CRIME DOCTOR
US, 1943, 66 minutes, Black-and-white.
Warner Baxter, Margaret Lindsay, John Litel, Ray Collins, Leon Ames.
Directed by Michael Gordon.
Crime Doctor resembles the small budget and supporting features of the 1930s – although, it was made at Columbia with more proficiency and finesse during World War II, with references to the war effort.
It is based on radio programs – and there were half a dozen sequels with the Crime Doctor in action.
The title refers to a character who was seen being thrown from a car onto the highway, who is taken to hospital but suffers from amnesia. He is played by Oscar winner, for In Old Arizona, Warner Baxter. He comes under the care of a kind psychiatrist played by Ray Collins. When recalling his name or identity becomes impossible, he is encouraged to do studies and, over the period of 10 years, gets his degree, becomes an expert in psychology, has a large clientele whom he rehabilitates with personalised treatment, works in prison with great success including a damaged war veteran, Leon Ames in a good performance. A social worker played by Margaret Lindsay is attracted to him.
The audience actually knows who he is, a bank robber who masterminded a job, hid the money, was hit over the head by his accomplices and thrown out. One in particular has served a jail sentence, John Litel, and is tracking down whether the doctor has true amnesia or not. After coming out of prison, he teams up with his accomplices, tracks down another who is serving a jail sentence and persuades her to go to the parole board which the Crime Doctor now heads. In attempting to re-create the situation with the attack by his accomplices, the doctor’s memory comes back, he retrieves the money giving it to the authorities, stands trial, is found guilty but offered clemency to continue his work.
The film was directed by Michael Gordon at the beginning of his career. He was to go on to make a range of films including Cyrano de Bergerac and Pillow Talk.
1. An interesting and small-budget crime thriller with a positive outlook?
2. Cast, budget, studio, contribution to the war effort?
3. The title, with reference to Robert Ordway, a significant character – and many sequels?
4. The opening, the car on the highway, throwing out the victim, his being found by the group of youngsters, the hospital, the work of Dr Carey, the name Robert Ordway from the hospital and the humanitarian, trust, a desperate need to know who he was?
5. The encouragement of the doctor, Robert’s studies, the detail, over a long time, his degree, his going into practice, the help to so many people? His work in prisons? The inmates, changing their lives positively, the gardener and his flowers? The problem with the military and violent man? Ordway meeting him, the discussions, trust, getting out of solitary, getting him to use his military skills, drilling the prisoners, the buildup to the demonstration of the re-creation of the training work?
6. Dr Ordway, in himself, the problem of his identity, the meeting with Grace, her joking with him about her identity as a thief? Their collaboration?
7. The criminals, Emilio and the initial encounter with the doctor, his jail term, meeting up with the accomplices, tracking Grace, getting the information from her, his encounter with Dr Ordway and not sure whether he was telling the truth or not?
8. The plan was the woman in prison, her recognising the doctor’s voice, going to the parole board, is breaking down, her telling the truth?
9. The confrontation, the recreation of the scene, the scuffle, Dr Ordway recovering his memory?
10. His doing the right thing, giving back the money, standing trial, the prosecution, his defence, the jury’s decision, the sentence, the appeal for clemency, and his being able to devote himself to his work?
