines
• Harry Beresford (High Pressure) … Dr. Duke
• Arthur Edmund Carewe (Mystery of the Wax Museum) … Dr. Rowitz
• Leila Bennett (Mark of the Vampire) … Mamie
• Robert Warwick (The Whispering Shadow) … Police Commissioner Stevens
• George Rosener (Abe Lincoln in Illinois) … Otto
• Willard Robertson (The Monster and the Girl) … Detective O’Halloran
• Thomas E. Jackson (The Woman in the Window) … Daily World Editor
• Harry Holman (Meet John Doe) … Mike – Waterfront Policeman
• Mae Busch (Sons of the Desert) … Cathouse Madam
• Tom Dugan (Wife Versus Secretary) … Sheriff

Additional cast

• Louise Beavers (Wide Open) … Louise the Cathouse Maid (uncredited)
• Raoul Freeman … Morgue Detective (uncredited)
• Selmer Jackson (That’s My Boy) … Willard Keefe – Daily World Night Editor (uncredited)
• Charles McMurphy … Detective at Headquarters (uncredited)
• Ky Robinson … Morgue Detective (uncredited)