![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPDcfqRURt-81C4NAuLLQnkvA9I-KlyLg1de4b9oofhhn2GTiKzUi5Z1hkW3l3_4Mvqr2eRzhj-FEIOzWBjGyIPxT1oWZ05llmGViOO8_hO1al0r-ErGoGGqCELT-G5_1ntzQIyYj4-k/s280/000.Christmas+Dreams.jpg) |
May All Your Christmas Dreams Come True... from "The Devil-Doll" |
CREEPY CHRISTMAS
The Devil Doll (1936) - Movie review plus screencaps:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn1NuPcJwtcueQeKCMjBKwN8pWi-gKrHzgPTsKh5yq1arsva7RsUUvOsOENLF9wR1SJrqcFSm8LLW0XaxT8sUN3CAbID3QJIUhdMNC_LtOMECxBQ5CXiz5FruKkpivV_FgGA5n4kKa4k/s280/001.The+Devil-Doll.gif) |
The Devil-Doll |
In "The Devil-Doll," Lionel Barrymore plays an escaped convict who befriends a pair of mad scientists, and uses their methods of shrinking and mind-controlling humans and animals to exact revenge against the men who framed him for murder.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW40rwAo8g2dGWHjMLA5WL5sfpwBIpG1tVtcDABnHChGnFvv1IR6UM1m_dxgI3YHqwJmSn2TVZN9bP3woEd5-QwgVqB9c_zIKqBlr48Xa9w2cWv4d631qjZ3rK8-UmdTwrhyphenhyphenuf7pUqtJM/s280/005.Lab+Equipment.jpg) |
Mad Scientist Lab Equipment |
This is a strange little sci-fi flick from the 1930s. Lionel Barrymore gains the ability to shrink humans and animals to doll-size, and control them with his mind. So he disguises himself as a toymaker, and smuggles his devil-dolls into his victims homes as Christmas presents and Christmas tree ornaments, to rob and murder the men who framed him. Oh, and did I mention he disguises himself as a
FEMALE toymaker? Yes, he spends the majority of the film in drag.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5adLpqUfLgOtkTcCAVuEFBqiKc0Fo3Y9n6_FiCTYVo6EjWkVIQ_-fO9T35rX0ZH0o2MHpPptST2pQgMrJaY41T9tDqlQXGgwEAu-Q6akn-RLynDiRhjInB6P5NuqC8L_xg7gU0OC34Sk/s280/011.Paul+in+Drag.jpg) |
Lionel Barrymore in Drag |
The shrinking effects must have been state-of-the-art at the time, and are still a lot of fun. Watching knife-wielding shrunken people creep around their victims bedrooms in the middle of the night is a real hoot. The film falters a bit when it brings in the subplot of Barrymore's daughter and mother, who have been shamed and made destitute by Barrymore being a criminal, and it tries to tie everything up in a happy ending for them which is pretty lame, but the sort of thing that was expected of movies back then, I guess.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP1e6H4bgAl6-DBc_SoaW0K1q5RBYOsB4kLE1TWbBKecEs5VTHi2mftDdALqKjfByLyRgkMHUKMNcy-dCJrCvApxwxCpprdGZ5E5x7Q8TRnCGNt-0kZwI6r3uCofW5EZe5BzptkrePHk/s280/014-A+Killer+Doll.jpg) |
A Killer Doll |
Christmas elements in "The Devil-Doll" include:
- The film is set during the Christmas season
- A Christmas tree and Christmas tree ornaments figure prominently
- A Devil-Doll is purchased as a Christmas present
- Much of the film takes place at a toy making shop
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuU2-8CM6zJ5WBmoQet-_DOQoh8TGMhurosJq9WxRd3cyVM611DuUk2mOeYYy5Cb2eo3OAsxDfpE_-nfAoh0WZlY6uB1J33uQudfNPYKugiVFkropuX1xvyripaslsiIGLjBeeVFN9Mw/s280/018.Christmas+Tree.jpg) |
