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40-457: The film is in many respects a remake of Doctor X , with virtually the same denouement. Both films also feature Atwill as a doctor. In a small town bordering a swampy region, unexplained murders and rumors of mysterious happenings surround the swamp-based home of the reclusive but respected Kurt Ingston (Morgan). Ingston uses a wheelchair and has invited to his home the three doctors who were trying to cure him when his paralysis set in. Already in

80-450: A cliff in flames to the ocean shore below. Reporting his story into the paper, Taylor tells his editor to make space in the marriage section for Joanne and himself. The film was the second Warner Bros. feature to be filmed in the improved Technicolor process, which removed grain and improved both the color and clarity of a reel's images. This improved process had initially been used on The Runaround (1931) and resulted in an attempt at

120-410: A color revival by the studios late in 1931. However, facing public apathy, the studios quickly retreated from their ambitious plans for color films late in 1932. During production, an alternative black-and-white version was shot and still exists, although side-by-side comparison shows that most takes between the two are the same. Differences in takes are minor, such as Tracy's ad-lib with a skeleton in

160-410: A conglomerate of theatres throughout the nation could buy or produce and distribute its own films. In 1917 Tally and J. D. Williams formed First National Exhibitors' Circuit. The first film released through First National was the 1916 British film The Mother of Dartmoor . Between 1917 and 1918, the company made contracts with Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin , the first million-dollar deals in

200-459: A major studio. Anton Grot designed the sets for both Doctor X and Mystery of the Wax Museum had their sets. The makeup was designed by Max Factor , who at that point had been associated with beauty makeup. Mystery of the Wax Museum also shared Factor's horror makeup design. Doctor X was the first of three Curtiz films with Lionel Atwill , along with Mystery of the Wax Museum and

240-758: A majority interest in First National in September 1928. Warner Bros. held 42,000 shares of common stock out of 72,000 outstanding shares while Fox Pictures held 21,000 shares; 12,000 shares were publicly held. Warner Bros. acquired access to First National's affiliated chain of theatres, while First National acquired access to Vitaphone sound equipment. Warner Bros. and First National continued to operate as separate entities. On November 4, 1929, Fox sold its interest in First National to Warner Bros. for $ 10 million. The First National studio in Burbank became

280-411: A murdered ex-employee of the household back to town, but he, too, winds up dead. Ultimately, Dick confronts the killer outside the estate as he menaces Lynn, and discovers it is Ingston after all: by studying under Agar Singh, he has learned how to materialize arms and legs, hands and feet for himself, long enough to accomplish his evil deeds. As Dick struggles with him to the death, Margaret sets fire to

320-470: A print was discovered in his personal collection. It was copied to safety film for preservation, distribution to revival theaters and transfer to video. The original nitrate film print was donated to the UCLA Film & Television Archive , which on very rare occasions has allowed it to be screened publicly at properly equipped and licensed facilities. A far superior digital restoration was conducted by

360-515: Is investigating a series of pathological murders that have taken place over a series of months in New York City. The murders always take place at night, under the glow of a full moon, and each body has been cannibalized after the murder. Witnesses describe a horribly disfigured "monster" as the killer. Doctor Xavier is called in for his medical opinion, but the police have an ulterior motive. They want to investigate Xavier's medical academy, as

400-477: Is not insane and help her secure freedom from the control of Ingston and Miss Judd. She arrives accompanied by a neighbor: mystery-writer Dick Baldwin, who rescued her after her car broke down in the swamp. Neither Ingston nor Miss Judd welcome her presence, but must contend with keeping her overnight until her car can be repaired. Following dinner, at which Ingston's conviction that the three doctors are directly responsible for his current condition becomes evident,

440-532: The 1935 Errol Flynn adventure film Captain Blood . Doctor X was also the first of three films that costarred Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray. They would later star together in The Mystery of the Wax Museum and The Vampire Bat . Time magazine's reviewer wrote: " Doctor X is a routine nightmare ... and is intended for avid patrons of synthetic horror rather than for normal cinemaddicts." However, Doctor X

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480-500: The Independent Producers' Association declared war in 1925 on what they termed a common enemy—the "film trust " of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , Paramount, and First National, which they claimed dominated the industry not only by producing and distributing motion pictures but also by entering into exhibition as well. The financial success of The Jazz Singer and The Singing Fool enabled Warner Bros. to purchase

520-530: The Same Makeup and Props Used in The Wolf Man [1941] Created By Jack Pierce. The film was released on VHS by Universal Studios Home Entertainment on August 8, 1995. The studio would release the film for the first time on DVD September 13, 2009 as a part of its two-disk "Universal Horror: Classic Movie Archive". It was later released by Willette Acquisition Corporation on March 17, 2015. The film

560-488: The United States. It eventually controlled over 600 cinemas, more than 200 of them first-run houses (as opposed to the less lucrative second-run or neighbourhood theatres to which films moved when their initial box office receipts dwindled). First National was the brainchild of Thomas L. Tally , who was reacting to the overwhelming influence of Paramount Pictures , which dominated the market. In 1912, he thought that

