Doctor X (Warner Bros.) (1932)

STORIES EDITORS WILL USE! your DD th story Camera Plays Important Part in Development of Suspense in “Doctor X’’ The “curious camera” is responsible for much of the feeling of suspense created in the new First National’s all Technicolor mystery melodrama, “Doctor X,” coming to the pees? FCAITC 5 a s0 Director Michael Curtiz has named it that because he puts the camera in the place of an interested and curious person, poking it into dark hallways and mysterious closets, investigating this and running down that and trying as best it can to solve the mystery. “It sometimes happens,” Curtiz explains, “that an audience at a mystery melodrama showing becomes irritated because the characters seem. to stupidly avoid investigations which would almost obviously bring to light some pertinent fact. So, in “Doctor X” we use the camera to satisfy the audience’s curiosity, by letting it look into the most suspicious corners and do the things any member of the audience would do in its place in trying to find the solution of the mystery. “It is just what we say it is. It is a ‘Curious Camera.’ I do not know that it has ever been used before just like this. We think it adds greatly to the suspense of our picture.” “Doctor X” is a Warner Bros. picture adapted from the stage play by Howard Comstock and Allen Miller. The cast is headed by Lee Tracy, Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, John Wray, Preston Foster, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Robert Warwick and many others. Michael Curtiz directed. your é: th story Lee Tracy Again Cast as Newspaperman Lee Tracy, who plays the leading role in the Technicolor mystery melodrama, “Doctor X,” coming to the <= ss Lheatre ......., and who-<is, acording to the judgment of several million fans, the most typical screen newspaper reporter in existence, never actually worked at the trade at all. Tracy admits to several ambitions at various times in his brief but eventful career, but newspaper work is not one of them. He wanted first of all to be a doctor, but even on the stage or screen he has never been cast in such a role. He never yearned for the chance to “cover” a murder, but when there is a murder to be “covered” in a play or picture, Tracy is certain to be the first one suggested : “Doctor X,’’ Mystery Thriller, Opens at .... Theatre Today Heralded as the finest mystery melodrama ever brought to the screen, ‘Doctor X,” a First National Technicolor picture, comes to the... . Theatre for an extended engagement today. Boasting an all-star cast, headed by Lee Tracy, famous for his reporter roles; Lionel Atwill, famous stage star; Fay Wray, Preston Foster, John Wray and many others, “Doctor X” also has the distinction of being the first mystery screen story with thrills, comedy and romance combined. _ others. Michael Curtiz Opening Day Story for the part. He is at it again in “Doctor X,” for First National, a mystery melodrama in which Tracy is not only the newspaper reporter but also the comedy relief and the romantic lead. Tracy’s screen roles have all been as newspaper reporters. His long association with such roles on the New York stage, as well as in pictures in Hollywood, has brought him a wide acquaintance among newspaper men generally and in each new characterization he chooses some one of them and uses him as a rough pattern for the role. “Doctor X” is a First National picture adapted from the stage play by Howard Comstock and Allen Miller. The cast is headed by Lee Tracy, Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, John Wray, Preston Foster, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Robert Warwick and many directed. —— ie “Doctor X” is adapted from the stage play of the same name by Howard W. Comstock and Allen C. Miller. It was directed by Michael Curtiz, director of “Alias The Doctor’ and other screen successes, and adapted by Robert Tasker and Earl Baldwin. The story is said to be replete with thrills and surprises, as well as the clever comedy of Lee Tracy, who again plays a newspaper reporter. This time he attempts to run down a series of sensational murder mysteries, with considerable success. “Doctor X” comes highly recommended as a mystery comedy, affording the most unusual screen entertainment offered in a long time. It will no doubt be given a warm welcome by local theatregoers, who _like a happy mixture of laughs and thrills. Es day of run Patrons Asked Not to Reveal Climax of Thrilling “‘Doctor X”’ Even your best friend won’t tell you, if the request of . . . .. manager of the .... Theatre, is heeded. During the current run of the First National picture, “Doctor X,” at the For the Bald Headed Man At last the bald headed man is getting attention from a movie house. Heretofore the fellow with a bald pate was always considered a front row patron of a burlesque show. Now comes the management of the. .--.., .Theatre -with : an appeal especially aimed at the fellow without hair. There is a sign at the front of the theatre which reads as follows: “Every bald headed man should see ‘Doctor X.’ It’s hair-raising.” Page Sixteen . Theatre, Manager ... . is going against the general rule of exploitation and begging his audiences not to divulge the essential interest of the picture to their friends. This interest lies in a very cleverly through the laughs and thrills of this contrived mystery which winds melodrama. The denouement of_this mystery comes as such a surprise as to provide one of the greatest cinematic thrills of the year. In order that each person who views the picture may get the utmost out of this cleverly woven story, Manager . _ is seeing to it that they come to the ' theatre without any foreknowledge of its ultimate revelation. “Doctor X,” which is in Technicolor, is played by a cast capable of the finest entertainment. Lee Tracy once more gives an outstanding performance as a _ wise-cracking reporter, while Fay Wray supplies the charming love interest. Lionel Atwill, John Wray, Peston Foster and many others contribute largely to the picture’s success. Suspicion has your ree story Silence Used to Heighten Mystery in “Doctor X”’ “Silence,” according to Michael Curtiz, director of First’ National’s new screen mystery melodrama, “Doctor xX, coming sto.the=...