Devil Doll (1964)

User Rating:

3.1/10   

Director:

Lindsay Shonteff

Writers:

Ronald Kinnoch (writer)
Frederick E. Smith (story)

Release Date:

September 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Can a Beautiful Woman Be Enslaved Against Her Will?

Plot:

An evil hyponotist/ventriloquist plots to gain an heiress' millions.

Plot Keywords:

Ventriloquist | Mind Control | Miniaturization | Beautiful Woman | Soul

Cast

Bryant Haliday	...	The Great Vorelli
William Sylvester	...	Mark English
Yvonne Romain	...	Marianne Horn
Sandra Dorne	...	Magda Gardinas
Karel Stepanek	...	Dr. Heller
Francis De Wolff	...	Dr. Keisling
Nora Nicholson	...	Aunt Eva
Philip Ray	...	Uncle Walter
Alan Gifford	...	Bob Garrett
Pamela Law	...	Woman with Garrett
Heidi Erich	...	Grace, a showgirl
Anthony Baird	...	Soldier
Trixie Dallas	...	Miss Penton
Margaret Durnell	...	Countess
Ray Landor	...	Expert Twist Dancer

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 (video rating) (1997) | USA:Approved (cut) | Canada:G (Quebec) (2002) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | UK:X (original rating)

Company:

Galaworldfilm Productions

Trivia:

Like the ventriloquist dummy in the similar segment of Dead of Night (1945), the doll's name is Hugo.

Quotes:

Bob Garrett: Hey, how'd you know I was still in bed?
Mark English: It figures, boy, it figures.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gorgo (#10.9)" (1998)

DEVIL DOLL (1964) - Image DVD Review

A beautifully-crafted low budget shocker which has unfortunately been overlooked in view of the classic 'Ventriloquist's Dummy' episode from the horror compendium film, DEAD OF NIGHT (1945; episode directed by Alberto Cavalcanti). Actually, it bears very few similarities to it: the dummy may be called Hugo as in the earlier film (though DEVIL DOLL was in fact based on a short story written by Frederick E. Smith), but here we have the ventriloquist who is doing the mind-controlling and the dummy who is subservient to him, whereas in the 1945 film it was the other way around.

Some dated elements like the dance number early in the film (couldn't they have thought of something more sinister as a way of making the heroine, Yvonne Romain, fall under the hypnotist's spell?) are not enough to spoil DEVIL DOLL's very effective suspense sequences, especially whenever The Great Vorelli and Hugo get to share the screen. Performances are generally adequate (including William Sylvester as the requisite American 'star') but Bryant Halliday obviously dominates the film as the villainous Vorelli. Reminiscent of John Barrymore in SVENGALI (1931), his sheer magnetic presence makes one wish he had made more films of the caliber of DEVIL DOLL. (On a side note, we DVD Maniacs should also feel obligated towards him for his capacity as co-founder of Janus Films, 'home owner' of The Criterion Collection!)

Some critics find the film a bit flat, almost like a made-for-TV film: it does have a tendency towards showing the actors in close-up but this, as explained in the commentary, was more due to budgetary limitations than to a conscious choice of film-making style adopted by the director; furthermore, the plot's very dependence on various states of emotion on the characters' part makes the intimacy of it all entirely appropriate!

Which brings us to the ending: though unconvincing in detail (Vorelli's transference of souls gradually took place over a period of months but here it happens in a flash!), the impact of it is undeniable and makes for a hugely satisfying climax to a wonderful little film, a genuine sleeper and now regaining some well-deserved momentum with Image Entertainment's excellent DVD release.