VividSimon Simply Perfect

Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.

Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

gavin6942 An escaped Devil's Island convict (Lionel Barrymore) uses miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those that framed him.This story started out from a 1934 novel by Abraham Merritt called "Burn, Witch, Burn" and a 14-page article Merritt wrote with a Dr. Lowell. The connection is loose, with the overlap being the doll shop. The script, originally called "Witch Doctor of Timbuctoo" and written by Guy Endore ("Mad Love", every werewolf film), removes any mention of Satanism. Of course, exactly what Endore contributed is unclear without reading the script revisions, because over the course of a year his work was re-written by Garrett Fort (who had written both "Frankenstein" and "Dracula"), Robert Chapin, silent star Eric von Stroheim and Richard Schayer ("Frankenstein", "The Mummy").With direction from Tod Browning ("Dracula", "Freaks"), how can you go wrong with this? Though, again, Browning's full contribution is unclear, because retakes were done not by him, but by Leon Gordon, Sam Zimbalist and William Anthony McGuire. None of these men were credited, and it seems they must have worked on it while also doing MGM's "The Great Ziegfeld".Maureen O'Sullivan (Tarzan's Jane) is here, as are Rafaela Ottiano ("Grand Hotel") and Frank Lawton, who had just finished playing the title role in MGM's "David Copperfield". Throw in Lionel Barrymore in women's clothing, and you have quite the story...Interestingly, the biggest star in the film was probably Henry B. Walthall, who played the convict Marcel. His name may not ring many bells today, but in his time he was quite the star under the tutelage of D. W. Griffith and appears on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.While a bit slow at times, and inevitably compared to "Bride of Frankenstein", this is overall a good film with fine direction and a solid story. The original novel seems hard to come by, but the film is available in a box set of horror classics (though, strangely, is the only one of six not to have an audio commentary).

vincentlynch-moonoi For me, there are 3 reasons to watch this film: 1. To realize that even the grandest studio of all -- MGM -- could make a really dumb movie. 2. To realize that even that grand old actor -- Lionel Barrymore -- made some real stinkers. 3. To watch a film just for the sake of enduring just dumb it could be.Okay, now that I've got that off my chest, let me give you some details.Barrymore is one of two old men who escapes from Devil's Island. The escape lasts all of about 5 minutes, and is consequential to the film only because it gives a basis for the revenge that Barrymore will take on his ex-banker friends in Paris who framed him. Barrymore is paired up with a mad scientist who has learned to shrink people to 1/6 their normal size. The scientist's wife is played so over the top that she makes Elsa Lanchester's roles in horror films look as if she was on sedatives. The scientist dies of a heart attack (we viewers of the film should be so lucky!), and Barrymore and the scientist's wife go to Paris to exact revenge on the bank partners and continue the scientific research.If it all wasn't campy enough, once Barrymore gets to Paris, he disguises himself in drag as an old woman. After that, there are some good moments and the ending is rather touching. And throughout, there is the satisfaction of watching just how good Barrymore was...even in a dumb movie.

