Paul Muni plays a small town doctor who becomes mixed up with a wounded criminal (Barton MacLane) and falls for a pretty hitchhiker (Ann Dvorak). A fine WB crime drama that moves with a crisp pace. Mustachioed Paul Muni reunites with his Scarface costar Ann Dvorak. Muni is excellent in one of his more subdued roles. Dvorak is lovely and gives an effortless performance. As different as Muni was from other Hollywood actors at the time, Dvorak was just as different from the other actresses. She rarely goes for the theatrical or hysterical. Her performances are usually much more grounded than, say, Bette Davis, who never saw a rafter she didn't reach for. The standout of the movie is Barton MacLane, shouting and swaggering his way through every scene. It's a real treat to watch. As usual, the stable of WB supporting players are superb. Remade as King of the Underworld with Kay Francis and Humphrey Bogart, whose first wife Mayo Methot appears here as MacLane's moll.
17 Reviews
Another winner from Paul Muni
jazza92324 March 2010
Paul Muni has never made a bad movie or given a poor performance. He didn't crank out movie after movie like so many stars in that era, he carefully picked his roles. This is a terrific picture, Muni plays a doctor who has become a gangster's physician, but not by choice. The gangster is played with gusto by Barton MacLane. A woman who is kidnapped by the gang (Ann Dvorak) is injured and brought to Muni. She and the doctor soon fall in love. But, the gangster wants her, because she could testify against him since she knows what he looks like. Great cinematography but it's Muni's picture all the way. Helen Lowell provides fine support as "Ma".
No Criminal Business Near The Hideout
bkoganbing11 October 2009
As a film Dr. Socrates is significant in the career of Paul Muni because it is the first time he worked with William Dieterle who directed all of his biographical films at Warner Brothers for which he became best known for. They must have liked working together because Muni would not have had him as a director again, he had that kind of clout and was that demanding of his bosses at Warner Brothers.
The film itself is a minor drama with Muni playing the role of a kindly doctor who has settled in an obscure small town to forget the death of his sweetheart. As the town already has a doctor in Robert Barrat, there are some in the town who don't really take to Muni. But enough do so he gets by.
Although no one knows it the town is also the center of a vicious gang of robbers, headed by a John Dillinger like hoodlum played in swaggering style by Barton MacLane. The gang's hideout is at Olin Howland's farm, MacLane and the rest are from the area. He's public enemy number one in the parlance of the day.
One day MacLane is wounded in a bank holdup and he and the gang stop in at Muni and force him at gunpoint to patch him up. MacLane likes his work and now thinks he can intimidate the soft spoken Muni into being their regular physician.
Although Ann Dvorak had to be introduced somehow as a love interest, the script's biggest fault is the fact that she's wounded in a bank robbery at the hometown. She's a hitchhiker, but a lot believe she was in with the gang. Cardinal rule in real life and films, you absolutely don't do any criminal business in or near your sanctuary.
Usually people don't steal the show from Paul Muni, but in this case the swaggering, bullying Barton MacLane may have given the best performance of his career. MacLane was a menacing guy in films with that rasping voice of his and it was never put to better advantage than in Dr. Socrates.
Three years later the basic plot of Dr. Socrates was used again for King Of The Underworld where Kay Francis is a female doctor and Humphrey Bogart the gangster.
Dr. Socrates is a minor effort from Paul Muni, but still an enjoyable film. His next film was The Story Of Louis Pasteur, directed by William Dieterle that would set Muni's Hollywood image for all time.
The film itself is a minor drama with Muni playing the role of a kindly doctor who has settled in an obscure small town to forget the death of his sweetheart. As the town already has a doctor in Robert Barrat, there are some in the town who don't really take to Muni. But enough do so he gets by.
Although no one knows it the town is also the center of a vicious gang of robbers, headed by a John Dillinger like hoodlum played in swaggering style by Barton MacLane. The gang's hideout is at Olin Howland's farm, MacLane and the rest are from the area. He's public enemy number one in the parlance of the day.
One day MacLane is wounded in a bank holdup and he and the gang stop in at Muni and force him at gunpoint to patch him up. MacLane likes his work and now thinks he can intimidate the soft spoken Muni into being their regular physician.
Although Ann Dvorak had to be introduced somehow as a love interest, the script's biggest fault is the fact that she's wounded in a bank robbery at the hometown. She's a hitchhiker, but a lot believe she was in with the gang. Cardinal rule in real life and films, you absolutely don't do any criminal business in or near your sanctuary.
Usually people don't steal the show from Paul Muni, but in this case the swaggering, bullying Barton MacLane may have given the best performance of his career. MacLane was a menacing guy in films with that rasping voice of his and it was never put to better advantage than in Dr. Socrates.
Three years later the basic plot of Dr. Socrates was used again for King Of The Underworld where Kay Francis is a female doctor and Humphrey Bogart the gangster.
Dr. Socrates is a minor effort from Paul Muni, but still an enjoyable film. His next film was The Story Of Louis Pasteur, directed by William Dieterle that would set Muni's Hollywood image for all time.
Some people are not sensitive to pain, especially the moronic species
sol-kay26 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
(There are Spoilers) Having lost his nerve as a brilliant surgeon after surviving a car crash back in Chicago, that killed his fiancé Sylvia, Dr. Lee. Cardwell aka Dr. Socrates, Paul Muni, moved from the big city of Chicago to little Big Bend Ind to reopen his practice. Lee not interested in money never takes cash from his patients but only IOU's which, from watching the movie, are never repaid. Just making ends meet Lee has difficulty paying his bills but somehow has no problem maintaining a big house as well as a full-time maid Ma Granson, Helen Howell. Things are about to change and that has to do with Lee's taking his oath as a doctor seriously to the point of not only helping those who need his services with or without health insurance, as we've already seen, but even those on the lamb from the law like bank robber Red Bastian, Barton MacLane.
