''The Return of Doctor X'' (also billed as ''The Return of Dr. X'') is a 1939 American science fiction-

horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction ** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction **Korean horror, Korean horror fiction * Horror film, a film genre *Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...

film directed by Vincent Sherman and starring Wayne Morris, Rosemary Lane, and

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

as the title character. It was based on the short story "The Doctor's Secret" by William J. Makin. Despite supposedly being a sequel to '' Doctor X'' (1932), also produced by Warner Bros., the films are unrelated. This was Bogart's only science fiction or

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

Plot summary

A pair of bizarre murders occur wherein the victims are drained of their rare Type One

blood type A blood type (also known as a blood group) is a classification of blood, based on the presence and absence of antibodies and inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrate ...

. Reporter Walter Garrett consults with his friend Dr. Mike Rhodes which leads them to Rhodes' former mentor, hematologist Dr. Francis Flegg. Flegg is initially unhelpful, but Garrett and Rhodes notice a striking resemblance between Flegg's strange assistant, Marshall Quesne and the late Dr. Maurice Xavier in old press cuttings. After opening Xavier's grave and finding it empty, they confront Flegg. Flegg admits using his new scientific methods to bring Xavier back from the dead and has employed synthetic blood to sustain his life. However, the blood cannot replace itself, and therefore, Quesne/Xavier must seek out human victims with the rare Type One blood type contained in the formula in order to stay alive. A hunt begins for Quesne, who has discovered that Joan Vance, a nurse and Rhodes' sweetheart, is a carrier of the rare blood type. He escapes with her in a taxi, professing to be taking her to Rhodes. Barnett and Rhodes, accompanied by the police, track them to their location. Quesne is shot dead, and Joan is saved from the fate of the others.

Cast

* Wayne Morris as Walter Garrett (Barnett in the on-screen credits) * Rosemary Lane as Joan Vance *

as Dr. Maurice Xavier, a.k.a. Marshall Quesne *

Dennis Morgan Dennis Morgan (born Earl Stanley Morner, December 20, 1908 – September 7, 1994) was an American actor-singer. He used the acting pseudonym Richard Stanley before adopting the name under which he gained his greatest fame. According to one obi ...

as Dr. Mike Rhodes * John Litel as Dr. Francis Flegg *

Lya Lys Lya Lys (born Nathalie Margoulis; May 18, 1908 – June 2, 1986) was a German-born American actress. Biography Lya Lys was born in Berlin on May 18, 1908U.S. Naturalization Records August 7, 1933 to a Russian banker and French pediatrician who ...

as Angela Merrova * Huntz Hall as Pinky * Charles Wilson as Detective Ray Kincaid * Vera Lewis as Miss Sweetman * Howard Hickman as Chairman (scenes deleted) * Olin Howland as Undertaker *

Arthur Aylesworth Arthur Preston Aylesworth (August 12, 1883 – June 26, 1946) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Aylesworth was born in Apponaug, Rhode Island, to a military family; his father and his grandfather graduated from the United ...

as Guide * Cliff Saum as Detective Sergeant Moran * Creighton Hale as Hotel Manager * John Ridgely as Rodgers *

Joe Crehan Joseph A. Creaghan (July 15, 1883 – April 15, 1966) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 300 films between 1916 and 1965, and notably played Ulysses S. Grant nine times between 1939 and 1958, most memorably in ''Union Paci ...

as Editor * Glen Langan as Interne * DeWolf Hopper as Interne

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Doctor X, The 1939 films 1939 horror films American science fiction horror films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films Films based on short fiction Films directed by Vincent Sherman American sequel films American vampire films Warner Bros. films 1930s science fiction horror films 1939 directorial debut films 1930s American films Films scored by Bernhard Kaun Resurrection in film

Plot summary

Cast

See also

References

External links