The Crime Doctor's Gamble

This entry in the "Crime Doctor" series (based on the radio program of the same name) finds our protagonist in Paris giving a lecture on crime prevention. After the lecture, Dr. Ordway meets a Parisian colleague who takes him out for a night on the town "with no interruptions" (i.e., cases to solve). After visiting about half a dozen famous night clubs (identified by a series of neon logos), they arrive (apparently cold sober) at one where a knife thrower is performing, and where they actually engage in some dialog which sets the stage for the future "interruption".

The next day, Dr. Ordway is introduced by his colleague to an apparent manic-depressive who allegedly killed his father with a letter opener during an argument. While investigating the murder (the "interruption" we of course knew was coming), Dr. Ordway discovers that the case also involves the mysterious theft of art copies.

Like many another movie mystery, explanations that tie up loose ends are offered after the crime is solved, just in case the audience couldn't (or in this case, wasn't given the opportunity) to figure them out as it went along.

Connoisseurs of American film will recognize among a cast of generally unfamiliar French actors, Emory Parnell in a small but pivotal part as art dealer O'Reilly, and Steven Geray as the family attorney of the deceased.

Dr. Ordway (Warner Baxter) goes on vacation, only to get involved in a bizarre crime. While on a lecture tour/vacation in Paris, the Crime Doctor finds himself looking into a case of supposed patricide. His French colleague believes the suspect to be neither insane nor guilty. Ordway must find the real killer, but the most likely suspects keep tuning up dead.

Knife throwing, seedy establishments of Paris, heavy French accents and paintings feature in this rather pleasantly diverting mystery that finds Dr Ordway doing what he does best and solving mysteries. The pace can be slow and sometimes there's too much exposition, however it's not enough to mar the pleasant entertainment which has a neat twist at the end.

Crime Doctor's Gamble (1947)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

William Castle directs this ninth entry in the Columbia series. This time Dr. Ordway (Warner Baxter) is on vacation in Paris when a man is accused of killing his father. Once again, this is on par with the rest of the series, although I'd place this one near the top. Just like the previous film in the series, it's a nice break getting out of the city and the Paris streets make for some nice moments. Baxter has his act down and the supporting cast is also a step above normal.

Pretty good considering this is the 9th film in the series.

While visiting an old friend in Paris, the Prefect of Police, the Crime Doctor gets involved with the complex stabbing murder of an old man supposedly by his son. The suspect is described as a worthless idler who suffers from some war-induced psychological problems. But is he capable of murder? The beautiful Micheline Cheirel (in her last film role) plays the love interest – married and loyal to the suspect but also the daughter of a knife-thrower who is an old friend of the murdered man.

The Crime Doctor always seems to know who is lying and telling the truth in the absence of any evidence to support his theories. The defendant's lawyer does not practice criminal law and the defendant does not appear to care whether he lives or dies. Is the only defense insanity? If he gets off the murder charge due to insanity, who inherits? What about a fourteen year-old contract between the murdered man and the knife-thrower? How many more murders? Intrigue in the art world leads the Crime Doctor to the solution.

Interesting dance apache sequences. Directed by future horror-meister William Castle. Fair.

This Dr. Ordway story has to be one of the weaker entries in the series. First of all, there's too much exposition going on for the first half-hour, all talk and no action. The plot involves art forgeries, art dealers, a painter who specializes in making copies of original art, and a knife-throwing act--all of which take up a lot of time for WARNER BAXTER to unravel.

Through it all, we get an assortment of authentic French accents from most of the cast, with the exception of STEVEN GERAY who plays the art dealer.

But as in all the Dr. Ordway stories, his scheme to hold an auction is really a trap to catch the killer. Despite all the exposition, the plot is a murky one that seems a bit far-fetched when you stop to think about it.

The only other actor in the cast known to American audiences is EDUARDO CIANNELLI as the knife-thrower who becomes just one of the suspects until he unceremoniously dies in his sleep. This plot device doesn't leave much surprise in the revelation of the actual thief and murderer.

Summing up: The other crime doctor films are much better than this one.