The Bastian gang picking up Jo Gray, Ann Dvorak, hitch-hiking to California end up in a shoot-out in Big Bend where both Bastian and Jo end up wounded. Lee taking Jo to his home to be treated for her wounds is accused with Jo of aiding the Bastian Mob. Since Jo is suspected, by being with the gangster at the time of her getting shot, to be Bastian's gun moll and getaway driver.
Lee refusing to release Jo to a vigilante mob until she's fully recovered from her wounds later get's involved with Bastian himself as he, and a number of his fellow hoodlums, break into his place demanding treatment for his gun shot wounds. Bastian grateful for what Lee did for him gives him a C-Note, 100 dollar bill, for his troubles. That bill will later have the FBI and local police trace it back to the Bastine bank robbery thus implicating Lee, as well as the already suspected Jo, as a suspect and member of the Red Bastian gang.
With all this going on and Lee about to be taken into custody it's found out that Red had his hoods raid his home and kidnap Jo whom Bastian has take a strong liking for. Getting the FBI and police to go along with him Lee goes to Bastian's hideout, where he was earlier taken by Bastine's mob, and devises a plan to not only get Red Bastian to release Jo but also give himself, and his gang, up; by being tricked into facing something that's far worse then any police bullets or a life behind bars.
As he's treating Red Bastian's wound Lee taking his temperature see's that it's normal, 98.6, but tell the shocked gangster that it's 103. Lee tells a shocked Bastain that not only does he but his entire gang, together with Lee & Jo, have contracted typhoid from the well water that they've been drinking. Vaccinating Bastian and most of his gang Lee instead of a typhoid vaccine shoots them up with dope causing the mobsters to conk out before the FBI, who told Lee that they would start moving in on Bastian's hideout in less then an hour, make their move.
Lee's actions still didn't prevent a wild shoot-out outside in the Bastian hideout. Since the hoodlums there weren't and couldn't all be vaccinated by him but it prevented an even bigger shoot-out and massacre inside where most of the Bastian mob was. All of this didn't give the film the feel-good ending that you would have expected. Bastian staggering from the influence of the dope tries to make his last stand but is so groggy that he could barley stand on his two feet. Instead of shooting it out with the Feds, and going out in a blaze of glory, Bastian falls down a fight of stairs landing right on his head and into a pair of handcuffs instead.
The Bastian gang picking up Jo Gray, Ann Dvorak, hitch-hiking to California end up in a shoot-out in Big Bend where both Bastian and Jo end up wounded. Lee taking Jo to his home to be treated for her wounds is accused with Jo of aiding the Bastian Mob. Since Jo is suspected, by being with the gangster at the time of her getting shot, to be Bastian's gun moll and getaway driver.
Lee refusing to release Jo to a vigilante mob until she's fully recovered from her wounds later get's involved with Bastian himself as he, and a number of his fellow hoodlums, break into his place demanding treatment for his gun shot wounds. Bastian grateful for what Lee did for him gives him a C-Note, 100 dollar bill, for his troubles. That bill will later have the FBI and local police trace it back to the Bastine bank robbery thus implicating Lee, as well as the already suspected Jo, as a suspect and member of the Red Bastian gang.
With all this going on and Lee about to be taken into custody it's found out that Red had his hoods raid his home and kidnap Jo whom Bastian has take a strong liking for. Getting the FBI and police to go along with him Lee goes to Bastian's hideout, where he was earlier taken by Bastine's mob, and devises a plan to not only get Red Bastian to release Jo but also give himself, and his gang, up; by being tricked into facing something that's far worse then any police bullets or a life behind bars.
As he's treating Red Bastian's wound Lee taking his temperature see's that it's normal, 98.6, but tell the shocked gangster that it's 103. Lee tells a shocked Bastain that not only does he but his entire gang, together with Lee & Jo, have contracted typhoid from the well water that they've been drinking. Vaccinating Bastian and most of his gang Lee instead of a typhoid vaccine shoots them up with dope causing the mobsters to conk out before the FBI, who told Lee that they would start moving in on Bastian's hideout in less then an hour, make their move.
Lee's actions still didn't prevent a wild shoot-out outside in the Bastian hideout. Since the hoodlums there weren't and couldn't all be vaccinated by him but it prevented an even bigger shoot-out and massacre inside where most of the Bastian mob was. All of this didn't give the film the feel-good ending that you would have expected. Bastian staggering from the influence of the dope tries to make his last stand but is so groggy that he could barley stand on his two feet. Instead of shooting it out with the Feds, and going out in a blaze of glory, Bastian falls down a fight of stairs landing right on his head and into a pair of handcuffs instead.