-.-.. =. =-bneatre : » “is golden in melodrama as in other circumstances.” One of the most. valuable things talking pictures have made possible, he suggests, is the use of silence to get over the effect of suspense, terror, uncertainty. When the whole screen was silent there was no way to show this, but when pictures found a voice they also made it possible to depict circumstances in which the average human being becomes voiceless from fear or other strong emotions. Whole sequences in “Doctor X” are silent, with no sound to break the suspense as the characters move through the development of the story. “The spoken word,” says Curtiz, “is a powerful agent for putting over melodrama, but when you have the use of the spoken word, then silence becomes an even stronger method of emphasizing the high spots of a plot.” “Doctor X” is a mystery melodrama filmed in Technicolor, in which Lee Tracy, Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, John Wray, Preston Foster, Harry Beresford, George Rosener and Mae Busch play important dramatic roles. “Doctor X” is said to be the most thrilling mystery story ever brought to the screen. Day Before Opening No Rain, Lightning or Wind Effects Used in *‘Doctor X”’ Mystery A mystery melodrama _ without benefit of wind, rain or lightning is almost unique in screen histery, but “Doctor X,” First National’s exciting Technicolor picture, at the.... Theatre, has that added distinction. Dramatists from Shakespeare’s time down have almost invariably called on nature for help in the building of melodrama. The elements have always been considered legitimate aids in setting an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. The old stage mechanic outdid nature at her worst in staging thunder storms such as were never heard in fact and in making the wind howl in a way that would shame a South Seas hurricane.’ But the material used in “Doctor X” was considered effective enough without adding unnecessary weather complications for heightened drama. In this mystery the scenarist deals with the activities of a skillful criminal, in a setting made weird enough by associating it with a half dozen half-mad scientists, each working toward some uncertain end. “Doctor X” is a picture with real thrills and a_ beautiful romance. Through its thrilling sequences move Lee Tracy, Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Preston Foster, John Wray, Arthur Edmund Carewe and George Rosener. Michael Curtiz directed. Fay Wray in “‘Doctor X”’ a Hollywood-Born Girl Hollywood High School, where sons and daughters of the stars are tutored, has contributed innumerable players to the screen, but none has achieved greater fame than Fay Wray, heroine of “Doctor X,” which comes to the... . .~,; Theatre™ next : 0p Pg ea AN ee pron, Petiy se ee SO Qe Tip gt oe Serge She went from school to studio and has been a success from the start. In “Doctor X,” a mystery melodrama produced by First National Pictures in Technicolor, she plays the feminine lead, supported by a cast of splendid actors. These include Lee Tracy, Lionel Atwill, Preston Foster, George Rosener, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Harry Beresford, RobertWarwiek, John Wray and Leila Ber" 0 hae hea omedienne. Youu rot built a reaily rotesave ~ stairway, which. Review “Doctor X”’ a Powerful Mystery With Romance Comedy and Thrills Well contrived mystery mixed with sturdy melodrama and brilliant comedy and perfect Technicolor held an audience spellbound yesterday at the .... y Where the First National picture, “Doctor X,” opened its run. There is more than the usual good measure of interest packed in this picture. To add to its various effects there is the very splen-§ did acting of well chosen, all star cast. part of th tion with story center about. a groupe of doctors at-§ tached to a medical re search center. LIONEL ATWILL been cast on Cut No. 11 them in connec-. Cut 15e = Mat 5c series of mysterious murders committed only at the full of the moon. Doctor Xavier, head of the institution, conducts his own experiments, independent of the police, to discover the murderer; but these experiments only seem to help the unknown murderer in his depravities. A young newspaperman, glib and witty, follows the course of the murder investigation against odds and op effect. tor X” has to be seen. ADDITIONAL PUBLICITY The various exploitation stunts suggested for newspaper tie-ups, will undoubtedly give you a wealth of additional newspaper publicity. Plan a daily running story while the newspaper tie-ups are in position. He comes in for several hard knocks himself, but nothing deters him from getting the story. He finds an added attraction in Doctor Xavier’s daughter, whose life he ultimately saves when the others are helpless to prevent the mumlerer from getting her. This latter scene is one of the high spots of the picture. As the newspaper reporter, Lee Tracy (perennial reporter of both stage and screen) displays an excellent and novel quality of acting. To him fell the job of being the story pivot, the love interest and the comedy relief, a job Tracy carried through seemingly without effort, but with great effect. Lionel Atwill, actor and director of stage plays, contributes a forcefully superb piece of acting as Doctor Xavier. The other doctors in the institution, Preston Foster, Arthur Edmund Carewe, John Wray and Harry Beresford, are also excellent. The daughter was well played by Fay Wray, with the balance of the cast of well-known names very aptly fitted to their parts. The players include George Rosener, Leila Bennett, Robert Warwick, Willard Robertson, Thomas Jackson, Harry Holman, Tom Dugan and Mae Busch. The original play by Howard W. Comstock and Allen C. Miller was adapted and dialogued for the screen by Robert Tasker and Earl Baldwin. Director Michael Curtiz apparently didn’t seem to overlook a bet in directing the picture. ‘The picture is full of thrilling surprises. It kept the spectators on the edges of their seats throughout. “Doc °