THE CRIME DOCTOR'S GAMBLE

US, 1947, 66 minutes, Black-and-white.
Warner Baxter, Roger Dann, Steven Geray, Marcel Journet, Eduardo Cianelli.
Directed by William Castle.

This is one of the later entries into the Crime Doctors series, B-budget mysteries from Colombia Studios, featuring Warner Baxter as Dr Ordway, psychiatrist, with a skill in detecting. The series was based on a successful radio program.

Most of the films have an American setting, especially the doctor’s office. However, he is in France after the war giving a lecture and hosted by the head of the prefecture in Paris who takes him to a number of nightclubs, then introduces him to a case where a young man is accused of murdering his father and who also fears for his sanity. He is engaged to a young woman – who has appeared with her father at the nightclub, the father a knife thrower.

There are complications with mental health, with the dead father and his disinheriting his son, the dead father having had dealings with the knife thrower in the past and disapproving of his son marrying the daughter, and the presence of the estate manager, an ingratiating type. But, there is also the issue of artworks, the painting of fakes, their being auctioned.

This time, Dr Ordway is involved in a physical fight with the villain, something which he normally does not do. And, at the end, there is the expected revelation, perhaps not such a surprise as the question in be asked, are there any other suspects who could be the villain?

1. One of the series of the Crime Doctor, Dr Ordway, psychiatrist, Detective?

2. A story in Paris, the doctor going to give the lecture, the atmosphere of Paris? The lecture, the head of the Prefecture, going to the nightclubs, the dancing, the knife throwing? The prefect and his case, Henri and his visit, the death of his father, his blaming himself? Thinking he was insane? Dr Ordway and his assessment?

3. Henri, Mignon as his fiancee, her father the knife thrower, his previous dispute with Henri’s father, the father not wanting him to marry Mignon? The death of his wife? Mignon having to step in as the target for the knife throwing? His illness? Collapse and death?

4. The estate manager, pleasant manner, the will, Henri excluded, the issue of paintings?

5. The art shop, the manager, the classic paintings, the copying, the artist and his skills? Dr Ordway’s visit, his being hit on the head?

6. Henri and Mignon, marriage, inheriting, but no cash? Dr Ordway’s suggestion that they auction everything from the house? The issue of the painting? The experts? The
revelation that it was a fake? The estate manager, his presence, his deciding to buy the painting as a memento? Giving the money to the couple?

7. The doctor, the artist and his death, the fight, physical, with the opponent? And the unmasking of the estate manager as the mastermind, buying the fake, but having the actual painting?

8. Some criticising this is the least impressive of the series? But, the exotic post-war setting?