Nice Turn by Muni
Michael_Elliott17 December 2009
Dr. Socrates (1935)
*** (out of 4)
Fast moving and tense film from Warner features Paul Muni in the title role of Dr. Socrates, a doctor who becomes the outcast in a small town after he helps a woman (Ann Dvorak) who accidentally got caught up with a gangster (Barton MacLane). Soon the doc and the girl begin to have feelings for one another and he must figure a way to get her away from the gangster. In an interesting bit of trivia, Muni didn't want to have anything to do with this film but agreed to do it if Warner would allow him to make THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR, which would eventually be released the same year and earn Muni the Oscar. There's also a funny joke here where Muni is talking about a book on the life of Pasteur. With that out of the way, the rest of the film is a pretty tense little gem that manages to feature some great performances and a pretty smart story. The movie might not be as respectable as some of Muni's bigger films but I thought there was enough here to easily recommend it. For starters we have Muni delivering an exceptional performance as he perfectly can play the kindness of the doctor but also show off his brains. The doctor being able to think fast on his feet plays an important part in the film and Muni makes us easily believe that he is smart enough to do what happens at the end. He also has a dry, sarcastic humor that comes off very well and he even delivers a few laughs. Dvorak isn't one of my favorites but she makes an interesting mix with Muni. MacLane isn't one you'd expect to see playing a gangster but he actually does a very good job and makes the character quite memorable with his humor and style of toughness. Fans of Humphrey Bogart will know that he and Kay Francis would remake this four years later in the bizarre KING OF THE UNDERWORLD. Bogart has another connection to this film as his first wife, Mayo Methot, plays the gangster's mole here. While this film is a lot smarter than many of the dramas from the studio, it also contain enough gunplay to please fans of their gangster pictures. The ending has one machine gun after another making for quite a big bang to go out on.
*** (out of 4)
Fast moving and tense film from Warner features Paul Muni in the title role of Dr. Socrates, a doctor who becomes the outcast in a small town after he helps a woman (Ann Dvorak) who accidentally got caught up with a gangster (Barton MacLane). Soon the doc and the girl begin to have feelings for one another and he must figure a way to get her away from the gangster. In an interesting bit of trivia, Muni didn't want to have anything to do with this film but agreed to do it if Warner would allow him to make THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR, which would eventually be released the same year and earn Muni the Oscar. There's also a funny joke here where Muni is talking about a book on the life of Pasteur. With that out of the way, the rest of the film is a pretty tense little gem that manages to feature some great performances and a pretty smart story. The movie might not be as respectable as some of Muni's bigger films but I thought there was enough here to easily recommend it. For starters we have Muni delivering an exceptional performance as he perfectly can play the kindness of the doctor but also show off his brains. The doctor being able to think fast on his feet plays an important part in the film and Muni makes us easily believe that he is smart enough to do what happens at the end. He also has a dry, sarcastic humor that comes off very well and he even delivers a few laughs. Dvorak isn't one of my favorites but she makes an interesting mix with Muni. MacLane isn't one you'd expect to see playing a gangster but he actually does a very good job and makes the character quite memorable with his humor and style of toughness. Fans of Humphrey Bogart will know that he and Kay Francis would remake this four years later in the bizarre KING OF THE UNDERWORLD. Bogart has another connection to this film as his first wife, Mayo Methot, plays the gangster's mole here. While this film is a lot smarter than many of the dramas from the studio, it also contain enough gunplay to please fans of their gangster pictures. The ending has one machine gun after another making for quite a big bang to go out on.
the usual 1930s crime drama from warners
ksf-219 January 2020
1930's stars Paul Muni and Ann Dvorak star in this small town drama from Warner Brothers. Doctor Cardwell (Muni) had lost his wife in a car accident, and because he felt responsible, it has affected his practice, and his state of mind. and when rough tough crime boss Red Bastian comes to him for help, Cardwell has some decisions to make. Mayo Metho is in here as Red's moll... she was Humphrey Bogart's wife for a time; didn't end well for her.. she died of alcoholism at 47. only made 28 films, acc to imdb. the awesome Grady Sutton is in here as (uncredited) grocery store clerk. Sutton made "Flying Trapeze" with WC Fields the same year, and would go on to make a bunch more with him. good career move! this one has the usual bank robbery, the getaways, and even a couple boy meets girl, boy chases girl stories. unfortunately, Doc wants to be the good guy, but keeps getting in deeper with the wrong sort of folks. no big surprises, but it's pretty good. Muni only made 30 films, and this was early on in his career.
Paul Muni in a Warner crime melodrama without the usual heavy make-up disguise...
Doylenf11 October 2009
Muni was just biding his time between "important" roles when Warners made a deal with him to do this little crime melodrama, after which they would let him do one of his pet projects. So here he is as the man whose constant reading of books causes the townspeople to label him "Dr. Socrates," a name that seems to fit the soft-spoken, easy going doctor that Muni plays in a minor key.
Instead of overwhelming the screen in his usual manner, he lets BARTON MacLANE give a vivid, scene-stealing performance as Big Red, a criminal wounded in a bank holdup who needs the doc's care and promises to send him more customers if he'll put a lid on treating him, instead of reporting him to the police. Fortunately, MacLane has some of the best lines in the script and ends up being the most interesting character in the whole story.
ANN DVORAK is young and pretty as the hitch-hiking woman who accepts a ride from MacLane's gang and ends up being suspected of being a gang member when the gang pulls a bank robbery and she's seen fleeing from the scene. When she's hurt, she ends up in Muni's care and the rest of the story is rather predictable but entertaining.
As the N.Y. Times said: "A pleasant enough melodrama" about a doctor who unwittingly gets mixed up with the mob. It's a trifle with a better than average script and some nice performances from the Warner contract players.
Instead of overwhelming the screen in his usual manner, he lets BARTON MacLANE give a vivid, scene-stealing performance as Big Red, a criminal wounded in a bank holdup who needs the doc's care and promises to send him more customers if he'll put a lid on treating him, instead of reporting him to the police. Fortunately, MacLane has some of the best lines in the script and ends up being the most interesting character in the whole story.
ANN DVORAK is young and pretty as the hitch-hiking woman who accepts a ride from MacLane's gang and ends up being suspected of being a gang member when the gang pulls a bank robbery and she's seen fleeing from the scene. When she's hurt, she ends up in Muni's care and the rest of the story is rather predictable but entertaining.
