Le Docteur X

Original title: The Monster

1925
Passed
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Lon Chaney, Hallam Cooley, Walter James, and Gertrude Olmstead in Le Docteur X (1925)

A meek clerk who doubles as an amateur detective investigates some very strange goings-on at a remote mental sanitarium.A meek clerk who doubles as an amateur detective investigates some very strange goings-on at a remote mental sanitarium.A meek clerk who doubles as an amateur detective investigates some very strange goings-on at a remote mental sanitarium.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos44

+ 39

Top cast14

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Lon Chaney

Dr. Ziska

Gertrude Olmstead

Betty Watson

Hallam Cooley

Amos Rugg

Johnny Arthur

Johnny Goodlittle

Charles Sellon

The Constable
(as Charles A. Sellon)

Walter James

Caliban

Knute Erickson

Daffy Dan

Frank Austin

Rigo
(as George Austin)

Edward McWade

Luke Watson

Ethel Wales

Mrs. Watson

Elmo Billings

Freckle Faced Kid
(uncredited)

Herbert Prior

Dr. Edwards
(uncredited)

William H. Turner

Detective Jennings
(uncredited)

Dorothy Vernon

Townswoman at Accident Scene
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The original play opened in New York on 9 August 1922 at the 39th Street Theatre, 119 W. 39th St. and had 101 performances. Walter James originated his movie role as Calaban in the play. In the 1933 revival that had 38 performances, DeWolf Hopper Sr. played Dr. Ziska.

Goofs
When Johnny pops his coat buttons with pride, the next shot has them still buttoned.

Quotes
Dr. Ziska: Rigo, a patient - I keep him in a trance. Sometimes he gets out - does terrible things.
Dr. Ziska: A strange case - but I deal in strange cases!
Dr. Ziska: I have only one guest chamber - but no doubt we can make the gentlemen comfortable.
Dr. Ziska: Caliban - see that the guests have the USUAL attention!
Dr. Ziska: My servant - don't allow him to frighten you - the poor creature is dumb!

Alternate versions
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) showed an 86-minute version with an uncredited music score on cable.

Connections
Featured in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: The Monster (2015)

User reviews42

Featured review

Enjoyable little 'mad scientist' flick with Lon Chaney

This 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney and Johnny Arthur and directed by Roland West ("The Bat", "The Bat Whispers") is a harmless little horror-comedy about two men and a woman who get trapped in an old dark house with a mad scientist (the always excellent Chaney) and go through a series of perilous events caused by the scientist and his never ending supply of creepy servants. The acting is good and the production values are superb. Most of the comedy is funny and the creepy parts still hold up reasonably well. All in all, "The Monster" is no classic and certainly one of Lon Chaney's less remarkable films but it's still a decent, harmless film.