The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (Warner Bros.) (1938)

L.A. EXAMINER Says: “Robinson Gives One Of Most Distinctive Performances Of His Career.” (Opening Day) Robinson As ‘Clitterhouse’ At The Strand Edward G. Robinson comes to the screen of the Strand Theatre today in what he has described as the most fascinating role of his career — the truly extraordinary title character of “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,”” a bizarre crime film with hilarious undertones of comedy based by Warner Bros. on the London and New York stage hit of the same name. It is the tale of a distinguished neurological surgeon who embarks upon a career of crime in order, so he says, to study the mental and physical reactions of criminals during those moments when they are perpetrating their crimes. He becomes as successful a criminal in the course of his allegedly scientific dual existence as he is a surgeon. In fact, his facile brain soon enables him to become the leader of a bigtime band of robbers previously dominated by Humphrey Bogart and for whom Claire Trevor is the stylishly garbed ‘“‘fence.”’ Leading his band in one big robbery after another, the doctor seems to manifest a strange zest for his illegal enterprises until he is suddenly brought up short by arrest for the murder of Bogart, who had threatened blackmail. Placed on trial for his life, the doctor escapes the penalty for the murder he has undoubtedly committed by a shrewd manipulation of the psychology of the jurors. It is one of the strangest denouements ever related in any film, but convincing nevertheless and highly amusing. Other members of the impressive cast, besides those already mentioned, include Gale Page, Allen Jenkins, Donald Crisp, Henry O’Neill, John Litel, Thurston Hall, Maxie Rosenbloom, Ward Bond, Curt Bois, Bert Hanlon and Vladimir Sokoloff. The stage play, written by Barre Lyndon, was turned into a screen play by John Wexley and John Huston, and the production was directed by Anatole Litvak who did “‘Tovarich.”’ Music Sets Film Pace Says Director Music is the key to tempo in making motion pictures, in the opinion of Anatole Litvak, famous European director who is now a member of the Hollywood film colony. A well made picture, according to Litvak, naturally falls into a definite musical cadence; and he believes that the best directors are those who have a fundamental knowledge and feeling for music. ““Mayerling,”” which Litvak directed in France and which scored a great success in America as well as in Europe, was made in waltz time, he says. “A story of that type, definitely dated and against the romantic background of Vienna,” he explains, “‘naturally falls into a waltz time or three-four tempo. Other pictures might be likened to symphonies, with a smooth blending of various themes.” “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,” at the Strand, which Litvak directed with Edward G. Robinson as the star, is in jazz tempo, he says, and he has governed himself accordingly. ‘The action is fast, a bit jerky, but with a definite swing to it in quick time,” he says. ‘“‘Just as there are ‘sweet’ interludes in a jazz composition, with instruments muted, so there are in a production like ‘The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse.’ These are the comedy scenes of the picture and the romantic interludes. But mostly the tempo is fast and blaring, just like a hot band.” (Review) Robinson Scores Hit In Amazing Crime Film “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse’”’ Smash Comedy Drama With Claire Trevor, Humphrey Bogart Edward G. Robinson has the greatest role of his career in “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse.”’ That was plainly the unanimous verdict of the audience which was _ thrilled, highly amused at the opening yesterday at the Strand Theatre of this extraordinary, unconventional, bizarre motion picture fashioned by Warner Bros. from the plot of the stage play by the same name which enjoyed long runs in both London and New York. Long famous for his portrayals of ruthless criminals, Robinson has the great good fortune in this picture of being able to demonstrate the high order of his acting skill by enacting an engrossingly complex character — a Park Avenue doctor who spends his days in the practice of medicine, his nights in the Practice of crime. Just as with the central character, the picture itself has an effectiveness far beyond that of the ordinary crime film, because