As the N.Y. Times said: "A pleasant enough melodrama" about a doctor who unwittingly gets mixed up with the mob. It's a trifle with a better than average script and some nice performances from the Warner contract players.
Typical 1930's Crime Drama
m_finebesser17 August 2001
With Paul Muni in the lead, I was expecting something out of the ordinary. However, Dr. Socrates is ordinary. It is a run-of-the-mill 1930's crime drama with Muni's range wasted in a part better suited to Chester Morris or Ricardo Cortez. Barton MacLane and Mayo Methot, on the other hand, are perfect playing parts similar to what they played throughout their entire careers. It's watchable, but not special.
Fast-moving and adequate "B" movie
rollo_tomaso4 January 2001
This is the kind of "crime" doctor movie Hollywood churned out by the truckload in the mid-30's. Muni is badly miscast in the lead, but rest of cast more than makes up for it. MacLane steals film as Red, the main gangster. Ann Dvorak and Mayo Methot are excellent as are the redoubtable Henry O'Neill and Owin Howlin. Some good pithy dialogue makes this well-meaning time capsule worth a look.
Muni's first film with Dieterle
blanche-211 October 2009
Paul Muni is called "Dr. Socrates" in this 1935 film, mainly because of his love of books. Here Muni is a struggling young doctor, Dr. Lee Cardwell, who becomes involved with gangsters after helping a hitchhiker (Ann Dvorak) who was in their getaway car when the thugs committed a robbery. However, many people think she's part of the gang, and Cardwell works to protect and defend her.
This was Muni's first film with William Dieterle, who directed Muni is his great films to follow, including The Story of Louis Pasteur, Juarez, and The Life of Emile Zola. Muni is good as Dr. S, but he has formidable competition in Barton MacLane, who plays Red Bastian, the main criminal who is a sort of John Dillinger type. In the film, he's wounded and forces Dr. Cardwell to treat him.
This film was rewritten and redone in 1939 as "King of the Underworld" with Kay Francis and Humphrey Bogart, before his big stardom.
Good cast, nice ending.
This was Muni's first film with William Dieterle, who directed Muni is his great films to follow, including The Story of Louis Pasteur, Juarez, and The Life of Emile Zola. Muni is good as Dr. S, but he has formidable competition in Barton MacLane, who plays Red Bastian, the main criminal who is a sort of John Dillinger type. In the film, he's wounded and forces Dr. Cardwell to treat him.
This film was rewritten and redone in 1939 as "King of the Underworld" with Kay Francis and Humphrey Bogart, before his big stardom.
Good cast, nice ending.
Boring and sub-par
HotToastyRag1 March 2019
I don't know how Paul Muni got roped into a B-picture when he was one of the brightest stars of the 1930s, but if you're on a quest to watch all the wonderful Paul Muni performances in the world, feel free to skip Dr. Socrates.
Paul plays a doctor who treats a gangster, Barton MacLane, and becomes involved in his life. Before you start thinking it's the original to Analyze This, it's not. Barton may be a scary gangster who takes a liking to the meek doctor who stands up to him, and he may think a generous payment means the doctor should be at his beck and call, but this movie isn't a comedy. It's a low-budget, low-quality gangster movie that isn't about gangsters. No one's character is very interesting, and Paul isn't given any scenes that show off his fantastic acting chops.
Paul plays a doctor who treats a gangster, Barton MacLane, and becomes involved in his life. Before you start thinking it's the original to Analyze This, it's not. Barton may be a scary gangster who takes a liking to the meek doctor who stands up to him, and he may think a generous payment means the doctor should be at his beck and call, but this movie isn't a comedy. It's a low-budget, low-quality gangster movie that isn't about gangsters. No one's character is very interesting, and Paul isn't given any scenes that show off his fantastic acting chops.
Barton MacLane is the Best!!!
kidboots26 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Ann Dvorak first hit Hollywood as a choreographer and dancer but once she broke out of the chorus line and into dramatic parts she made an immediate impact. With her intensity and ravishing beauty she could have spent her career being an adornment in any film she was placed in but she was a fine actress and wanted better parts and treatment - unfortunately she received neither. Warners lost interest in their feisty star and started putting her into any film that came along. There were duds (she must have cringed when she recalled her part in "Heat Lightning") but there were also some interesting ones. "Dr. Socrates" had her starring with Paul Muni who in the 1930s was Warner's most important star even though Robinson and Cagney were far more popular.
This is a great little movie about a small town doctor jokingly called "Dr. Socrates" by the local wags because he always has his head in a book and Jo (Dvorak), a young hitch-hiker, who unwittingly finds a ride into town with the local bad boy turned vicious gangster, Red Bastian (Barton MacLane). Unfortunately for Dvorak and Muni, once MacLane hits the scene there is no room for anyone else. Barton "why speak when shouting will do" MacLane is just fantastic as the "rough as guts" gangster - he never leaves centre stage, whether he is making a call on the doc to remove a bullet or holding forth among his gang (Marc Lawrence has a bit as a young punk) - even Mayo Methot as his moll "Muggsy" is no match for his brawling and brutish ways.
If it wasn't for Barton and Ann, this would be just another movie about "down home folk" with a few holes. Muni's doctor doesn't have a particularly warm persona and he doesn't seem concerned when "Ma" can't pay the grocery bills. When Jo realises she is riding with bank robbers she tries to escape but is shot and taken to the doctor. For a while I thought it was going to be similar in plot to "Fury". The establishing shots had shown a lot of the town's people as narrow minded, finding the doctor a figure of fun just because he is a square peg in a round hole. Word gets out that Jo is a gun moll and there is a scene where it seems like the whole town converges on the doctor's doorstep to run Jo out of town.
