The careers of old Hollywood greats still fascinate movie fans today, and if any actor typifies the classic Hollywood star, Humphry Bogart fits the mold. Born in 1899, Bogart was a late bloomer in the industry and diligently worked his way up the ladder by starring in a number of gangster films, including the notable Public Enemy in 1931. When he reached his 40s, he cemented his glittering place in cinema history by starring in such classics as The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1943), and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).
Even with Bogart’s tough-guy image, sharp dialogue delivery, sad eyes, and emotionally complex characterizations, there’s one film that hardly anyone would imagine he’d star in — 1939’s The Return of Doctor X, directed by Vincent Sherman. The casting of Bogart in this sci-fi horror B-movie may feel a little puzzling, and it would become his only appearance in a horror film. Audiences can witness The Return of Doctor X themselves on Max before January 1, when it stops streaming for good.
‘The Return of Doctor X’ Is a Bloody Tale
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The Return of Doctor X
The Return of Doctor X is a mystery horror film released in 1939, featuring news reporter Walter Garrett’s investigation into the apparent murder and mysterious reappearance of actress Angela Merrova. The film follows Garrett’s quest to uncover the unsettling truth behind a sinister plot orchestrated by a nefarious scientist.
Release Date
November 23, 1939
Director
Vincent Sherman
Runtime
62 minutes
Cast
Humphrey Bogart
, Rosemary Lane
, Wayne Morris
, Dennis Morgan
, John Litel
, Lya Lys
, Huntz Hall
, Charles C. Wilson
, Vera Lewis
, Howard Hickman
, Olin Howland
, Cliff Saum
, Creighton Hale
, John Ridgely
, Joseph Crehan
, Glenn Langan
, William Hopper
, Nat Carr
, Loia Cheaney
, Eddie Graham
, John Harron
, Mike Lally
, Frank Mayo
, John “Skins” Miller
, Jack Mower
Writers
Lee Katz
Producers
Bryan Foy
, Hal B. Wallis
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Based on William J. Makin’s story “The Doctor’s Secret,” the film begins as two corpses are discovered drained of all their blood, which turns out to be a rare type. Reporter Walter Garrett (Wayne Morris) teams up with his friend Dr. Mike Rhodes (Denis Morgan) to look into the case, leading them to the initially obstructive hematologist Dr. Francis Flegg (John Litel), Rhode’s former mentor. There’s something strangely familiar about Flegg’s odd assistant, Marshall Quesne (Bogart) — he seems to resemble the deceased Dr. Maurice Xavier, executed in the electric chair for murdering infants.
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The duo exhumes Xavier’s grave, only to discover it empty, instigating a confrontation with Flegg, who confesses he resurrected the corpse through scientific methods. Flegg has used synthetic blood to maintain the life of Quesne (who is actually Xavier), and since this blood cannot regenerate, Xavier’s only hope of existence relies on him finding human victims with the same rare blood found in the synthetic concoction. From there, the hunt is on for Dr. Xavier.
A Completely Different Role for Humphrey Bogart
Xavier is a true curio in the closet of characters played by Bogart. It’s safe to say that Bogart would have avoided the role if it came to him just one year later. He was on the cusp of true stardom, just barely at the edge of it, but wasn’t a big enough star yet to turn down a solid role, even if it’s horror. Seeing him as a vampire of sorts in The Return of Doctor X is nonetheless an odd sight for people who associate him with the rugged, streetwise persona that defined much of his career.
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For starters, his appearance with pin-straight black hair with a thick white streak running through the middle (from the electrocution, making him look like The Bride of Frankenstein), lab coat, and round spectacles is out of place compared to basically any other Bogart role. Even though Bogart was incredibly reluctant to play the part of Quesne/Xavier, he still gave every moment of his performance the professional care and clarity that he’s become known for. The Bogie Film Blog agrees:
“There’s no sense that he’s sleepwalking through his lines or dissatisfied with his character. The Return of Doctor X is another reason that I’ve come to deeply appreciate Bogart’s work ethic as an actor.”
The Control of Movie Studios in the 1930s
In the 1920s, Bogart emerged from working backstage and spent most of his early working life in theater to some acclaim. This led to him signing a film contract with Fox in 1929. In Darwin Porter’s book, Humphrey Bogart: The Making of a Legend, it’s claimed that Bogart stated, “I’m going to become the biggest movie star Hollywood’s ever seen.” But this took longer than anticipated.
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The role of Quesne/Xavier didn’t seem suitable for an actor like Bogart. But the choice, it seems, may not have been his. Actors could be signed to studios for entire careers rather than several films. Bogart signed with Warner Bros. in 1935. Keen to break the gangster stereotype Bogart portrayed, Jack Warner placed him in The Return of Doctor X. Bogart was clearly not happy and said:
“…The only thing that nourished this poor bastard (Quesne) was blood. If it had been Jack Warner’s blood, or Harry’s, or Pop’s, maybe I wouldn’t have minded as much. The trouble was, they were drinking mine, and I was making this stinking movie.”
The Path from ‘The Return of Doctor X’ to ‘Casablanca’
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Although The Return of Doctor X is a silly B-horror, it has an unsettling theme, with the main plot of the bloodthirsty Quesne paired with the chilling backstory of Xavier and what led him to his death in the chair. Director Sherman pulls together some dynamic characters, from the charm of Garrett and Rhodes to the weirdness of Quesne and Flegg, and upholds the basics of great storytelling. But while it’s a low-budget movie with few scares, it’s Bogart’s performance that will intrigue the viewer.
The Return of Doctor X was a pivotal moment in Bogart’s career. He realized that he never wanted to act in such a film again. Something flipped, and his performance in the iconic masterpiece Casablanca came a mere three years later. However, we might not have been graced with his lone-wolf Rick Baine’s performance in the film if we hadn’t met Marshall Quesne and Dr. Maurice Xavier first. At the end of the day, The Return of Doctor X runs just over an hour, and is a bizarre curio that may disappear from streaming for a while, so check it out on Max through the link below before it’s gone.
You can view the original article HERE.
