Anatole Litvak directed The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, a crime film starring Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor and Humphrey Bogart.
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It was written by John Wexley and John Huston, based on “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse,” the first play written by Barré Lyndon, which ran on Broadway with Cedric Hardwicke.
Dr. Clitterhouse (Edward G. Robinson), a wealthy society doctor in New York City, decides to research the behavior of criminals by becoming one of them.
To that extent, he begins a series of daring jewel robberies, measuring his own blood pressure, temperature and pulse, but he yearns for a larger sample for his study.
He learns from his patient, Police Inspector Lewis Lane (Donald Crisp), the name of the fence in the city, Joe Keller. But when he goes to meet Keller to sell what he has stolen, he finds out that “Joe” is actually “Jo” (Claire Trevor).
When the doctor impresses Jo and a gang of thieves headed by ‘Rocks’ Valentine (Humphrey Bogart) with his exploits, Jo invites him to join them.
Caught by Inspector Lane and placed on trial, the doctor insists that he did everything for scientific reasons and claims that it is “impossible for an insane man to write a sane book.” His determination to demonstrate his sanity, and thus willing to face death penalty, convinces the jury to rule that he is not guilty by reason of insanity.
Bogart plays “Rocks” Valentine
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In a confrontational scene, Rocks learns of Dr. Clitterhouse’s real identity and shows up at his office. Clitterhouse realizes that Rocks will not let him publish his incriminating research, and that he has not studied the ultimate crime–murder–which will be the final chapter to his book. He gives a poisoned drink to Rocks, and studies his symptoms as he dies. Jo helps dispose of the body in the river, but it is recovered, and the poison is detected by the police.
Caught by his friend Inspector Lane, the doctor is placed on trial. Insisting that he did everything for scientific reasons, he claims that it is impossible for an insane man to write a sane book. His determination and willingness to face death penalty, leads the jury to declare him not guilty by reason of insanity.
Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Clitterhouse
Claire Trevor as Jo Keller
Humphrey Bogart as “Rocks” Valentine
Allen Jenkins as Okay
Donald Crisp as Police Inspector Lewis Lane
Gale Page as Nurse Randolph
Henry O’Neill as Judge
John Litel as Mr. Monroe, the prosecuting attorney
Thurston Hall as Grant
Maxie Rosenbloom as Butch
Burt Hanlon as Pat (“Pal”)
Curt Bois as Rabbit
Ward Bond as Tug
Vladimir Sokoloff as Popus (“Poopus”)
Billy Wayne as Candy
Robert Homans as Lt. Johnson
Irving Bacon as Foreman of jury
Mary Field as Millie – Mrs. Updyke’s maid
Production and distribution: Warner Bros.
Release dates: July 20, 1938 (NYC); July 30, 1938 (US)
Running time: 87 minutes