The last part of the movie takes place at the gang's hideout. Red has kidnapped Jo - she is going to be his girl from now on and the doctor, on finding her, realises that the hideout is in the vicinity of a typhoid outbreak. MacLane seemed to have so much fun with his role, especially when he tries to convince Jo that he can be real fun to be around while threatening to knock "Muggsy" silly!!! Terrific fun!!
This is a great little movie about a small town doctor jokingly called "Dr. Socrates" by the local wags because he always has his head in a book and Jo (Dvorak), a young hitch-hiker, who unwittingly finds a ride into town with the local bad boy turned vicious gangster, Red Bastian (Barton MacLane). Unfortunately for Dvorak and Muni, once MacLane hits the scene there is no room for anyone else. Barton "why speak when shouting will do" MacLane is just fantastic as the "rough as guts" gangster - he never leaves centre stage, whether he is making a call on the doc to remove a bullet or holding forth among his gang (Marc Lawrence has a bit as a young punk) - even Mayo Methot as his moll "Muggsy" is no match for his brawling and brutish ways.
If it wasn't for Barton and Ann, this would be just another movie about "down home folk" with a few holes. Muni's doctor doesn't have a particularly warm persona and he doesn't seem concerned when "Ma" can't pay the grocery bills. When Jo realises she is riding with bank robbers she tries to escape but is shot and taken to the doctor. For a while I thought it was going to be similar in plot to "Fury". The establishing shots had shown a lot of the town's people as narrow minded, finding the doctor a figure of fun just because he is a square peg in a round hole. Word gets out that Jo is a gun moll and there is a scene where it seems like the whole town converges on the doctor's doorstep to run Jo out of town.
The last part of the movie takes place at the gang's hideout. Red has kidnapped Jo - she is going to be his girl from now on and the doctor, on finding her, realises that the hideout is in the vicinity of a typhoid outbreak. MacLane seemed to have so much fun with his role, especially when he tries to convince Jo that he can be real fun to be around while threatening to knock "Muggsy" silly!!! Terrific fun!!
Slightly above average crime drama featuring Paul Muni in the title role
jacobs-greenwood13 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Just before Paul Muni got his chance to play the titled doctor in The Story of Louis Pasteur (1935), the role which earned him his Best Actor Academy Award, he played the title role in this crime drama, as Dr. Lee Cardwell. William Dieterle directed both films; their other two collaborations were also titled roles for the actor: in the Oscar winning Best Picture The Life of Emile Zola (1937) and as Juarez (1939).
This film's story was written by W.R. Burnett, who'd provided continuity for an earlier Muni title role, Scarface (1932); Mary McCall Jr. adapted it and Robert Lord, who provided the story for Muni's Bordertown (1935), wrote the screenplay.
Dr. Cardwell (Muni) now lives in Big Ben, "the biggest small town" in an Ohio county, because as a big city surgeon he'd lost his nerve when he couldn't save his fiancée's life; she'd been critically injured in an automobile accident after a fight with him. Despite the urging of two of his former colleagues (one played by Samuel Hinds), he refuses to return to his practice, instead continuing to "hide out" in a small town community "run" by another gregarious doctor named Ginder (Robert Barrat), making it difficult for moody Cardwell to find patients. Dr. Ginder has dubbed him Dr. Socrates because his nose is always in books written by foreign scholars. Cardwell lives with Ma Ganson (Helen Lowell), who treats him like a son and allows his rent to be overdue.
The action really begins when a local boy now big city gangster Red Bastian (Barton MacLane) returns home to hide out, and have Cardwell treat his bullet wound. Though Cardwell refuses payment, Red leaves him a C note ($100) which, because of his desperate financial condition - especially with the grocer, Cardwell deposits. Banker Ben Suggs (Raymond Brown) doesn't particularly like Ginder and befriends Cardwell, who agrees to visit Suggs's hypochondriac daughter Caroline (Grace Stafford) and helps to "cure" her.
While Red and his gang are on their way to another job, they pick up a hitchhiker named Josephine 'Jo' Gray (Ann Dvorak), but she escapes during the holdup making some think she was a moll even though Red had shot her in the shoulder after she'd run. Cardwell helps her and takes her to his office to treat her wound against Ginder's protestations. Later, when Jo is cleared by the Sheriff et al, Cardwell asks her to stay because he's formed an affection for her, one which is mutual.
When Red's arm that had been shot starts to hurt again per an infection, he has his gang kidnap the doctor and bring him blindfolded to their hideout. Afterwards though, Cardwell sees Bob Catlett (Olin Howland), and vice versa, and figures out where he's been. This is important because Red in turn has Jo kidnapped such that Cardwell decides that he must save her (from the fate of becoming a moll and) for himself. This happens at virtually the same time that G-man Greer (Henry O'Neill) et al have arrived in town to find and apprehend, or kill while trying, Red and his gang.
Ma pleads with Greer to wait until 1 AM to rush the Catlett place; meanwhile, Cardwell is inside because he'd convinced Red that the Feds were after him per the C note from Red they'd traced to him. Because Catlett had questioned him about typhoid fever per one of his neighbor's earlier, Cardwell persuades Red and his gang to submit to an injection which is ostensibly a vaccine but will really put them to sleep for 12 hours.
Of course there's a last minute raid and gun battle with the G-men. Red is killed in the shootout whereas Jo and Cardwell survive so that they can be together in the end; Ginder and the rest of the town sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to Cardwell.
