Füge eine Handlung in deiner Sprache hinzuDishonest mine owner Nicholas Rood finds a Black Doll on his desk and knows that vengeance is about to overtake him for murdering his former partner. He is knifed as he talks to his daughter... Alles lesenDishonest mine owner Nicholas Rood finds a Black Doll on his desk and knows that vengeance is about to overtake him for murdering his former partner. He is knifed as he talks to his daughter Marian. She summons her fiancé Nick Halstead, a private detective. He finds that six peop... Alles lesenDishonest mine owner Nicholas Rood finds a Black Doll on his desk and knows that vengeance is about to overtake him for murdering his former partner. He is knifed as he talks to his daughter Marian. She summons her fiancé Nick Halstead, a private detective. He finds that six people had a motive for the murder: Rood's sister Mrs. Laura Leland; her son Rex; Rood's assoc... Alles lesen
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** 1/2 (out of 4)
Reporter Nick Halstead (Donald Woods) helps a rather dimwitted sheriff (Edgar Kennedy) investigate a series of murders, which are connected by a black voodoo doll that is left with the victim.
This is an entry in Universal's Crime Club series and for the most part it's an entertaining little "B" movie but at the same time there's no doubt that you'll forget about it soon after the end credits roll. This series was made on a very low budget as the studio tried to get some revenue back after their 1936 film SHOWBOAT lost so much money. With that in mind, you really don't have anything overly special here but if you enjoy these type of thrillers then you should enjoy it.
It certainly helps that you've got Woods in a fine and loose form. He certainly brings some energy to the role that helps keep the film moving at a nice pace. Kennedy plays the dimwitted by likable guy that he played throughout his career. The two of them actually have some nice chemistry and the humor works more times than not. The film also benefits from some nice direction by Otis Garrett who makes for some nice atmosphere and especially during the murder scenes.
THE BLACK DOLL runs just 66 minutes so it's not deep or filled with anything great but it does get its job done.
Based on the IMDb rating (5.9) and all the positive reviews, I know The Black Doll has some fans. I'm, however, not among them. While I enjoyed some of the mystery elements of the story and a character or two, I had a couple of big problems with the film that kept me from enjoying it. First, as my little intro suggests, boyfriend Halstead does most of the real detective work. And by that I mean he makes a series of wild guesses generally based on very little real evidence, yet somehow he's miraculously correct 100% of the time. I like the solutions to my mysteries to be more fact-based. Second, bumbling Sheriff Renick (Edgar Kennedy) is more than I can take. He's just not funny. His brand of comedy, including a pocket full of pipes he continuously smokes and then breaks, doesn't appeal to me at all. Sadly, Kennedy ruined any hope of me finding much entertainment in The Black Doll.
3/10
Its a breezy 65 minutes that fly by almost as an after thought. The mystery is clever but it seems stretched out to fill the required running time. The cast is quite good and the whole thing has the feel of something from a lazy Sunday.
Its so breezy as to be utterly forgettable. I recently found this on one of my video tapes and was totally baffled by what it was. I know that I had watched this previously since I removed the commercials at some earlier time, but I can't for the life of me remember ever seeing it other than when I just popped it into the VCR last night. Now some twelve hours later I find the film rapidly disappearing from my mind.
If you want to see a film you'll enjoy for its running time but which will leave no trace on you consciousness, this is the movie for you.
Detective happens to be nearby when a murder is committed. Once engaged, others occur.
The pool of suspects is small and confined to a country home.
The policeman on the case is greatly outclassed by the detective and provides comedy. There is a funny joke here. The sheriff's men are bunglers as well. The sheriff says to them both, better get your act together or you'll be selling popcorn again, meaning: you won't be on the screen any more but in the back at the concession stand.
The solution to the crimes comes while everyone is gathered to hear the detective explain things at the end. Traditionally there are some surprise revelations beyond the murder and that happens here. Also traditionally, the solution to the mystery depends on you having made an assumption about a key fact.
The trick here involves a VooDoo-like doll make of leather that was a child's plaything but appears after decades and repurposed as a curse. The production values are typical for this sort of thing, and the mystery a bit better. There is no offensive racist chauffeur in this one. That slot is filled by a Hispanic butler, whose accent and language are the source of jokes.
Other than the self-referential joke, not much important here.
Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
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- WissenswertesA Crime Club Mystery. In 1937, Universal had acquired the rights to select 4 books from the publisher of the pulp whodunits' annual output of 52 novels. This was the second one produced in the deal. A total of 11 Crime Club mysteries would be filmed. The Crime Club deal ended with the release of The Witness Vanishes (1939) in September, 1939.
- PatzerWhen the dog steals the potato chips, the lettering on the package is reversed, indicating a flipped shot.
- Zitate
Sheriff Renick: Are you Steben?
Esteban - The Butler: I am Estevan.
Sheriff Renick: Never mind the initials, what do you know about the murder?
- VerbindungenFeatured in Terror! Theatre: The Black Doll (1957)
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Details
- Erscheinungsdatum
- Herkunftsland
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- Crime Sem Provas
- Drehorte
- Produktionsfirma
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- Laufzeit
- 1 Std. 6 Min.(66 min)
- Farbe
- Seitenverhältnis
- 1.37 : 1