The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

This obscure Universal "B" horror flick is also included in that yet-to-be released Box Set I mentioned in my review of HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946) above and, unfortunately, while I would certainly say that this one is more readily enjoyable, my verdict overall is equally lukewarm. For one thing, much of the film's entertainment value stems more from the interaction between "master" Patrick Knowles (an insurance salesman moonlighting as a private dick!) and klutzy valet Mantan Moreland (who even devices a convoluted method for remembering his most basic instructions)! Also on hand are Knowles' girl Anne Gwynne, distinguished lawyer Samuel S. Hinds (whose guilty but off-the-hook clients are meeting sudden death at the hands of the enigmatic titular medico), the bumbling investigating duo of Edmund MacDonald and Shemp Howard (of "The Three Stooges" fame) and even a brief, thankless "red herring" cameo from a mousy(!) Lionel Atwill. As I intimated earlier, the surfeit of comic incident (not to mention the endless, dull chatter in which various parties, including Hinds' brother Paul Cavanaugh, try to talk Knowles out of taking on the case) – far outweighs the film's horror elements which are puzzlingly relegated to the last five minutes of the 66-minute movie – as if the screenwriter suddenly realized which genre he was supposed to be working in! What happens towards the end, however – with the belated "in costume" appearance of the raspy-voiced doc suddenly hard at work on transplanting the brain of his caged gorilla with that of Knowles?! – comes so utterly out of left field as to seem ridiculously far-fetched and, therefore, unable to redeem this would-be chiller. But, at least, Moreland and, to a lesser extent Howard, are funny

In the 1930s and 40s, Hollywood made a ton of amateur detective films...ones in which supposedly ordinary folk solve crimes because they are brilliant and the cops total idiots. Because of this, "The Strange Case of Doctor Rx" is very familiar. Despite a few unusual twists here and there, the story is all too familiar...especially with the inclusion of Mantan Moreland was his usual scared black man routine.

There is a psychopath murdering people they think are worthy of death! And, these deaths are obviously related because with each victim is a letter from someone calling themselves 'Dr. Rx'. Jerry (Patric Knowles) is about to get married and keep his promise to his new bride--to give up crime-solving. But some of the baddies have a different idea.

Overall this is just a fair film to watch. This is because it ended poorly with a 'scene missing here' portion that disappoints. Additionally, the usual cliches abound.

Lesser Universal horror starring Patric Knowles as a detective out to solve a string of murders by the titular evil doctor. This is not a particularly memorable movie, even for a Universal horror fan like myself. It's one of the few that I've only seen a handful of times. Patric Knowles does ok but he's not really the quippy type this part calls for. Lloyd Nolan would've been great in the role. Lionel Atwill is always worth a look but here he has a very small part. Shemp Howard and Mantan Moreland provide comic relief. I'll let you guess which one is more likely to generate discussion today. Anne Gwynne is the frustrated love interest. A few more recognizable character actors round out the cast. Oh and there's a guy in an ape suit. That's always great.

The handsome Patric Knowles is cast as Jerry Church, a private detective who reluctantly agrees to look into an odd series of murders. The victims are criminals who had been acquitted of their misdeeds, and the killer would seem to be an avenging medico who leaves their literal calling cards on the body of each victim.

Despite how this may be advertised, "The Strange Case of Doctor Rx" is NOT sci-fi or horror but a mystery thriller with heavy doses of comedy. However, once this viewer got over his disappointment, he had some fun with it. Characters CONSTANTLY bicker and banter with each other; it would be true to say that there's way more talk here than action. And the dialogue is more silly than genuinely funny, although it garners some modest chuckles now and then. The convoluted plot (concocted by Clarence Upson Young) ultimately leads to a climactic scene where the villain comes out of the dark (so to speak) to terrorize our hero.

Knowles is good in the lead, and the cast is full of familiar and reliable actors: Anne Gwynne as Knowles' leading lady, Samuel S. Hinds as successful defence attorney Dudley Crispin, Mona Barrie as his wife, Paul Cavanagh as his brother, Edmund MacDonald as flustered police captain Hurd, and John Gallaudet as menacing mobster Ernie Paul. The most blatant comedy relief, unsurprisingly, is delivered by Shemp Howard as a REALLY dumb cop, and Mantan Moreland as Churchs' agitated manservant. Both men are hilarious. However, the film makes an egregious waste of Lionel Atwill, as a mystery man appearing throughout.

"The Strange Case of Doctor Rx" can get tiresome at times, but at least it has the typically short running time of many programmers from this era, so even if viewers dislike it, they don't have to stick it out for too, too long. It isn't until near the end that it introduces more of a sci-fi / horror element....complete with a dude in a gorilla suit.

Silly, put passable.

Five out of 10.

Patrick Knowles has had it with being a private detective in New York, and is about to head back to Boston. However, when the fifth acquitted murderer is found strangled with a note signed "Doctor Rx", attorney Samuel Hinds, whose clients all the victims were, and old buddy Police Chief Edmund McDonald rope him in on helping out with the case. Adding to the complications is Knowles' estranged wife, Anne Gwynne, who comes back into his life. She wants him retired from his dangerous profession and he agrees.

It's a decent comedy-mystery with most of the humor provided by Mantan Moreland as Knowles' manservant and Shemp Howard as McDonald's assistant. There is also Lionel Atwill as a "Doctor Fish" who always seems to be near at hand, Ray Corrigan in a gorilla suit to spice up proceedings, and a tiny but compelling role for a sultry Jan Wiley as a gangster's moll.

William Nigh, who had been directing movies for thirty years, helms the movie; he was one of the many A-list directors of silent movies who retreated to the Bs and never raised their heads after that. In the 1920s he had directed Marion Davies for Cosmopolitan and Lon Chaney for MGM. By 1932, he was directing B westerns, and spent the last fifteen years of his career at Monogram and PRC. This decent Universal programmer was as rarefied as he got in the sound era. He retired in 1948.