Hobart Cavanaugh plays a busybody pharmacist-soda jerk and Mayo Methot plays Red's moll Muggsy; Dick Elliot and Grady Sutton, as a grocery clerk, appear uncredited as does Marc Lawrence, as the gangster named Lefty.
This film's story was written by W.R. Burnett, who'd provided continuity for an earlier Muni title role, Scarface (1932); Mary McCall Jr. adapted it and Robert Lord, who provided the story for Muni's Bordertown (1935), wrote the screenplay.
Dr. Cardwell (Muni) now lives in Big Ben, "the biggest small town" in an Ohio county, because as a big city surgeon he'd lost his nerve when he couldn't save his fiancée's life; she'd been critically injured in an automobile accident after a fight with him. Despite the urging of two of his former colleagues (one played by Samuel Hinds), he refuses to return to his practice, instead continuing to "hide out" in a small town community "run" by another gregarious doctor named Ginder (Robert Barrat), making it difficult for moody Cardwell to find patients. Dr. Ginder has dubbed him Dr. Socrates because his nose is always in books written by foreign scholars. Cardwell lives with Ma Ganson (Helen Lowell), who treats him like a son and allows his rent to be overdue.
The action really begins when a local boy now big city gangster Red Bastian (Barton MacLane) returns home to hide out, and have Cardwell treat his bullet wound. Though Cardwell refuses payment, Red leaves him a C note ($100) which, because of his desperate financial condition - especially with the grocer, Cardwell deposits. Banker Ben Suggs (Raymond Brown) doesn't particularly like Ginder and befriends Cardwell, who agrees to visit Suggs's hypochondriac daughter Caroline (Grace Stafford) and helps to "cure" her.
While Red and his gang are on their way to another job, they pick up a hitchhiker named Josephine 'Jo' Gray (Ann Dvorak), but she escapes during the holdup making some think she was a moll even though Red had shot her in the shoulder after she'd run. Cardwell helps her and takes her to his office to treat her wound against Ginder's protestations. Later, when Jo is cleared by the Sheriff et al, Cardwell asks her to stay because he's formed an affection for her, one which is mutual.
When Red's arm that had been shot starts to hurt again per an infection, he has his gang kidnap the doctor and bring him blindfolded to their hideout. Afterwards though, Cardwell sees Bob Catlett (Olin Howland), and vice versa, and figures out where he's been. This is important because Red in turn has Jo kidnapped such that Cardwell decides that he must save her (from the fate of becoming a moll and) for himself. This happens at virtually the same time that G-man Greer (Henry O'Neill) et al have arrived in town to find and apprehend, or kill while trying, Red and his gang.
Ma pleads with Greer to wait until 1 AM to rush the Catlett place; meanwhile, Cardwell is inside because he'd convinced Red that the Feds were after him per the C note from Red they'd traced to him. Because Catlett had questioned him about typhoid fever per one of his neighbor's earlier, Cardwell persuades Red and his gang to submit to an injection which is ostensibly a vaccine but will really put them to sleep for 12 hours.
Of course there's a last minute raid and gun battle with the G-men. Red is killed in the shootout whereas Jo and Cardwell survive so that they can be together in the end; Ginder and the rest of the town sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to Cardwell.
Hobart Cavanaugh plays a busybody pharmacist-soda jerk and Mayo Methot plays Red's moll Muggsy; Dick Elliot and Grady Sutton, as a grocery clerk, appear uncredited as does Marc Lawrence, as the gangster named Lefty.
Mediocre Gangster Yarn
drjgardner12 August 2014
If you're a fan of Paul Muni, as I am, you'll want to see this film as an example of one of his last films before he made it with "Louis Pasteur". Yet even though he went on to bigger and more successful films, his earlier work in "Fugitive from a Chain Gang" is my favorite Muni film.
Ann Dvorak, Robert Barrat and Barton Maclane are along for the ride, but they all made better films. It's interesting to watch Mayo Methot (Humphrey Bogart's future wife who gave them the name "Battling Bogarts) playing the gangster's moll.
Despite the low budget and the obvious production limitations, William Dieterle manages to keep it moving along. This is the first of the Muni/Dieterle films which included Pasteur, Zola, Juarez.
Apart from the historical interest, the film doesn't stand the test of time. There are dozens of films from this period which are far better.
Ann Dvorak, Robert Barrat and Barton Maclane are along for the ride, but they all made better films. It's interesting to watch Mayo Methot (Humphrey Bogart's future wife who gave them the name "Battling Bogarts) playing the gangster's moll.
Despite the low budget and the obvious production limitations, William Dieterle manages to keep it moving along. This is the first of the Muni/Dieterle films which included Pasteur, Zola, Juarez.
Apart from the historical interest, the film doesn't stand the test of time. There are dozens of films from this period which are far better.
The Crime Doctor
lugonian20 October 2019
DOCTOR SOCRATES (Warner Brothers, 1935), directed by William Dieterle, taken from a story by W.R. Burnett, stars Paul Muni in another one of his lesser known films of this period. Returning him to crime melodrama, Muni doesn't play a hooded gangster as he did in SCARFACE (United Artists, 1932), but a small town doctor (sporting mustache) who innocently becomes involved in treating gangsters. It also marked Muni's second and final role opposite Ann Dvorak, his co-star from his now classic SCARFACE.
