The Black Doll (1938) User Reviews

Decent , but goofy tale of murder in a small town that you'll forget soon after viewing

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 19 March 2005]

There is a liberal dose of humor in this movie where Edgar Kennedy, master of the slow burn, plays a sheriff investigating a murder in a small town. The point of the plot is the Black Doll of the title and a harbinger of death which appears and disappears through out the proceedings. Kennedy is "aided" by a newspaper reporter who manages to put the whole thing together.

Its a breezy 65 minutes that fly by almost as an after thought. The mystery is clever but it seems stretched out to fill the required running time. The cast is quite good and the whole thing has the feel of something from a lazy Sunday.

Its so breezy as to be utterly forgettable. I recently found this on one of my video tapes and was totally baffled by what it was. I know that I had watched this previously since I removed the commercials at some earlier time, but I can't for the life of me remember ever seeing it other than when I just popped it into the VCR last night. Now some twelve hours later I find the film rapidly disappearing from my mind.

If you want to see a film you'll enjoy for its running time but which will leave no trace on you consciousness, this is the movie for you.

Seen on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater in 1968

[kevinolzak · 6/10 · 28 May 2011]

1938's "The Black Doll" was the second of seven Crime Club mysteries from Universal, and the first of two that starred Donald Woods and lovely Nan Grey. Although not included in Universal's popular SHOCK! package of classic horror films issued to television in the late 50's, it did air an amazing 4 times on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater- December 14 1968 (followed by 1961's "Creature from the Haunted Sea"), May 30 1970 (following 1958's "Invasion of the Animal People"), April 10 1971 (following 1942's "Bowery at Midnight"), and July 14 1973 (following 1936's "Bat Men of Africa"). The opening credits roll to the Franz Waxman score from "Bride of Frankenstein" (as does "The Lady in the Morgue"), with snatches throughout heard from "The Invisible Man," "WereWolf of London," "The Raven," "The Invisible Ray," and "Dracula's Daughter." The mystery is a solid one, featuring C. Henry Gordon as Nelson Rood, who receives a curious black doll as an unwanted reminder of his past murder of a colleague that discovered a rich mine. This ill omen is known only to Rood and his two partners, Walling (John Wray) and Mallison (Addison Richards), both of whom are summoned to Rood's remote country mansion, shortly before the host is killed in front of his daughter (Nan Grey), an eyewitness to the crime through her mirror, but who never saw the murderer. Her boyfriend is Nick Halstead (Donald Woods), who arrives on the scene before the moronic sheriff (Edgar Kennedy), plus the local doctor (Holmes Herbert) living nearby. Also residing in the victim's home are his sister (Doris Lloyd) and her son (William Lundigan), a gambler and forger caught in the act by the now dead Rood. Nan Grey is just adorable, and the climax finds our hero solving the crimes at the breakfast table (!). Plenty of suspects and good atmosphere, let down only by the increasingly irritating antics from the inept authorities, still perfect for late night viewing. The next Crime Club would be "The Lady in the Morgue."

I know something you don't know

[Paularoc · 7/10 · 11 August 2013]

Because they have good casts and a nice dosage of humor, I like the Crime Club murder mysteries and this entry is no exception. The wealthy and overbearing Nicholas Rood finds a Mexican voodoo like black doll on his desk. According to Rood's butler, this signifies an impending death. And sure enough, Rood is killed by a thrown knife. There are suspects galore - among them Rood's sister and wife, the butler and two former partners from whom Rood has been hiding for several years. Rood's daughter and clever boyfriend (the charming Nan Grey and the ever affable Donald Woods) take the lead in the investigation, which is a good thing because the cops investigating the crime, Sheriff Renick and his deputy are pretty dimwitted to say the least. Edgar Kennedy as the Sheriff provides most of the welcome humor. In fact, Kennedy has one of my all time favorite stupid remarks. He says to Woods, "I know something you don't know." "What?" "You're standing on my foot." Even with lines like this, it' a fun and an entertaining movie. Interesting to me is that Holmes Herbert who starred in a number of silent films has the role of Dr. Giddings in this movie. Herbert never rose above character roles in sound films.

"Oh I get it. You mean just like in that picture The Mark of Zero."

