Devil Doll (1964)
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31% of users liked it
(506 ratings)
Falsely convicted Lionel Barrymore escapes from Devil's Island with fellow prisoner H.B. Walthall. A brilliant scientist, Walthall reveals to Barrymore that he has developed a process to shrink human beings. Upon Walthall's death, Barrymore makes his way back to the old scientist's lab,… More Falsely convicted Lionel Barrymore escapes from Devil's Island with fellow prisoner H.B. Walthall. A brilliant scientist, Walthall reveals to Barrymore that he has developed a process to shrink human beings. Upon Walthall's death, Barrymore makes his way back to the old scientist's lab, intending to use Walthall's formula to exact vengeance on those who have wronged him. He does so, clearing his name and securing the future happiness of his daughter Maureen O'Sullivan (who believes that Barrymore is dead) in the process. But Barrymore's crazed assistant Rafaela Ottiano isn't satisfied. "We'll make the whole world small!" she hisses, forcing Barrymore to kill her and destroy the formula. To save his daughter from scandal, Barrymore disappears into the night, the implication being that he plans to commit suicide at the first opportunity. The excellent miniature work in The Devil Doll (much of it accomplished with outsized sets, a la the Laurel and Hardy comedy Brats) successfully takes the viewers' minds off the rather silly plot. Director Tod Browning was always stronger with atmosphere than with plot and dialogue, and this film is no exception. Far less logical than the miniaturization process is Barrymore's decision to disguise himself as an old woman, since this transparent guise wouldn't convince a 2-year-old in real life. Based on the novel Burn, Witch, Burn by Abraham Merritt, The Devil Doll was scripted by several hands, including Erich Von Stroheim. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Lindsay Shonteff
- Genres
- Classics, Horror
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1964 Wide
- On DVD
- Apr 5, 2005
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A fun, off-beat little horror film
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Lionel Barrymore
as PaulLavond
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Maureen O'Sullivan
as Lorraine Lavond
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Frank Lawton
as Toto
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Robert Greig
as Coulvet
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Lucy Beaumont
as Mme. Lavond
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Henry B. Walthall
as Marcel
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Grace Ford
as Lachna
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Pedro de Cordoba
as Matin
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Arthur Hohl
as Radin
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Rafaela Ottiano
as Malita
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Juanita Quigley
as Marguerite
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Claire Du Brey
as Mme. Coulvet
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Rollo Lloyd
as Detective
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E. Alyn Warren
as Commissioner
- Egon Brecher
- Billy Gilbert
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Wilfred Lucas
as Wilfred Lucas
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Eily Malyon
as Laundry Proprietor
- Frank Reicher
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Bryant Halliday
as The Great Vorelli
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William Sylvester
as Mark English
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Sandra Dorne
as Vorelli's Assistant Magda
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Yvonne Romain
as Marianne
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Karel Stepanek
as Dr. Heller
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Francis De Wolff
as Dr. Keisling
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Nora Nicholson
as Aunt Eva
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Philip Ray
as Uncle Walter
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Alan Gifford
as Bob Garrett
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Heidi Erich
as Grace
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Anthony Baird
as Soldier
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Guy Deghy
as Hans
- Bryant Haliday
- David Charlesworth