Set in Big Bend (Ohio), "the biggest little city in Wayne County," the story opens with its residents discussing the latest crime caper committed by noted gangster, "Red" Bastian, from their local newspaper. Lee Caldwell (Paul Muni) is introduced as a new medical doctor from Chicago who is not well-liked by its residents, especially its long-time town doctor, Ginder (Robert Barrat) who labels Caldwell "Doctor Socrates" for his love for Greek philosophy and his reading of "The Republic of Plato." Returning home from the drug store, Caldwell, accompanied by his elderly housekeeper, "Ma" Ganson (Helen Lowell), finds he has visitors, fellow doctor friends from Chicago, McLinty (Samuel S. Hinds) and Dick Burton (John Eldredge). They each feel Caldwell, a brilliant surgeon, is wasting his time in this small town and want him to come back with them. (Caldwell's background is revealed as one trying to forget his past and death of his fiancee due to an automobile accident for which he takes responsibility). Regardless of being heavily in debt, Caldwell is set on staying in Big Bend. Before heading for bed, Caldwell answers a knock on the door, visitors being "Red" Bastian (Barton MacLane) and his gun moll, "Muggsy" (Mayo Methot), who come for treatment of Bastian's gunshot wound. Caldwell treats the wound at a point of a gun. Though he refuses a fee, Bastian leaves him a $100 and goes on his way. The next day, Bastian and his mob, driving down the road, pick up Josephine "Jo" Gray (Ann Dvorak), a hitchhiker on her way to California, with intentions of having her dropped off in Carsonville. Jo never makes it to her destination as Bastian and his mob stop to rob a bank in Big Bend. She makes her escape only to get a gunshot wound in the process. Caldwell comes to her aid and takes her to his home for treatment. He refuses to have her leave with the police while under his care, especially since she is believed to be part of Bastian gang. Caldwell becomes romantically interested in Jo, with plans of possible marriage. After reading about Jo in the newspaper, Bastian abducts her from the kindly doctor. Caldwell faces further complications when he is accused of being connected with Bastian when the $100 bill he used to pay his debts turns out to be one of the bills in connection with one of the bank robberies. Others in the cast include: Hobart Cavanaugh (Floyd Stevens, the druggist); Henry O'Neill (Greer); Grace Stafford (Caroline Suggs, the troubled girl); Olin Howland (Catlett); Marc Lawrence and Grady Sutton, among others.
Though not as famous as other crime capers featuring Edward G. Robinson or James Cagney, Paul Muni is acceptable as a good doctor of a small but gossipy town who falls victim to aiding gangsters. Barton MacLane, who seems to be type-cast in playing mob bosses as he did opposite James Cagney and Ann Dvorak in 'G' MEN (1935), performs his same task here as well. William Dieterle, would later direct Muni in his more prestigious productions of THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR (1936) and THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA (1937), keeps the pace moving during its 74 minutes. Look for a little inside humor of Paul Muni reading a book about Louis Pasteur in one scene - possibly a little hint to his next movie project to follow. Remade as KING OF THE UNDERWORLD (Warners, 1939) starring Humphrey Bogart (gangster) and Kay Francis (lady doctor), the remake also casts John Eldredge (who appears in one scene in DOCTOR SOCRATES) as Francis' doctor husband, with James Stephenson in the male counterpart to the Dvorak hitchhiking role.
Never distributed on video cassette, both DOCTOR SOCRATES and its remake, KING OF THE UNDERWORLD, often appear on cable television's Turner Classic Movies for evaluation or comparison purposes. (***)
Set in Big Bend (Ohio), "the biggest little city in Wayne County," the story opens with its residents discussing the latest crime caper committed by noted gangster, "Red" Bastian, from their local newspaper. Lee Caldwell (Paul Muni) is introduced as a new medical doctor from Chicago who is not well-liked by its residents, especially its long-time town doctor, Ginder (Robert Barrat) who labels Caldwell "Doctor Socrates" for his love for Greek philosophy and his reading of "The Republic of Plato." Returning home from the drug store, Caldwell, accompanied by his elderly housekeeper, "Ma" Ganson (Helen Lowell), finds he has visitors, fellow doctor friends from Chicago, McLinty (Samuel S. Hinds) and Dick Burton (John Eldredge). They each feel Caldwell, a brilliant surgeon, is wasting his time in this small town and want him to come back with them. (Caldwell's background is revealed as one trying to forget his past and death of his fiancee due to an automobile accident for which he takes responsibility). Regardless of being heavily in debt, Caldwell is set on staying in Big Bend. Before heading for bed, Caldwell answers a knock on the door, visitors being "Red" Bastian (Barton MacLane) and his gun moll, "Muggsy" (Mayo Methot), who come for treatment of Bastian's gunshot wound. Caldwell treats the wound at a point of a gun. Though he refuses a fee, Bastian leaves him a $100 and goes on his way. The next day, Bastian and his mob, driving down the road, pick up Josephine "Jo" Gray (Ann Dvorak), a hitchhiker on her way to California, with intentions of having her dropped off in Carsonville. Jo never makes it to her destination as Bastian and his mob stop to rob a bank in Big Bend. She makes her escape only to get a gunshot wound in the process. Caldwell comes to her aid and takes her to his home for treatment. He refuses to have her leave with the police while under his care, especially since she is believed to be part of Bastian gang. Caldwell becomes romantically interested in Jo, with plans of possible marriage. After reading about Jo in the newspaper, Bastian abducts her from the kindly doctor. Caldwell faces further complications when he is accused of being connected with Bastian when the $100 bill he used to pay his debts turns out to be one of the bills in connection with one of the bank robberies. Others in the cast include: Hobart Cavanaugh (Floyd Stevens, the druggist); Henry O'Neill (Greer); Grace Stafford (Caroline Suggs, the troubled girl); Olin Howland (Catlett); Marc Lawrence and Grady Sutton, among others.