600-455: The archive in 2020 and debuted on Blu-ray disc in April 2021. In the stage musical The Rocky Horror Show and its film adaptation , the opening song, " Science Fiction/Double Feature ", references many classic sci-fi/horror films. Among these references is the line "Doctor X will build a creature", despite the fact that Doctor X does not build a creature in the original film. In homage to

640-470: The box office, Warner Bros. followed up with Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), which also starred Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill and was directed by Curtiz. Mystery of the Wax Museum was again shot in Technicolor to fulfill Warner Bros.' contract with Technicolor Inc., which ensured that no black-and-white cameras were present on the set. The film became the last two-color Technicolor feature released by

680-408: The brain scalpel used to cannibalize the bodies of the victims is exclusive to that institution. Aside from Xavier, the other suspects are: Wells, an amputee who has made a study of cannibalism; Haines, who displays a sexual perversion with voyeurism ; Duke, a grouchy paralytic; and Rowitz, who is conducting studies of the psychological effects of the moon. The police give Xavier 48 hours to apprehend

720-404: The closet, and Mae Busch 's dialogue as a madam at a brothel. The black-and-white version was offered to exhibitors (much to Technicolor's dismay) as an alternative upon the initial release of the film. The film was produced in the pre-Code era of Hollywood and contains adult themes throughout, such as those of murder, cannibalism, prostitution, and rape. Following the success of Doctor X at

760-425: The film 2/5 stars, stating that the film was only "Somewhat creepy". Doctor X (film) Doctor X is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery horror film produced jointly by First National and Warner Bros. Based on the 1931 play originally titled The Terror by Howard W. Comstock and Allen C. Miller, it was directed by Michael Curtiz and stars Lionel Atwill , Fay Wray and Lee Tracy . Doctor X

800-413: The film earned $ 405,000 domestically and $ 189,000 foreign. By the late 1950s, when the black-and-white version of the film was included in a package of older films syndicated to television , the Technicolor version was thought to be lost. No print could be found, and Technicolor had discarded most of its two-color negatives on December 28, 1948. After the death of Jack L. Warner on September 9, 1978,

840-423: The film industry. In September 1928, control of First National passed to Warner Bros. , into which it was completely absorbed on November 4, 1929. A number of Warner Bros. films were thereafter branded First National Pictures until July 1936, when First National Pictures, Inc., was dissolved. The First National Exhibitors' Circuit was founded in 1917 by the merger of 26 of the biggest first-run cinema chains in

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880-451: The film's use of sound as being quite effective. Craig Butler from Allmovie wrote, "there's a lot that's wrong with Night Monster -- but there's also a fair amount of pleasure to be had from this admittedly-second tier Universal horror flick, especially for those who can't get enough of this kind of picture." Graeme Clark from The Spinning Image gave the film 6/10 stars, calling it "[a] minor but not unenjoyable chiller". TV Guide awarded

920-450: The film, the progressive metal band Queensrÿche featured a character named Doctor X (known as Dr. X in the lyrics) as the main antagonist of the band's 1988 concept album Operation: Mindcrime . A line of dialogue early in the film was sampled on the album Dr. Octagonecologyst by the rapper Kool Keith . First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It

960-499: The film, there are a series of murders in New York City. Each murder takes place under the full moon , and each body has been cannibalized post-mortem. Dr. Xavier is asked to provide his medical insight into the crimes, though the police actually suspect him and other people in Xavier's medical academy. The Moon Killer is conducting his own experiments, in an attempt to collect samples from his victims. Daily World newshawk Lee Taylor

1000-440: The history of film. Chaplin's contract allowed him to produce his films without a set release schedule. However, the production of the feature film The Kid ran so long that the company started to complain. To address their concerns, Chaplin invited the exhibitors to the studio, and they were so impressed by the project and charmed by the players, especially co-star Jackie Coogan , that they agreed to be patient. That patience

1040-436: The household are his grim-humored butler Rolf; a lecherous chauffeur, Laurie; a mannish housekeeper, Miss Judd; an Eastern mystic, Agar Singh; and Ingston's allegedly mentally ill sister, Margaret. Outside, the gate is watched by a shrivelled old hunchback called Torque. Coincident with the arrival of the three male physicians is the appearance of a lady psychiatrist, Dr. Lynn Harper, summoned secretly by Margaret to prove she

1080-505: The killer in his own way. During this time, reporter Taylor investigates the doctor's intentions and in the process, meets Joanne Xavier, the doctor's daughter. Joanne is exceedingly cold to Taylor, particularly after finding out that it was his story that pointed a finger at her father and ruined his first attempt at locating the killer. Taylor takes a romantic interest in Joanne, despite her hostility. At Dr. Xavier's beach-side estate, all of