lugonian THE DEVIL-DOLL (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1936) directed by Tod Browning, best known for his macabre collaborations with Lon Chaney of the late 1920s, Universal's Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi, and MGM's bizarre FREAKS (1932), is another interesting variation by Browning combining science fiction and fantasy often confused with horror. The title may seem a bit confusing, indicating this as a predecessor of supernatural themes later popularized on TV's "The Twilight Zone" or the graphic "Child's Play" where an evil doll comes to life to commit grotesque murders. Taken out of context from which it was based, "Burn Witch Burn" by Abraham Merritt, this is definitely not one about the 1623 Salem witch hunt in Massachusetts. In fact, THE DEVIL-DOLL, with director/actor Erich Von Stroheim being one of the screenplay collaborators, is set in Paris, lifting themes to both Browning's THE UNHOLY THREE (MGM, 1925) featuring Chaney, and Alexandre Dumas' literary classic novel of "The Count of Monte Cristo." No doubt THE DEVIL DOLL might have served the great talent of the late Lon Chaney (1883-1930), especially during the silent era, but with Lionel Barrymore, the final result is just as good.Plot summary: Paul Lavond, a bank president who, seventeen years earlier, was falsely accused of embezzlement and the killing a night watchman. After his trial, he's convicted to life imprisonment on Devil's Island. The story opens with Lavond making his most daring escape, accompanied by his cell-mate, Marcel (Henry B. Walthall). Successfully eluding both guards and hound dogs hot on their trail, the convicts seek refuge at Marcel's home and laboratory located in the middle of the woods with his wife, Malita (Rafaela Ottiano) awaiting him. Marcel, a scientist by profession, uses his freedom to perfect an experiment he started years ago by reducing humans and animals one-sixth to normal size, communicating with them through beams of thought. As for Lavond, he intends on using his freedom by going after the three former bank associates, Emile Coulvet (Robert Greig), Rodin (Arthur Hohl) and Charles Matin (Pedro De Cordoba) and avenge for what they had done. After Marcel succumbs to a heart attack, Malita talks Lavond into helping her carry out her late husband's work. Move forward four months. Lavond and Malita team up as owners of a toy shop in Paris, close enough for Lavond, disguised as an old woman, Madame Mandilip, to be close to his aged mother (Lucy Beaumont) without arousing suspicion to the police. Through his visit, Lavond discovers his now grown daughter, Lorraine (Maureen O'Sullivan), working as a laundress and romantically involved with taxi driver, Toto (Frank Lawton), detests her father enough to report him to the authorities if he should ever appear. Keeping his identity a secret to her, though known to his mother, Lavond soon carries out his vengeful plot on the three bankers by using Marcel's miniature human dolls as his weapon. Aside from being one step ahead of a detective (Rollo Lloyd), Lavond must face up to the insanely manner of Malita, who refuses to let him part company with her.Browning directs in his usual style, giving main focus on Barrymore's two characters, the escaped convict and the old woman. Barrymore's grandmotherly disguise comes as a sheer reminder of character actress Beulah Bondi's role in both MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (Paramount, 1937) and ON BORROWED TIME (MGM, 1939). Quite original in concept, with scenes borrowing from both silent (1925) and sound (1930) versions of Lon Chaney's THE UNHOLY THREE, one being the confrontation between "old woman" and police inspector as he gets closer to clues and solution without realizing it. Special effects revolving around the miniature people known as devil dolls are an asset, while Franz Waxman's soothing score played during its opening and closing credits give the movie some great distinction. Of its supporting players, Rafaela Ottiano comes off best as the mad widow walking about on one crutch. Her hypnotic eyes, hissing sounding voice, and gray streak of hair on one side of her head is convincing enough to make one believe she's related to Count Dracula. Maureen O'Sullivan and Frank Lawton, who earlier performed together in "David Copperfield" (1935), give capable performances, though not enough to compete against such old pros as Barrymore and/or Ottiano. O'Sullivan is believable as the bitter daughter while Lawton, unlike his title character of "David Copperfield" a year before, is given less to do this time around. He does have two noteworthy scenes (one with O'Sullivan, another with Barrymore) set on top of the Eiffel Tower.While THE DEVIL-DOLL is one of a kind, it is no way connected with the 1964 British-made thriller simply titled DEVIL DOLL. The only connection both films have is the confusion it sometimes causes in the TV listings. Reportedly a personal favorite of actress/singer Jane Powell, thanks to frequent revivals, the status of THE DEVIL DOLL has grown over the years, becoming a favorite for others as well. Formerly presented on video cassette in the 1990s, it's availability on DVD and presentation on Turner Classic Movies is a good way in keeping THE DEVIL DOLL in full view for future generations to come. It's certainly one of many prime examples of creative movie making, especially the notable off-beat style by the one and only Tod Browning. (***)

Claudio Carvalho 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")