Calling Dr. Death (1943)
Losing his memories of the last few days, neurologist Dr. Steele is told that his wife has been brutally murdered. Steele, aware of his conniving wife's infidelity, believes he may have been the killer and enlists the aid of his pretty nurse Stella to hypnotize him into recovering his lost memories.
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Really Surprised!
good back-story, and good acting
Best movie ever!
A Masterpiece!
Lon Chaney Jnr was put through his paces in this first out of six decidedly average offerings from "Universal" studios. The actor should have avoided making these but through no fault of his own, was left with little choice. Labelled the "Inner Sanctum" films and released between 1943 to 1945, these quickie productions show a lack of both imagination and creativity."Calling Dr. Death" is no exception and it plods along and never rising above the tedium.
Lon Chaney Jr is called Dr. Death. This is the initial mystery from Universal's "Inner Sanctum" series. Doctor Steele (Chaney Jr.) is a well known neurologist plagued by a beautiful, but unfaithful wife (Ramsay Ames). Despondent dealing with the thought of his conniving wife, Steele blacks out and loses track of time; upon returning home, he is met by Inspector Gregg (J. Carrol Naish), who advises him of the murder of his wife. The doctor is browbeaten in search of a confession. Steele is almost convinced that he did kill his cheating wife. The doc's attractive nurse, Stella (Patricia Morison), in her loyalty tries to prove her boss is innocent.This Film-Noir thriller is directed by Reginald Le Borg. Atmospheric and well acted. Other players include: David Bruce, George Eldredge, Holmes Herbert, Fay Helm and Charles Wagenheim.
The "Inner Sanctum" films, of which I have now seen four, seem to fall somewhere between the "A"- and the "B"-movie categories; they're too "small" for the former, but also too polished for the latter. This one, "Calling Dr. Death", is an above-average little murder mystery that keeps you wondering for quite a while. Lon Chaney Jr.'s voice-overs are very effective - he has a genuinely hypnotic voice. And J. Carrol Naish, who usually played villains, gives a decidedly offbeat performance as a police inspector who seems obsessed with getting Chaney to confess to the crime. My main objection has to do with the way the film telegraphs its surprise ending slightly earlier than it should. **1/2 out of 4.
the music is very good and a cast with Lon Chaney Patricia Morison J.Carrol Naish makes this a great little b movie. Also Ramsey Ames is Quite stunning as always. These inner sanctum movies are a lot of fun if you are a fan of the thirties and forties Universal horror pictures. The director Reginald Leborg was a skilled director who never got the credit he deserved. The movie has some very interesting camera techniques rarely seen in pictures of this era. Patricia Morison once said that Lon Chaney came up to her and shook her hand and told her that it was an honor to work with her. She was quite touched by this and had a number of nice things to say about Lon in an interview she gave about ten years ago.