there is added to all the thrilling, exciting action of such productions, the fascinating problem in criminal psychology presented by its unusual hero, and an underlying note of comedy. He is, on the surface, a highly respected neurological surgeon who becomes so obsessed with a study of the physical and mental reactions of criminals at the times when they are committing their crimes that he determines to engage in criminal activities himself in order to ob fascinated and serve his own reactions and those of the criminals he will be associated with. Dr. Clitterhouse soon rises to the leadership of a band of robbers formerly led by Humphrey Bogart and for which Claire Trevor acts as ‘fence’ and coHardened criminals all, they don’t know what to make of “the Professor,” but they good-humoredly indulge his whims, and allow him to test their reactions during the commission of their many crimes. Bogart, alone of the gang, is susPicious of him, and his threat of exposure leads the Doctor to commit the ultimate crime of leader. murder. The murder leads to his unmasking, and he is arrested and put on trial for his life. Although his lawyer has presented a plea of insanity, Clitterhouse staunchly declares himself sane. This convinces the jury of his insanity, and he is acquitted in a court scene that is unrivalled in cinematic hilarity. The really brilliant supporting cast, besides Miss Trevor and Bogart, includes Gale Page, Allen Jenkins, Donald Crisp, Henry O'Neill, John Litel, Thurston Hall, Maxie Rosenbloom and Ward Bond. Barre Lyndon’s stage play was adapted for the screen by John Wexley and John Huston, and the production was directed by Anatole Litvak, who first became known in this country for his direction of ‘“‘Mayerling.”’ STORY SYNOPSIS (Not for publication) —Edward G. Robinson in the title role of Dr. Clitterhouse, a criminal medico. Claire Trevor as the woman ‘fence’ who, impressed by his ability, introduces the doctor to her gang. His contact with criminals impels him to become their leader. He conducts clinical tests of his followers in the course of a series of robberies, and finally murders the former gang-leader (Humphrey Bogart), in self defense. The ensuing trial is skilfully treated with suspense and clever surprises. RUNNING TIME — 87 minutes LENGTH — 7985 feet CAST OF CHARACTERS Dr. Clitterhouse IO Koller =o oii. can: Claire Trevor ‘Rocks’ Valentine .................. Okayer ne ne Allen Jenkins Inspector Lane........ Donald Crisp Nurse Randolph .......... Gale Page Judgeu ss... sate tu Henry O’Neill Prosecuting Attorney ............ aed dua neatea ara a aa John Litel | Sa ie ee Thurston Hall Buiteh ‘bi cscgp.< Maxie Rosenbloom ge Rae ee eth Alig Bert Hanlon PRMIUNDL of tisics «sk ee Curt Bois PG See Ward Bond Popus \o..505...4.5. Vladimir Sokoloff Candy eee ae Billy Wayne Lt. Johnson: 0.5... :. Robert Homans Foreman of Jury......_Irving Bacon PRODUCTION STAFF Directed by ........ Anatole Litvak Screen play by ...... John Wexley and John Huston Play’ by crete Barre Lyndon Photography by... oe Pea ein oe Tony Gaudio, A.S.C. Film Editor ............ Warren Low Musical Director...................... BPR cout, Hem rap Leo F. Forbstein Sound: bia wo. ee C. A. Riggs Dialogue Director Wardrobe by........ Milo Anderson Technical Adviser .................. Bs. Cees Dr. Lec Shulman Gale Gets No Frocks Pity the plight of pretty Gale Page, who never gets the chance to wear pretty frocks on the screen. In “Crime School,” her first picture she was a poor girl from the slums, and was dressed accordingly. In her second, ‘The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse”’ at the Strand, she’s a nurse and wears her plain white uniform throughout all her scenes in the film. Prankster At Work The same anonymous person who stuck the lighted match in the shoe of Dr. Leo Shulman, technical adviser for the hospital room and other medical sequences in “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,’” made a_ substitution in the knitting needles used by Gale Page in the same picture. The joker substituted rubber needles for her steel ones. Mat 204—30c SOMETHING HE ET, NO DOUBT—“The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse”’ (Edward G. Robinson) looks for Allen Jenkins’ lost voice assisted by his host of yeggs. “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse’’ opens at the Strand today. (Ourrent) Claire Trevor Reversed Cinderella Tale Claire Trevor is a “‘Cinderella Girl” with a reverse twist. Many a