Christmas Tree |
Overall, even though the film has it's faults, it's still I fun way
to spend an hour and 15 minutes, and it's a must-see if you're a fan of vintage mad scientist movies. Plus, it makes for great family viewing around
the holidays!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAGUj1M8ufuQmDEW5WDcU4s8HDOoPVjV-2o4wV4qyTAybwqcjySZ3Va-BiLe_Pxhb1PICKiGoyogwgsVcEfhHa5agDiIdE2uzpQTn8aR5IBk5JwTyFdFaKL_Jh_SCilDixnx50pYDV8M/s1600/3.0.robots.png) |
Rating: 3 Robots (out of 5) |
More screencaps after the jump...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXbPvP69iJ9pUTV5epaGskRB7W3bjNs_TZfp8cNn2biRT5Yolx5_r4GNynfIHfjB05ngMWzinNazEnLpri2nP9IAYmlTgfiSlZpL9UkW4-_7BmjCpZ_VEq2u23hbTJ90WvUBoT58hQhU/s280/029.Transvestite+Beauty.jpg) |
Transvestite Beauty Queen |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C7_HkvxPoph2jSfYDdVCZE-PP3jdWLhcgRcc8570KDTYyuztXfyrTkSFCzvoTrz_UFVLQvtwOh5MgGhqz99nWB6sr7n2i0byhzBgF4qZL3pmvYYkpd8Ya5Kd8UqUG8pAWPIDkSjUO_I/s280/030.Dancers.jpg) |
Dancing Dolls |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdvt9-o1D51WQjzZiYH7DXncySdRhsqqzX96cUV9m6COnojYUhv0EtKu1hsFqcEB6JuiUomfrI5GmmVDZ7iTjmOdofusEkwZVFGcGevLdTm4qTRY853rnU4ZRvkN1Ms_ScdbdE2LDmr8/s280/002.Mystery+House.jpg) |
Mysterious House |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jr41Ykrv8aEvCgd32Y1i4-1OQFQUkFUoBgLKOuZ73gsABtoVlqVvJXawfwecwYUs7bvLAX1EutVSkULhl8AWEIkHFlz-hGTdVqPLUEehLq7CLKnwJkpiHq827qT61uLpzQ2aFFImrME/s280/003.Experimenting.jpg) |
Experimenting |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ov93usJF7MaQFMxCYRNBrOOSeaYZ5GGJJysq5TeV0wMC17eMxER4ZDBOtgaqGzfMN9Op7iLrtkuWHwlPjyofgSMwQ2Vxh4Vj9cBJayXFEMc5u6nKqARCO5Ej_FpACqI1fYvpNn5dc3o/s280/004.Doll+on+the+Slab.jpg) |
Devil-Doll on the Slab |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSE1pD_x8poXRQUjxSWiIlorqh_mVJ1_0aAU0sG8wHiBIw99jYRVmilZnnjST1ZLXtqXAbRfmWC_90Aip1kXKRg-piAatDl4rdtAslGBgkc8k2GBJuu8bPDb8-MGKfQ5cYCOF00bAjjp4/s280/004.Not+Just+a+Toy.jpg) |
It's Not a Toy |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVddQ_RYCHSY6TVOYszQgVW5cqm1NLC_O4wUOHIDVNTQVK_9uAuKD1TYvK4TaGEFk3_pRIgEUBHkErXVYWgl8d01EtvkV4onLh_yfL51Z-kXTpJQgK8gps2G0Gj17CHASrKI3qwCsEP-s/s280/006.Lab+Equipment.jpg) |
Bride of Lab Equipment |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_yZV5Vfzni5gz7TUxWFAZmItvGAkxana6W9H4Bi3Cj10sk7vtI5Id_ncxu6c1wkpdeeShFXTvQ8BgU-f32SOSG2LtElX9mpR4QIzACB5FtHhC3VMvz8NxN-6JMsKraZPOGCuiZMY6wE/s280/007.Lab+Equipment.jpg) |
Son of Lab Equipment |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz1W8-yh2ELhgd-_I6EmvOooKI8Mthi6mSS6BS6LxEMuhn8qAArao2vyCIXBH2P-TRxm8O4RGAqtxI2QQen6ZQ_s5-AjMOQXkGuXSiQA-4lLzmfyqgE3X39y3WC9ebj6fUprcQeLvxM4/s280/008.Shrunken+Woman.jpg) |
Shrunken Woman |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOtxz0ADNvdTOb2wBOvudd9vOgb7MtVGAQGQPRAEYB01D_BCn-wRC44aGZa7dYKv2KNMzxgS_8BDa95Xr1f3mjE95DEfSDuamVQXJxYbcJOhYrWAx2n5X9Zf40vuQ0ZpN000Ey7KOyfI/s280/009.Eiffel+Tower.jpg) |
Eiffel Tower |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixppS-dpr4AKOAwzxB_79qZyvNVPWhHux9Ygaip15uRoAUOA-tysixdQwldAaRaFEWuHZchRefWRcLdmrOTgzlSDYF0FmE9PueCUQxrh_EUvUWCSMhwVO_D5z9uYY9zEcwXlywdpPb7T4/s280/010.Escaped+Convict.jpg) |