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 9 April 2020]

A rich jerk is killed after receiving a black doll as a warning. A young detective and buffoon sheriff work to solve the crime. I love movies where a murder takes place in a house on a dark and stormy night and the detective(s) investigate all the suspects. This was released as part of Universal's Crime Club series and, in my opinion, it's the best of the bunch. Donald Woods is enjoyable and lovely Nan Grey is always worth watching, but the real scene stealer is Edgar Kennedy as the sheriff in over his head trying to solve the murder. Every scene with this guy is gold. The rest of the cast is good, too. A few familiar faces in there. This is the kind of picture that you feel like you've seen all of it before in various movies, but it doesn't really hurt your entertainment much. The humor helps elevate it above many similar films. It's a well put-together B movie of its type. A type which I happen to enjoy quite a bit.

Tepid mystery from Crime Club series

[goblinhairedguy · 5/10 · 31 October 2005]

This B-movie was the second entry in Universal's long-forgotten Crime Club series, based on a popular run of mystery books of the time. A few of the entries are well above-average, thanks mainly to strong source material (Jonathan Latimer wrote several of the originals) and fine, resourceful low-budget direction by the obscure Otis Garrett (who died just as his career was getting established). This one concerns a skein of murders presaged by a native doll, a revenge plot revolving around the discovery of a rich mine many years before.

This was Garrett's first directorial foray (he had edited the previous entry), and he shows plenty of enthusiasm early on with some clever camera setups (the first murder, by tossed knife, is seen reflected in a mirror). Comedy relief was de rigueur in the genre at the time, and unfortunately, Edgar Kennedy's low-humor bumbling cop is given far to much prominence, totally undermining the creepy atmosphere established before his appearance. Also, the always-nasty C Henry Gordon gets killed off early on in the proceedings. The plot never really gels, and it all ends with one of those Charlie-Chan-style all-the-suspects-in-one-room scenes, which is handled in a disappointingly pedestrian manner. In the leads, Nan Grey is very fetching and Donald Woods affable. Stanley Cortez, still trapped in B-land, was co-cinematographer. Unless you're a completist, you can give this one a miss and try the strikingly-edited "Lady in the Morgue" instead.

Ruined by the comedy

[bensonmum2 · 3/10 · 20 December 2020]

When Nelson Rood (C Henry Gordon) finds a black doll on his desk, he knows it can mean only one thing - his death. Sure enough, later that night, Rood is killed by a knife to the back. Rood was never the kindest man in the world, so he had his fair share of enemies. Rood's daughter's boyfriend, Nick Halstead (Donald Woods), fancies himself an amateur detective and sets out to investigate. But Halstead will have to stay out of the way of the local bumbling sheriff if he's to find a killer.

Based on the IMDb rating (5.9) and all the positive reviews, I know The Black Doll has some fans. I'm, however, not among them. While I enjoyed some of the mystery elements of the story and a character or two, I had a couple of big problems with the film that kept me from enjoying it. First, as my little intro suggests, boyfriend Halstead does most of the real detective work. And by that I mean he makes a series of wild guesses generally based on very little real evidence, yet somehow he's miraculously correct 100% of the time. I like the solutions to my mysteries to be more fact-based. Second, bumbling Sheriff Renick (Edgar Kennedy) is more than I can take. He's just not funny. His brand of comedy, including a pocket full of pipes he continuously smokes and then breaks, doesn't appeal to me at all. Sadly, Kennedy ruined any hope of me finding much entertainment in The Black Doll.

3/10

Decent Crime Club Entry

[Michael_Elliott · 29 October 2015]

The Black Doll (1938)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Reporter Nick Halstead (Donald Woods) helps a rather dimwitted sheriff (Edgar Kennedy) investigate a series of murders, which are connected by a black voodoo doll that is left with the victim.

This is an entry in Universal's Crime Club series and for the most part it's an entertaining little "B" movie but at the same time there's no doubt that you'll forget about it soon after the end credits roll. This series was made on a very low budget as the studio tried to get some revenue back after their 1936 film SHOWBOAT lost so much money. With that in mind, you really don't have anything overly special here but if you enjoy these type of thrillers then you should enjoy it.

It certainly helps that you've got Woods in a fine and loose form. He certainly brings some energy to the role that helps keep the film moving at a nice pace. Kennedy plays the dimwitted by likable guy that he played throughout his career. The two of them actually have some nice chemistry and the humor works more times than not. The film also benefits from some nice direction by Otis Garrett who makes for some nice atmosphere and especially during the murder scenes.

THE BLACK DOLL runs just 66 minutes so it's not deep or filled with anything great but it does get its job done.

Pretty much follows the blueprint that 95% of these sorts of films follows.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 24 February 2018]

"The Black Doll" is one of about 658,002,832 B-murder mysteries made during the 1930s and 40s and there is a certain sameness about them because most follow similar patterns. First, a person establishes to the audience they are thoroughly despicable and they then soon die. Second, a dopey cop shows up to investigate. Third, the crime is solved by an amateur. Fourth, everyone not killed lives happily ever after.