Though not as famous as other crime capers featuring Edward G. Robinson or James Cagney, Paul Muni is acceptable as a good doctor of a small but gossipy town who falls victim to aiding gangsters. Barton MacLane, who seems to be type-cast in playing mob bosses as he did opposite James Cagney and Ann Dvorak in 'G' MEN (1935), performs his same task here as well. William Dieterle, would later direct Muni in his more prestigious productions of THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR (1936) and THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA (1937), keeps the pace moving during its 74 minutes. Look for a little inside humor of Paul Muni reading a book about Louis Pasteur in one scene - possibly a little hint to his next movie project to follow. Remade as KING OF THE UNDERWORLD (Warners, 1939) starring Humphrey Bogart (gangster) and Kay Francis (lady doctor), the remake also casts John Eldredge (who appears in one scene in DOCTOR SOCRATES) as Francis' doctor husband, with James Stephenson in the male counterpart to the Dvorak hitchhiking role.
Never distributed on video cassette, both DOCTOR SOCRATES and its remake, KING OF THE UNDERWORLD, often appear on cable television's Turner Classic Movies for evaluation or comparison purposes. (***)
Entertaining yarn
vincentlynch-moonoi8 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I was hesitant to watch this film because I feared it was just another of the boringly similar gangster films that Warner Brothers churned out in the 1930s. And while this film does have a gangster connection, it avoids becoming cliché.
"Dr. Socrates" (as he is called; Muni's character) is a young physician rather out of place in the small town in which he resides. He has few paying patients. As a result, a gangster (Barton MacLane) targets Muni as the right doctor to take care of any injuries that befall him or his gang. Meanwhile, MacLane picks up a female hitchhiker on the way to a bank robbery; she gets shot and is suspected of being a moll since she was in the getaway car. Muni takes her in, and they fall in love (naturally). Meanwhile, MacLane wants her back, and in a rather clever turn, Muni subdues the gang through drugs and saves the girl...just as the G-Men sweep in. Dr. Scorates is soon a hero instead of an outcast, and it appears that he and his lady will live happily ever after.
Although there are some issues with the plot (for example, would a gangster really pick up a hitchhiker on the way to a bank robbery?), overall it works pretty well, and is a relatively unique story.
Paul Muni is brilliant here. It's only in the past few days -- as TCM had a mini-film festival -- that I began to watch Muni flicks. I'm impressed. In each one he looks so different that one might not recognize them as the same actor.
Ann Dvorak is very good as the hitchhiker.
But, a mistake was made with Barton MacLane here as the head gangster. You'd almost think he was acting while on meth! I'm no fan of MacLane's anyway, but even less than normal in this picture.
Helen Lowell is pleasant as the cleaning lady. And note Mayo Methot as a moll; she had a knock-down/drag-out marriage with Humphrey Bogart beginning 3 years after this film was made. You'll recognize several other character actors in the cast; they all do nicely.
This is an entertaining film!
"Dr. Socrates" (as he is called; Muni's character) is a young physician rather out of place in the small town in which he resides. He has few paying patients. As a result, a gangster (Barton MacLane) targets Muni as the right doctor to take care of any injuries that befall him or his gang. Meanwhile, MacLane picks up a female hitchhiker on the way to a bank robbery; she gets shot and is suspected of being a moll since she was in the getaway car. Muni takes her in, and they fall in love (naturally). Meanwhile, MacLane wants her back, and in a rather clever turn, Muni subdues the gang through drugs and saves the girl...just as the G-Men sweep in. Dr. Scorates is soon a hero instead of an outcast, and it appears that he and his lady will live happily ever after.
Although there are some issues with the plot (for example, would a gangster really pick up a hitchhiker on the way to a bank robbery?), overall it works pretty well, and is a relatively unique story.
Paul Muni is brilliant here. It's only in the past few days -- as TCM had a mini-film festival -- that I began to watch Muni flicks. I'm impressed. In each one he looks so different that one might not recognize them as the same actor.
Ann Dvorak is very good as the hitchhiker.
But, a mistake was made with Barton MacLane here as the head gangster. You'd almost think he was acting while on meth! I'm no fan of MacLane's anyway, but even less than normal in this picture.
Helen Lowell is pleasant as the cleaning lady. And note Mayo Methot as a moll; she had a knock-down/drag-out marriage with Humphrey Bogart beginning 3 years after this film was made. You'll recognize several other character actors in the cast; they all do nicely.
This is an entertaining film!
Dr. Cardwell sees Red!
planktonrules23 January 2020
Dr. Lee Cardwell (Paul Muni) is in a huge funk. After losing his girlfriend while he was performing surgery on her, he's been depressed and out of work. Life for him in a new small town isn't very satisfying either, as all the locals see Dr. Ginder. However, over time, folks start seeing Cardwell and among these new patients is a real doozy....the wanted criminal Red Bastian! Now it is NOT because Cardwell wanted to treat the guy...but given a choice of refusing and dying or treating him, Cardwell chose the obvious path. The problem now is that Bastian LIKES and trusts Cardwell, and it's likely he'll be back to provide him more business whether he wants it or not!
The biggest reason to watch this film is for Barton MacLane. His Red Bastian performance is great...and he was wonderful in thug roles. Additionally, the script is clever and the ending well worth seeing...well worth seeing.
The biggest reason to watch this film is for Barton MacLane. His Red Bastian performance is great...and he was wonderful in thug roles. Additionally, the script is clever and the ending well worth seeing...well worth seeing.
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