1120-401: The murders to collect living samples of human flesh for his experiments. He declares his intention to collect Joanne as his victim. As Wells is about to strangle Joanne, Taylor – concealed among a series of wax figures representing the killer's victims – jumps Wells. After an extended fight, Taylor hurls a kerosene lamp at Wells, setting him on fire. Wells crashes through a window and falls down

1160-454: The murders. Mamie is too frightened to play her part, so Joanne takes her place. All of the men, save for Wells, are this time handcuffed to their seats, and the doors locked to keep Wells at the recording cabinet. During the experiment, Wells sneaks into a secret laboratory where he transforms himself with "synthetic flesh" into the monstrous Moon Killer. After strangling Otto, Wells reveals to his horrified colleagues that he has been committing

1200-472: The official home of Warner Bros.–First National Pictures. Thereafter, First National Pictures became a trade name for the distribution of a designated segment of Warner Bros. product. 45 of the 86 Warner Bros. feature films released in 1929 were branded as First National Pictures. Half of the 60 feature films Warner Bros. announced for release in 1933–1934 were to be First National Pictures. Although both studios produced "A" and "B" budget pictures, generally

1240-458: The party witnesses an exhibition of materialization of a Sicilian skeleton by Agar Singh. Dr. Harper is forbidden to meet with Margaret. Then, one by one, the doctors are frightfully killed as they prepare for bed. Suspecting Ingston, Dick and Police Captain Beggs confront him in his room, but discover he is not paralyzed but a triple amputee . Suspicion then falls on Laurie, who was last seen driving

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1280-446: The prestige productions, costume dramas, and musicals were made by Warner Bros., while First National specialized in modern comedies, dramas, and crime stories. Short subjects were made by yet another affiliated company, The Vitaphone Corporation (which took its name from the sound process). In July 1936, stockholders of First National Pictures, Inc. (primarily Warner Bros.) voted to dissolve the corporation and distribute its assets among

1320-402: The reenactment. During the experiment, a blackout occurs. When power is regained, it is discovered that Rowitz, whose monitor supposedly revealed him as the guilty party just before the blackout, has been murdered by use of a scalpel to the brain. Later that night, it is discovered that Rowitz's body has been cannibalized. The following evening, Xavier asks Otto and Mamie to re-enact another of

1360-402: The suspects gather for an unorthodox experiment. Each member is being investigated except Wells, because the killer has two hands and Wells has but one. Each man is connected to an electrical system that records his heart rate. When a re-enactment of the murder of the cleaning woman appears before them, the detector will expose the guilty man. Dr. Xavier's butler and maid, Otto and Mamie, carry out

1400-443: The unholy house, committing suicide while taking the malevolent Miss Judd with her. As the house burns to the ground, Dick and Lynn are saved by Agar Singh, when Singh shoots Ingston. The working title for the film was 'House of Mystery'. Production started on July 6, 1942 and ended at the end of the same month. The film was released in the United States on October 23, 1942. The Hairy Hands And Feet Which Kurt Ingston Materializes Are

1440-502: Was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc. , an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the country's largest theater chain. Expanding from exhibiting movies to distributing them, the company reincorporated in 1919 as Associated First National Theatres, Inc. and Associated First National Pictures, Inc. In 1924 it expanded to become a motion picture production company as First National Pictures, Inc. , and became an important studio in

1480-540: Was produced before the Motion Picture Production Code was enforced. Themes such as murder, rape, cannibalism and prostitution are interwoven into the story. The film was one of the last produced, along with Warner Bros.' subsequent Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), in the early two-color Technicolor process. Separate black-and-white prints were shipped to small towns and foreign markets, while color prints were reserved for major cities. In

1520-634: Was released on Blu-ray by Eureka Entertainment in the UK in 2023 as part of a two-disk compilation of Universal films called Creeping Horror , with a commentary track by Kim Newman and Jonathan Rigby . The New York Times gave the film a negative review, calling it "tedious and fantastic". Author and film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film two and a half out of four stars, calling it an "intriguing grade-B thriller". On his website Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings , Dave Sindelar called it one of his favorites among Universal's minor horror films, commending

1560-785: Was ultimately rewarded when The Kid became a major critical and box office success. First National's distribution of films by independent producers is credited with launching careers including that of Louis B. Mayer . First National Exhibitors' Circuit was reincorporated in 1919 as Associated First National Pictures, Inc., and its subsidiary, Associated First National Theatres, Inc., with 5,000 independent theater owners as members. Associated First National Pictures expanded from only distributing films to producing them in 1924 and changed its corporate name to First National Pictures, Inc. It built its 62-acre (25 ha) studio lot in Burbank in 1926. The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and

1600-442: Was well-received by many critics and proved to be a success at the box office. Because of the popularity of the film, Warner Bros. followed it with Mystery of the Wax Museum . Despite the title, The Return of Doctor X (1939) is not considered a sequel. However, the 1942 Universal horror movie Night Monster , which also co-stars Atwill as a doctor, has a similar plot and virtually the same denouement. According to Warner Bros.,

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