Review of The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) by Daniel K — 27 May 2010

3: I found it terribly amusing that the trick I thought originated in the British picture "The Ladykiller's", was put on screen 13 years earlier in Hollywood. I'm referring to the band of criminals disguising their activities by pretending to play musical instruments, but in actuality using a phonograph record.

The film has a superb title, an excellent script (co-penned by John Huston), and a very fitting cast. Claire Trevor is a great kingpin. Bogart plays his early mug persona quite well. Edward G. Robinson really carries the film though.

His character seems to be a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty. I was expecting a film with a title like this to be interesting, but I was still pleasantly surprised at how engaging and entertaining it was.

They sure didn't pay any attention to legal procedure back in the day though. This, along with the convoluted and ridiculous psychiatrist they put on the stand, makes the ending far less effective than it should have been.