The Devil-Doll

1936
Approved
1h 18m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

5.2K

YOUR RATING

Lionel Barrymore, Maureen O'Sullivan, Grace Ford, and Frank Lawton in The Devil-Doll (1936)

An escaped convict uses miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those that framed him.

Play trailer1:54

1 Video

95 Photos

Drama Horror Sci-Fi

An escaped convict uses miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those who framed him.An escaped convict uses miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those who framed him.An escaped convict uses miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those who framed him.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

5.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination total

Mme. Coulvet
(as Claire du Brey)

Rollo Lloyd

Detective

E. Alyn Warren

Commissioner
(as E. Allyn Warren)

Jean Alden

Apache Dancer
(uncredited)

King Baggot

Detective Pierre
(uncredited)

Egon Brecher

Detective
(uncredited)

Robert Du Couedic

Policeman
(uncredited)

More like this

6.2

6.6

7.2

4.8

6.4

7.7

6.2

The Mask of Fu Manchu

7.1

The Unholy Three

6.2

Miracles for Sale

7.2

West of Zanzibar

6.8

Mystery of the Wax Museum

5.7

The Return of Doctor X

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Madame Mandilip's special dolls are costumed as members of vicious street gangs known as the Apache (pronounced ah-PAHSH), who were involved in theft, prostitution, and the occasional murder in pre-World War I Paris. The dolls even perform the Apache dance popularized by the gangs, in which extremely close steps alternate with seemingly brutal punches, kicks, hair-pulling, spins, and throws; it was usually danced to the Valse des rayons (aka Valse chaloupée) composed by Jacques Offenbach. In the 1930s and 1940s, this dance was still performed by professional dancers and can be seen in several films and even cartoons of the period.

Goofs
Marcel explains to Lavond that he can reduce the size of atoms in a body, thus shrinking objects proportionally. Atoms are elemental particles and cannot be reduced in size.

Quotes
Charles Matin: There'a a certain amusing irony in offering a man's own money for his capture. Fifty thousand francs? Why not?

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer-colorized version.

Connections
Featured in The Late, Late Show: The Devil-Doll (1962)

Soundtracks
Valse des rayons
(uncredited)
from the ballet "Le Papillon"
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Played on a music box

User reviews90

Review

Featured review

8/10

A Good Story with Special Effects Still Impressive in 2011

After seventeen years in prison, the former respected Parisian banker Paul Lavond (Lionel Barrymore) flees with his friend, the lunatic scientist Marcel (Henry B. Walthall) that is researching with his wife Malita (Rafaela Ottiano) the miniaturization of animals and human beings to improve the resources of mankind. Paul Lavond was framed for robbery by his scoundrel associates Emil Coulvet (Robert Greig), Charles Matin (Pedro de Cordoba) and Victor Radin (Arthur Hohl) that had stolen his business while his family was doomed to shame, poverty and tragedy. When Marcel reduces the retarded servant Lachna (Grace Ford), he learns that the woman is motionless and only responds to the control of his brain and has a heart attack. After the death of Marcel, Paul Lavond sees the chance to use the miniaturization process as instrument of vengeance and he travels to Paris with the insane Malita disguised of Madame Mandilip, a nice old lady and owner of a dolls store. Paul Lavond, using the identity of Madame Mandilip, befriends his resented and estranged daughter Lorraine Lavond (Maureen O'Sullivan) and plots a scheme to revenge and vindicate his family name.

"The Devil Doll" is an entertaining film by Tod Browning with a good story and special effects still impressive in 2011. The cast has great performances but Lionel Barrymore is excellent in his double role, and convincing as an old woman. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Boneca do Diabo" ("The Devil Doll")