The Return of Doctor X (1939)

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

Lee Katz (screen play)
William J. Makin (from a story by)

Release Date:

2 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD...TO HAUNT THE LIVING!!!

Plot:

A hotshot reporter and a young doctor team up to investigate a series of grisly murders and a mysterious sample of synthetic blood.

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Murder | Reporter | Doctor | Newspaper

Cast

Humphrey Bogart	...	Marshall Quesne
Rosemary Lane	...	Joan Vance
Wayne Morris	...	Walter Garrett
Dennis Morgan	...	Michael Rhodes
John Litel	...	Dr. Francis Flegg
Lya Lys	...	Angela Merrova
Huntz Hall	...	Pinky
Charles C. Wilson	...	Detective Roy Kincaid (as Charles Wilson)
Vera Lewis	...	Miss Sweetman
Howard C. Hickman	...	Chairman (scenes deleted) (as Howard Hickman)
Olin Howland	...	Undertaker
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Guide (scenes deleted)
Cliff Saum	...	Detective Sergeant Moran
Creighton Hale	...	Hotel Manager
John Ridgely	...	Rodgers
Joseph Crehan	...	Editor
Glenn Langan	...	Interne
William Hopper	...	Interne (as DeWolf Hopper)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nat Carr	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Loia Cheaney	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Eddie Graham	...	Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
John Harron	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Attorney (uncredited)
John 'Skins' Miller	...	Newspaper Vendor (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Policeman Guarding Rodgers' Room (uncredited)
Paul Panzer	...	Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
Frank Pharr	...	Andy - the Night Editor (uncredited)
Gwen Seager	...	Miss Lawrence (uncredited)
Claude Wisberg	...	Office Boy (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe	...	Cemetery Caretaker (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincent Sherman

Writing credits
Lee Katz		(screen play)
William J. Makin		(from a story by)

Produced by
Bryan Foy	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Sidney Hickox		(as Sid Hickox)

Film Editing by
Thomas Pratt		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Esdras Hartley

Costume Design by
Milo Anderson		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Louis Baum	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Maybery	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Lang	....	sound

Stunts
Buster Wiles	....	stunt double: Humphrey Bogart (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
John Langan	....	dialogue director
Leo Morton Schulman	....	technical advisor (as Dr. Leo Schulman)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.) (A First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1939) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (on "Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection")
• Fang Video (video)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15 | UK:H | USA:Approved (PCA #5541)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Although Wayne Morris is billed as "Walter Barnett," he is called "Walter Garrett" in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bogart abducts Rosemary Lane they leave in a light colored, late '30's cab. As the police pursue them it changes to a black, vintage car. When they arrive at the hide-out in the woods its a newer light colored cab again.

Quotes:

Walter 'Wichita' Garrett:Maybe she's not dead.
Editor:If she's not dead, they're playing a dirty trick on her because they're taking her over to Bixby's Undertaking Parlor.
[to both Rhodes and Garrett]
Editor:Now get out of here both of you!
Walter 'Wichita' Garrett:Yes, sir!
Editor:[angrily] And don't come back!
[they leave]
Walter 'Wichita' Garrett:[to Rhodes] I won't believe she's dead 'til I see it with my own eyes. Even then I won't believe it!

Movie Connections:

References Frankenstein (1931)

Bogie's only horror film is a hoot.

You've got to see it to believe it. Bogie in makeup looking ghostly white with a white streak in his hair, in a combination Frankenstein and vampire horror film. It actually happened, due to knuckleheads at Warner Bros. who put him in this film against his wishes. I was amused as well as amazed throughout, and enjoyed watching Bogie stroke his pet rabbit and playing it all straight. Others in the cast (Wayne Morris, Rosemary Lane and Dennis Morgan) were fine, but Bogie is the only reason to see this movie. Be prepared to shake your head in disbelief.

The movie must have gone through some heavy editing, because there were many credit errors. First, the end credits bill Wayne Morris as Walter Barnett, but he is called Walter Garrett in the movie throughout and that name is also printed in newspapers several times. Next, Charles Wilson is billed as Detective Ray Kincaid, but he is called Roy throughout. Finally, many of the actors who were supposed to be in the movie never turn up, including two who were credited onscreen - Howard Hickman and Arthur Aylesworth.