List of 'Mad Doctor' movies?

[Lokke Heiss]

I'm coming up with a list of Mad Doctor films, starting with the sound era (I posted a separate thread in the silent section).

To make a distinction, I'm interested in at mad physician stories as opposed to mad scientist films, with the understanding that this is often splitting hairs. The distinction I'm making is that in mad physician films, the doctor has some kind of medical practice that he tries to maintain during the story. This is opposed to a typical mad scientist film who usually doesn't have any distractions from his monomaniacal plans for world domination, or to create a human from a pig, or other high falutin notions. I'm looking for films from the classical talkie era, from around 1930 to 1960 or so.

The obvious template for this group of films is J&H. The first film with this title is the 1908, movie USA, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Produced by William N. Selig, and then the numerous following adaptations, in this thread, then, we would start with the 31 J&H. No need to talk about these iterations except to note that this is almost the only story where the mad physician is NOT a surgeon. So coming up with a mad physician who is not a surgeon gives you extra credit.

So the Fu Manchu films don't qualify my list because although he has a medical degree from Johns Hopkins, in the film, it's clear he's not a practicing physician. Mad Love's Gogol does qualify, since he seems to be a practicing surgeon, with a few side interests. Frankenstein does not qualify as he is not a practicing physician, in fact he's not a doctor at all, since he never finished medical school.

Clearly these distinctions get muddy with certain films. Eyes Without a Face is clearly a Mad Physician film, but does the father have any job other than to work on his daughter? I forget (someone please remind me)

The Hammer films deserve their own special category, since many of their horror films feature doctors to the point where it feels like we're getting a lecture in the cruel medical practice of the late 1800s.

Any ideas about other 'mad physician' films?

[Spiny Norman]

Frankenstein does not qualify as he is not a practicing physician, in fact he's not a doctor at all, since he never finished medical school.

In the book, maybe, but do the movies know that?

[greta de groat]

How about "The Mad Doctor" (1941)

greta

[Danny Burk]

MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET - a juicy part for Lionel Atwill.

[Lokke Heiss]

Frankenstein does not qualify as he is not a practicing physician, in fact he's not a doctor at all, since he never finished medical school.

In the book, maybe, but do the movies know that?

The Universal films probably don't care either way, but I don't remember Victor having a practice or having other patients around. He sort of had a one-track mind.

[Scoundrel]

Prof. Waldman states that " Frankenstein was dissatisfied with our bodies , so he left the University."

So, Henry is a Dr. in name only.

[Lokke Heiss]

Prof. Waldman states that " Frankenstein was dissatisfied with our bodies , so he left the University."

So, Henry is a Dr. in name only.

I guess 'Medical Student Frankenstein' didn't quite have the same ring to it.

But then again, perhaps some university gave him an honorary degree?

[Spiny Norman]

Prof. Waldman states that " Frankenstein was dissatisfied with our bodies , so he left the University."

So, Henry is a Dr. in name only.

I guess 'Medical Student Frankenstein' didn't quite have the same ring to it.

But then again, perhaps some university gave him an honorary degree?

But in all the sequels, the family members turning up, aren't they doctors also? And that other doctor in part 2?

[todmichel]

Quote: "Clearly these distinctions get muddy with certain films. Eyes Without a Face is clearly a Mad Physician film, but does the father have any job other than to work on his daughter? I forget (someone please remind me)"

Yes, the movie has several scenes of Pierre Brasseur working in the hospital, visiting his patients, etc.

[Lokke Heiss]

Quote: "Clearly these distinctions get muddy with certain films. Eyes Without a Face is clearly a Mad Physician film, but does the father have any job other than to work on his daughter? I forget (someone please remind me)"

Yes, the movie has several scenes of Pierre Brasseur working in the hospital, visiting his patients, etc.

Wow, thank you, I'd forgotten. Then that kind gentleman goes to the top of the list, although one wonders if his other surgeries were sort of experimenting on techniques that might make his next surgery on his daughter go better.