The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)

Black comedy about a brilliant Park Avenue doctor who becomes a criminal in order to do research into the criminal mind.

Director:

Anatole Litvak

Writers:

John Wexley (screen play), John Huston (screen play),

Stars:

Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor, Humphrey Bogart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward G. Robinson	...	Dr. Clitterhouse
Claire Trevor	...	Jo Keller
Humphrey Bogart	...	'Rocks' Valentine
Allen Jenkins	...	Okay
Donald Crisp	...	Inspector Lane
Gale Page	...	Nurse Randolph
Henry O'Neill	...	Judge
John Litel	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Thurston Hall	...	Grant
Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom	...	Butch (as Maxie Rosenbloom)
Bert Hanlon	...	Pat
Curt Bois	...	Rabbit
Ward Bond	...	Tug
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Popus
Billy Wayne	...	Candy

Storyline

Dr. Clitterhouse is fascinated with the working of the criminal mind. His interest is so deep that he finds the best way to observe criminals in action is to become one himself! Whilst robbing a safe at an exclusive party he stumbles across an organized gang trying to the same thing. He teams up with the gang to observe them in action but one of the members, Rocks Valentine would like nothing better than to see Clitterhouse out of the way.

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Plot Keywords:

criminal | criminal mind | robbery | park avenue | sociopath | 

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Taglines:

. . . a thunderbolt of thrills and intrigue

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 July 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Clitterhouse

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on June 5, 1944 with Edward G. Robinson and Claire Trevor reprising their film roles.

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Goofs

At about 80 minutes into the film, the prosecutor cross examines the incomprehensible expert witness. In the first shot, the prosecutor unbuttons his jacket. In the next shot, he unbuttons it again.

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Quotes

Dr. T.S. Clitterhouse: [to Jo as he rolls craps] I was doing rather nicely until you came in. What's that platitude about dice and women? It's possible that my luck has switched from the dice to you.
[Obseving her dour reaction]
Dr. T.S. Clitterhouse: Oh, my mistake. My luck could still be with the dice.

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Connections

Referenced in John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Eine kleine Nachtmusik, 1st movement"
(1787) (uncredited)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Played on the phonograph

User Reviews

Edward G. Robinson Rocks; Bogart in hoodlum mode; a fascinating film in many ways.

The Hollywood films from the '30s and '40s that are celebrated are often much inferior to the many clever forgotten and unpretentious films. "Dr. Clitterhouse" is twice as good as the two Fritz Lang pictures Robinson made, ten times better than Howard Hawks's silly, static "BAll of Fire" and 20 times better than CApra's pretentious 'black comedy' "Arsenic and Old Lace." It's fascinating not just because of the intricate, psychological, talk-heavy, crime-caper script written by John Huston and two others, but because Robinson, in his 'up' 'hyperactive' mode is beyond fascinating to watch. He plays a psychologist writing a thesis on criminality who goes undercover with a bunch of thieves led by Bogart, helping them rob better by planning their heists, while he studies them. Like Gable, Muni, Garfield, Cagney, and the Bogart of the post-Maltese-Falcon years, Robinson, when he's in 'gangsta' or 'noir' mode, is one of those immortal characters that given half a chance, a decent script and passable direction always transcends and makes a film watchable. Given Orson Welles or Billy Wilder, he ends up in masterpieces. If you like this film also check out "Tampico" and "Unholy Partners," two other forgotten Edward G.Robinson classics.