writer has used the idea of having a pretty young thing get an interview with a theatrical producer by a subterfuge and then so completey bowl him over with her talent that he immediately puts her name in front of the theatre in lights. Miss Trevor now playing opposite Edward G. Robinson, in Warner Bros. “‘The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,’” opening today at the Strand, tried the formula and it worked — up to the point of bowling over the producer. After a couple of seasons in dramatic school, she went out looking for a job, and, forcing her way into a producer's office, painted an alluring picture of her theatrical background. He was particularly interested in her story of playing the lead in ““The Ivory Door,” and when he prompted her a bit she glibly reeled off the entire cast. “That's funny,” he remarked. “I don’t seem to remember you. You see I produced that show.” Whereupon she confessed that she was fictionizing and he was so impressed with her frankness that he gave her a test in the role she was after. But “‘Cinderella’’ was so flustered, she muffed the lines and didn’t get the role. Which is entirely contrary to the Cinderella formula. It took several seasons of hard ground work in stock and then three seasons on Broadway to bring to Miss Trevor her chance at pictures. She came to Holywood nearly three years ago, and except for two brief vacations, has been working before the cameras almost continuously ever since that time. Got Good Practice Edward G. Robinson, who numbers familiarity with half a dozen languages as among his accomplishments, amused himself between scenes of his latest Warner Bros. picture, “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,"” now playing at the Strand Theatre, by conversing in Russian with Director Anatole Litvak and Vladimir Sokoloff, and in German with another associate, Curt Bois. No Cigar For 13 Hours Edward G. Robinson felt pret ty tired after completing his role in “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,” and said he was “going home to do nothing for a week, except sleep.’’ He did sleep that night for thirteen hours, and his wife says this is a record length of time for her famous husband to go without a single cigar. (Current) By His Smokes Youll Know Eddie's Roles Even before he has appeared on the screen long enough to reveal definitely the sort of a character he is playing, you can always figure out the general type of role Edward G. Robinson is enacting by watching what he smokes. For instance, in out-and-out gangster roles, such as “‘Little Caesar,” a long black cigar is the indicator that he’s rough and tough and will stop at nothing to accomplish his nefarious ends. If he is a “‘slicker,’’ a smart, wily sort of a fellow, you'll see Robinson puffing cigarettes in a holder. But when he does a smooth, suave, society type of role such as the title part in ““The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,”’ the Warner Bros. picture in which he is now playing at the Strand Theatre, you may always expect to see him puffing a well seasoned briarwood pipe. “A society doctor, such as “Dr. Clitterhouse,” he says, “‘wouldn’t smoke big fat cigars. If he smoked cigars at all, they would be lean panatelas. But he’d be more apt to smoke a pipe, with an occasional cigarette when he’s out in society. So that’s exactly what | do.” As for giving up smoking entirely for a picture, Robinson is shocked at the suggestion. “IT don’t think I could do it,” he says. “Smoking is too much a part of myself.” Bogart Merely Critic Humphrey Bogart was overwhelmed with pictures of pet cats and dogs from fans all over the country seeking his aid in getting their pets on the screen because of the publicity given his award to the best performance by an animal for 1937. He wants it understood that he is not an agent for animal actors, merely a critic. As to his own acting, his latest role is in the Warner Bros. crime picture, “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,”’ at the Strand Theatre. He’d Be Crooning Killer With Maxie Rosenbloom burst ing into song and cowboys scaring the ranch animals into giving sour milk with their bellowings, Humphrey Bogart says he’s considering bursting into song himself. ‘‘At least,"” he says, “lll be the first Crooning Killer.”’ His latest sinister characterization — but still without music — is in “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,’” which is now showing at the Strand Theatre. Page Thirteen