Doctor X

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Doctor X

Released Aug 3, 1932

1h 20m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

New York City reporter Lee Taylor (Lee Tracy) is doing a piece on a series of grisly, cannibalistic murders that have all been committed under a full moon. Police soon begin to suspect that the murderer works at the lab of Dr. Jerry Xavier (Lionel Atwill), a mysterious Long Island researcher who is doing an investigation of his own. Antsy for an inside story, Taylor breaks into the lab, where he meets and falls in love with Dr. Xavier's daughter Joan (Fay Wray).

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...the picture benefits from an agreeably over-the-top final stretch...

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 6, 2024

Full Review

Lee Jutton

Film Inquiry

Doctor X is often more silly than scary-but for classic film lovers, it's a must-see thanks to some groundbreaking Max Factor makeup, gorgeous cinematography, and a performance from one of the most iconic scream queens of all time, Fay Wray.

May 8, 2021

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Raquel Stecher

Out of the Past

a wonderful mad scientist mystery with plenty spooks, a few laughs and some sex thrown in for good measure

May 6, 2021

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A gruesome little chiller, made even more lurid by the sickly green hues of its early Technicolor.

Rated: 3/4

May 4, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A pre-Code sensibility combined with the eerie look of early two-strip Technicolor add up to a rather grisly chiller.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 23, 2021

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Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

O technicolor de duas cores e a influncia clara do expressionismo alemo criam belas imagens e uma boa atmosfera, mas a trama ridcula e o personagem de Tracy irritante e parece ter sado de um cartoon.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 22, 2006

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Blu B

It's alright. 95% of this really isn't a horror movie but like a murder mystery comedy that leads up to a horror ending. The cinematography isn't bad here. The camerawork is good, the color is pretty cool to see for 1932 and the ending isn't bad. The problem is none of the settings are that memorable and it doesn't really have any mood or atmosphere because of no music. This doesn't feel that dry but you do notice it here and there. The romance subplot, investigating the murders with the reporter and doctor each looking into it, and the tone isn't anything special but it's not broken either. It defintely isn't obvious and the reveal is alright I guess. The acting is that classic early talkies style with some unneeded comedic moments. It's defintely gimmicky and dated more than scary or anything good. I can see audiences in 32' never seeing a horror movie in color or few talkies being more impressed with this than now. Besides the novelty of seeing one of the earliest color films of horror, most should skip this.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/06/24

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S R

An important historic scary movie, but it was so dated. Regardless, it still kept my interest despite the melodrama and cheese. RUS.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

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Steve D

Nothing but pure cheese at this point.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

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Alec B

A great mad scientist movie (sort of proto Cronenberg in its plot) and one of the few horror films from this era that was often intentionally funny.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Valerii Ege D

Unfortunately, the story is disjointed within itself and cannot fill the path leading to the crescendo in the finale. And, of course, this disconnect makes the movie boring.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

David K

This film is worth watching if, for nothing else, the brilliant, atmospheric, two-color Technicolor process. The brilliant color, fabulous art deco lab set, and odd camera angles give are so strong they overcome Lee Tracy's shtick. If you're a horror fan, you've got to see this one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/18/23

Full Review

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Michael Curtiz

Director

Lionel Atwill

Dr. Jerry Xavier

Fay Wray

Joanne Xavier

Lee Tracy

Lee Taylor

Preston Foster

Dr. Wells

Robert Warwick

Police Commissioner Stevens

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Synopsis

New York City reporter Lee Taylor (Lee Tracy) is doing a piece on a series of grisly, cannibalistic murders that have all been committed under a full moon. Police soon begin to suspect that the murderer works at the lab of Dr. Jerry Xavier (Lionel Atwill), a mysterious Long Island researcher who is doing an investigation of his own. Antsy for an inside story, Taylor breaks into the lab, where he meets and falls in love with Dr. Xavier's daughter Joan (Fay Wray).

Director: Michael Curtiz
Screenwriter: Robert Tasker
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: First National Pictures
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 1932, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 20m

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