The Devil-Doll

Cast

Lionel Barrymore
as Paul Lavond / Madame Mandilip

Maureen O'Sullivan
as Lorraine Lavond

Frank Lawton
as Toto

Robert Greig
as Emil Coulvet

Lucy Beaumont
as Mme. Lavond

Henry B. Walthall
as Marcel

Grace Ford
as Lachna

Pedro de Cordoba
as Charles Matin

Arthur Hohl
as Victor Radin

Rafaela Ottiano
as Malita

Juanita Quigley
as Marguerite Coulvet

Claire Du Brey
as Mme. Coulvet

Rollo Lloyd
as Detective

E. Alyn Warren
as Commissioner

Eily Malyon
as Laundry Proprietor

Christian J. Frank
as Detective

Wilfred Lucas
as Wilfred Lucas

Sherry Hall
as Detective

Francis McDonald
as Detective

Edward Keene
as Gendarme

Nick Thompson
as Police Sergeant

Robert Du Couedic
as Policeman

Inez Palange
as Concierge

Evelyn Selbie
as Flower Woman

Paul Foltz
as Apache Dancer

Jean Alden
as Apache Dancer

Billy Gilbert
as Butler

Paul Sotoff

Billy Dooley

King Baggott
as Det. Pierre

Egon Brecher
as Detective

Henry Daniell

Frank Reicher
as Doctor

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Critic Reviews for The Devil-Doll

Audience Reviews for The Devil-Doll

• Jan 10, 2018

  Tod Browning's second-to-last film is campy as hell, and ya gotta love Lionel Barrymore in drag exacting revenge on enemies of his using miniaturized people he can control (but of course). The effects were great for the time period, and they're still entertaining today, including the use of giant props and inserting cut-out footage of people (and animals) into other scenes. Browning had a great eye for weirdness and the macabre, and creates real suspense with the idea that a person a few inches tall could track someone down in their apartment. Those scenes in the middle of the film are fantastic. Barrymore is strong, and Maureen O'Sullivan is just fine too; she plays the daughter who hates him for having been sent to prison and bringing shame on the family. The idea is excellent, but both the beginning and ending of the film include moments that strain credibility. I don't mind it in the science fiction that creates the technology or even the creator keeling over at just the right moment, but the melodrama at the end is all artificial and relies on a character motivation that is absurd. I have to believe that Browning was impacted by the Hays Code, which wouldn't have allowed an alternate. (I'm being vague here to avoid spoilers). I considered a slightly higher rating because of that, as it seems unfair to Browning, but have to judge it for the end product. Regardless, the film is entertaining and unique, and I would enjoy watching it again some rainy night.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Sep 03, 2010

  Weird, silly movie. I didn't care for it.
  Aj V Super Reviewer
• Jun 15, 2008

  A revenge-minded escaped convict lucks into a process for miniaturizing people, then controlling them with his mind. With it's shrunken murdering Frenchies and Lionel Barrymore in drag (!) this should have been a campy creep classic, but it flounders on the obtrusive subplot about the convict reconciling with his daughter (Maureen O'Sullivan).
  Greg S Super Reviewer
• Feb 24, 2008

  Great Todd Browning film, the guy truly was a master of horror and the bizarre.
  Christopher B Super Reviewer

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