Escaped Convict |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ08Ft4f2SZI7a_33DTwooNvZl4bYCrZEtNGI81GI3oxVT7Ffs6EeigkE58aIeEO823dsAbX44LjjTykX1-A8XY03cF_tDI2xkZCod0C8HlaFDKqA8nYPajZhoiwAOB6XOZxMkYevMrk/s280/011.Toys+in+the+Window.jpg) |
Toys in the Window |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLyeaHTSrGfVX2XB39IFzm66HzmYqUG0NlFDUjaIZdhydaRVx_-domq8Uyfi7eo7Z8sp_rXgbZ7HCmjJiFRoA-TyJVCbYo93wBFMzEbei8MeTMcq6l1wKv_MOZPLG-U6o7VX75STYZb8/s280/013.Devil-Doll+With+a+Knife.jpg) |
Devil-Doll With a Knife |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMBMuloUYb8xA_HWc5hD-R1tYvSHR8lRKiyg6lDYgQhS3weZjJPkPE4HBcSPVKoP2ptoFkGh0UXZbD-sFvTHVzEJl2WztUcfxLS_AfMoxHi9_VYKwN4zcEKIMH1hFumU8Q7ZbY1Wxmsw/s280/013.Distinguished+Criminals.jpg) |
Distinguished Looking Criminals |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw02nmXsOEfEBON_DLqP7McZ0vCO5zmNVU50EsagJlF_HiCMxbEXGDkPm3QSemyudu43TF9pcgrtn7zK4YHYd471M2HyXFvE1eK8ChC20822GIfX8MwC_MorzXtItt8ag7K_i1nBoTVw/s280/014.Banker+Robbed.jpg) |
Mystified by Weird Case |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzYA3-XVn6BbQ6nHC-Ad5iRVd9VBNcZET8IqwC8u5CPmMQLqcrd6fdzXWJt6wrFcsYur0R6son89JeqHYr5evoJsZmrc1seOnzqTTIXu4Bzjht4lZBiJGA6JmM1Zz5mTJuEC3JPiyywA/s280/015.A+Coded+Threat.jpg) |
A Coded Threat |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ85ZxJsmqifRpLkYcx11nrLVv183vPl30cGbIOVXqi2DPx6kUItH_XI9_BJmk5CpkeY8OzwCjc4pT2xowj-xpl8c5zCXBqh3Zq0qIRMvLTt2Wx9fxdN89uaHOOcYx_xaGjcfr1xqvbvc/s280/016.The+Threat+Deciphered.jpg) |
The Threat is Deciphered |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5btW1xw3yCQ8rSs-ZP85xOQx_S5ibNlXpkjN6ClELNMbQGQ2b0LuRhm_REjnX6-_dQhcy2bT26vINth708KAHLBRlcF94on8qxsQiv8_yseqzAfM_sgtVQzqTnkdHHLZIPwBK4W9GoE/s280/017.Clock+Tower.jpg) |
Clock Tower |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZX7kX53G_P0Gr-E5nWltMNXSwZooqhKpyeYQ0Rkm_Ik6knxjYA05rRGP2YPXDOCnRQ5inw1PqSDRISW_SPhIiWrET1YC0xKIcZqrMtNfAbnwP5fYFX6iSdwAtEXKdjr2qHeED6m5PGQ/s280/019.A+Perfectly+Reasonable+Christmas+Tree+Ornament.jpg) |
A Perfectly Reasonable Christmas Tree Ornament |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6wllNik4JDC9ZxYDK0JlcUT8wPKUvAWzKhxBKyM1MU3awGvCuYA7_qacU5bcWgtR9Vhas67e6iWw6J5b-er3yfBEGUa3ZY2EJpQBpIjgJ0H06oMYPa2dVM8fM-xZ1oskyx3l8k50v0M/s280/020.Christmas+Presents.jpg) |
Christmas Presents |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJBP4ALclKzJqKsKcpoNhvH6yPtxzcgU2SG2cMmQaFAV_kOKcGegO6-mMM2zkfx81Qj12Ht_HyxmVRvlqMXAkjaT3m0aLwuo1dBWnyttdUBXqMgVMlQl6Bhadujq-8-mwOlxEQQGOquc/s280/021.New+Species+of+Monkeys+Found+in+South+Africa.jpg) |
New Species of Monkeys Found in South Africa! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycRtyWMUOh_nfToTHccLWEUcUu7Ly5oyIX1l-ax2HqiMlx4PUr3rK9p5QqyxkqEmk3bmYpglnLX_A870W6b_qBwASE4qE3P9FQD9k_T2NhOD5Be3fxkHmF0GJAco-eVXlHx6nb_cuAPw/s280/022.The+Lab+is+Destroyed.jpg) |
The Toy Shop is Destroyed |
Think I will look this one up! Thanks
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