The_Mad_Doctor_(1941_film) Knowpia

The Mad Doctor
The Mad Doctor
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Tim Whelan
Written by	Howard J. Green; Ben Hecht; Charles MacArthur
Produced by	George M. Arthur
Starring	Basil Rathbone; Ellen Drew ; John Howard
Cinematography	Ted Tetzlaff
Edited by	Archie Marshek
Music by	Victor Young
Production; company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	February 14, 1941;
Running time	90 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Mad Doctor is a 1941 American crime thriller film directed by Tim Whelan and starring Basil Rathbone as a physician whose successive wealthy wives die. Ellen Drew plays his latest bride.^[1] John Howard plays her ex-fiancé, who grows increasingly suspicious of her new husband. It was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures.

Plot edit

A sophisticated but murderous physician (Basil Rathbone) woos, weds, and murders several of his wealthy female patients for their fortunes. The women appear to have died prematurely, with their above-suspicion doctor-husband diagnosing their deaths as the imminent result of disease. The doctor's loyal male assistant (Martin Kosleck) tampers with the victims buried bodies in order to hide the incriminating evidence. The ex-fiancé of the doctor's latest bride (Ellen Drew) is able to save her from suffering the same fate of her predecessors, while also informing the authorities of just how the women died. With the police coming for him, the doctor has no recourse but suicide, in the form of a fatal plunge from a skyscraper.

Cast edit

Basil Rathbone as Dr. George Sebastian / Dr. Frederick Langamann
Ellen Drew as Linda Boothe
John Howard as Gil Sawyer
Barbara Jo Allen as Louise Watkins
Ralph Morgan as Dr. Charles Downer
Martin Kosleck as Maurice Gretz
Kitty Kelly as Winnie
Hugh O'Connell as Lawrence Watkins
William 'Billy' Benedict as Mickey Barnes
Henry Victor as Furber
Douglas Kennedy as Hotel Clerk
George Chandler as Elevator Operator
Edward Earle as Librarian
Howard M. Mitchell as Butler
Max Wagner as Taxicab Driver
Sheila Ryan as Hostess at Charity Bazaar
Wanda McKay as Woman at Charity Bazaar
Norma Varden as Woman at Charity Bazaar

Production edit

The Mad Doctor was in production from January 22 until mid-March 1940, and was released February 14, 1941. Paramount Pictures credits Howard J. Green for the screenplay, but early drafts titled The Monster and Destiny were written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. Before he accepted a role in the film, Basil Rathbone required changes to the script.^[1]

Reception edit

The Hollywood Reporter called the film "one of the top efforts of its type", which it attributed to the "beautifully imaginative direction of Tim Whelan and the stunning performance of Basil Rathbone".^[1]