Review of The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) by Lanning : — 12 Apr 2011

It's interesting to see this described as a comedy. I wonder if the Humphrey Bogart character would see it that way. Although this might qualify as gangster-movie lite, if I were to put it into a comedy category, it would be comedy of the absurd.

The ending alone would qualify this as absurd, when Robinson sits there in his seat, a free man, his only comment on the judicial process is that it is, "Amazing . . . amazing." And it is amazing that he, a murderer who pleads his own sanity, is found innocent by reason of insanity.

That is absurd in the truest sense.