The Return of Doctor X - Warner Archive Collection

The Return of Doctor X is without question the weirdest movie Humphrey Bogart ever made, and it's no secret he abhorred the role and resented being cast by Warner Bros studio chief Jack L. Warner. But back in 1939, Bogart was not the legendary actor we know and revere today; he was a journeyman contract player in the Warner stable and had little to no control over what pictures he was assigned to. He objected vociferously to The Return of Doctor X, reportedly bursting into Warner's office and demanding more money to salve his wounded ego, but like a dutiful soldier he sucked it up and made the movie nonetheless. To be sure, it was a low point in his career, but Bogart rebounded quickly and within a couple of years achieved the star status he worked so hard and so long to attain.

I had never seen The Return of Doctor X before the Blu-ray disc showed up on my doorstep to review. Familiar with the the film's poor reputation (it gets a mere 5.7 on IMDb), my expectations were very low, but you know what? It's not half bad. A lot of talent went into making this B-grade horror flick, and it shows. Yes, it's preposterous and a tad cheesy, but it zips along at a brisk clip, delivers a few thrills, is peppered with humor, contains colorful performances, and is stylishly directed. If you've got 62 minutes to spare some evening, there's no reason not to give The Return of Doctor X a spin.

Though on the surface it seems like a sequel, The Return of Doctor X has no connection to Doctor X, the very good 1932 thriller that inspired it...other than the name of the title character. Bogart doesn't get top billing, doesn't play the main character, and doesn't even appear until the film is almost half over. The plot really revolves around Walter Barnett (Wayne Morris), a wrongly disgraced newspaperman who loses his job after he reports on the murder of a noted Broadway actress only to discover she really isn't dead after all. Or is she?

Walter thinks something fishy is going on and joins forces with his doctor buddy Michael Rhodes (Dennis Morgan) to root it out. They consult Michael's colleague, Dr. Francis Flegg (John Litel), a noted hematologist, after they learn a subsequent murder victim had the same rare blood type as the no-longer-dead actress. Flegg's ashen-faced assistant Marshall Quesne (Bogart) creeps both men out and his suspicious nature makes him the prime suspect in the macabre mystery with Frankenstein overtones.

The Return of Doctor X marked the directorial debut of Vincent Sherman, a former actor and writer who would go on to helm a string of classics starring Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Ida Lupino, and Ann Sheridan. Sherman's talent is instantly evident and his command of the camera and storytelling prowess help the film rise above others in its class. The Return of Doctor X may be a B movie, but its slick presentation gives the impression Sherman hoped to use the film as a steppingstone to bigger and better projects.

He's aided by a fine cast populated by up-and-coming actors, all of whom assert themselves well. Bogart often looks ridiculous with his shock of white hair and pasty complexion, but he embraces the monstrous nature of his role and underplays well. Morris made a splash a couple of years earlier as the titular boxer Kid Galahad and he brings the same brand of pugnacious charm to his cocky journalist role here, while Morgan's Irish good looks and sincerity make him a believable upstanding doctor. Rosemary Lane doesn't exude the same sparkle as her better known sister Priscilla, but plays the ingenue nurse and eventual damsel in distress with enthusiasm; Litel shines as the not-so-mad doctor whose noble experiment goes terribly awry; and Dead End Kids and Bowery Boys fans will get a kick out of Huntz Hall, who cracks wise as the gatekeeper of the newspaper's morgue, which helps Walter expose the killer.

The Return of Doctor X often gets a bum rap, but there's a lot to like about this bizarre-o tale of medical mayhem and malpractice. It's no masterpiece, but it's a fun way to spend an hour. Horror geeks and Bogart aficionados will surely want to add this creepy curio to their collection.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
The Return of Doctor X arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu without music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.

A brand new HD master struck from a 4K scan of the original camera negative makes this B movie look like a Class A production. Distinguished by excellent clarity and contrast and just enough grain to maintain a film-like appearance, the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer faithfully honors the noir-ish cinematography of Sid Hickox, who would photograph six more Bogart movies, including such Bogie-Bacall classics as To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, and Dark Passage. Rich blacks, vivid whites, and a pleasing grayscale combine to produce a vibrant picture that remains consistent throughout. Superior shadow delineation enhances nocturnal scenes, sharp close-ups showcase beads of sweat and the leathery complexions of the undead, and no nicks, dirt, or scratches mar the pristine source material. Warner Archive puts just as much care into its B movie releases as its A product and classics fans appreciate the effort and commitment.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track is clear, crisp, and free of any age-related defects. Sonic accents like gunfire, all the electrical activity in the lab, and Rosemary Lane's bloodcurdling scream are distinct and a wide dynamic scale gives the melodramatic musical score plenty of room to breathe. All the dialogue is easy to comprehend and no distortion creeps into the mix. 

A few vintage supplements round out the disc.

• Archival Audio Commentary with director Vincent Sherman and author/film historian Dr. Steve Haberman
• Vintage Cartoon: Doggone Modern (HD, 7 minutes) - If you think living in a "smart" home is maddening today, see the bedlam that results when a couple of dogs happen upon a completely automated house and try to use all the gadgets in this Looney Tunes short.
• Vintage Cartoon: Porky's Hotel (HD, 7 minutes) - Shot in black-and-white, this Looney Tunes cartoon stars Porky Pig as a hotel proprietor who tries his damnedest to keep the peace between a cantankerous goat and a pesky goose.
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 3 minutes) - The film's original preview is comprised almost completely of alternate takes and scenes that were cut before release. Definitely worth checking out.

The Return of Doctor X is B-movie bliss. Far better than it has any right to be, this cheesy and campy horror flick keeps us engaged from beginning to end and features a one-of-a-kind performance from a pasty-faced Humphrey Bogart. Warner Archive's spiffy new 4K master struck from the original camera negative elevates this 62-minute thriller that's a must for diehard Bogart fans. Recommended. 
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