When the story begins, Nelson Rood (C. Henry Gordon) spends a lot of time ticking off everyone around him. He's a thoroughly disgusting individual and you know in a film like this, Rood will soon be dead and EVERYONE who knew him is a suspect! The only real difference is that a black doll was found next to his body.

Into this mess arrives the brain-dead Sheriff (Edgar Kennedy). He's a bit more bumbling and ridiculous that usual for this sort of cop...but not much. But there's also the know-it-all amateur, Mr. Halstead (Donald Woods)...who made TONS of educated guesses and gets all of them right...as if he was reading the screenplay in order to know all the answers.

So who is doing this and why are they using a black doll? Who knows...and considering that it's so formulaic, who really cares?!

Very entertaining mystery with laughs

[csteidler · 8/10 · 2 April 2012]

Boy, is rich old Nelson Rood (C. Henry Gordon) asking for it! He is rude and imperious with everyone around him. So when he finds a black doll on his desk with a knife through it, he knows it's a genuine threat.

Who might want to harm Rood? Well….He is cruel to his sister, who lives with him and depends on his support. He scoffs at his nephew, a rebellious young man who has been forging his uncle's name on checks. He tries to chase away his daughter's fiancé. He even insults his faithful butler. And then there are the two old "business partners" from whom he has been hiding for 15 years, seemingly the only two people alive who could have known about the black doll….

Nan Grey and Donald Cook make a nice pair as the intelligent daughter and her clever fiancé. Cook is right on the job when the murder is discovered; true, it's a murder investigation, but he generally gives the impression that he is having great fun with it all. Grey exhibits charm and personality—she's smarter than your average B movie heroine here, and fully a match for Cook's exuberance. (Alas, Grey is not really given quite enough to do.)

Edgar Kennedy is strictly comic relief as the sheriff, but if you like Edgar then this film is for you. His best line: "When I'm investigating a crime, I'm not a man—I'm a bloodhound!" He's blustery, hilarious and totally inept right to the film's final shot.

The mystery plot itself is pretty standard….but it keeps you guessing. The dialog is good and the performances energetic. Lots of fun for B mystery fans.

One line that mystified me: "Get me a jar of jelly, some talcum powder, and a plate." (Donald Woods apparently preparing to take some fingerprints. All for naught, however, as one of Sheriff Kennedy's deputies eats the jelly.)

Oh you dangerous doll, you deadly dangerous doll....

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 10 November 2018]

The events leading up to the murder of ruthless millionaire C. Henry Gordon promise an exciting B murder mystery that sadly goes sour the minute that the corpse is discovered. Then, it goes off into the abyss of silly comedy involving local sheriff Edgar Kennedy who creates more chaos than he solves. This leads the bulk of the detecting to amateur sleuth Donald Woods who discovers all sorts of betrayal within the victim's own family (sister Doris Lloyd, daughter Nan Grey, nephew William Lundigan) as well as ruthless business deals from Gordon's past which create more suspects. The only really intriguing element of this crime club mystery is the presence of the titled black doll which indicates an element of voodoo spells placed on the victim that he gets to see before he finds a knife in his own back. Everything after that is cliched nonsense that strives through humor to maintain interest, although Lloyd is given a great exit line at the expense of one of the more annoying character's.

Ordinary Ravines

[tedg · 5 July 2010]

This is pretty much a direct copy of the pulp novel formula then popular.

Detective happens to be nearby when a murder is committed. Once engaged, others occur.

The pool of suspects is small and confined to a country home.

The policeman on the case is greatly outclassed by the detective and provides comedy. There is a funny joke here. The sheriff's men are bunglers as well. The sheriff says to them both, better get your act together or you'll be selling popcorn again, meaning: you won't be on the screen any more but in the back at the concession stand.

The solution to the crimes comes while everyone is gathered to hear the detective explain things at the end. Traditionally there are some surprise revelations beyond the murder and that happens here. Also traditionally, the solution to the mystery depends on you having made an assumption about a key fact.

The trick here involves a VooDoo-like doll make of leather that was a child's plaything but appears after decades and repurposed as a curse. The production values are typical for this sort of thing, and the mystery a bit better. There is no offensive racist chauffeur in this one. That slot is filled by a Hispanic butler, whose accent and language are the source of jokes.

Other than the self-referential joke, not much important here.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.