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The Devil Commands | Year: 1941 Classification: Horror Directed: - Edward Dmytryk Actors/Actresses: - Boris Karloff - Amanda Duff - Anne Revere wonderfully demented okay, like a lot of buffs i wan to defend lugosi. karloff was just TOO succesful, TOO smug.<BR>but, <BR>Karloff was a hell of an actor and a better than poor Bela.<BR>and his films are better as well. <BR>this is one of many examples.<BR>a delightfully perverse film, full of atmosphere and flavour. <BR>recommended! Knocking on Heaven's door... The Devil Commands (1941), aka The Devil Said No, aka When the Devil Commands, stars Boris Karloff and was directed by Edward Dmytryk, who later directed The Caine Mutiny (1954). Karloff plays Dr. Julian Blair, a scientist who has been experimenting with machinery designed to record brainwaves of individuals. It seems people's brainwaves are as distinct as fingerprints, and Dr. Blair believes he is on the path to unlocking the secrets of the human brain. After the untimely death of his wife, the grief stricken Dr. Blair stumbles across the possibility of using his machinery to talk to his dearly departed, but finds himself at odds with his colleagues and family. While visiting a woman purporting to be a spirit medium, he exposes her as a fraud, but discovers she does seem to have enhanced perceptical (I know this isn't a word as I just made it up. I contact the good people at Websters and have them include it in their next edition) abilities, and enlists her aid in helping him. Being an unsavory individual, the woman agrees to help as she thinks if the good doctor can pull off speaking with the dead, he will gain power and riches beyond belief. Dr. Julian, quitting his job at the university and selling his home, leaves with Mrs. Walters, the psychic medium, and Karl, a mute, brutish man who was injured in one of Dr. Julian's experiments, and they relocate to an isolated manor in a small town, far away from prying eyes and inquisitive minds. Soon the villagers start to talk and get suspicious of the secretive work going on at the manor. Rumors begin to fly, and speculation runs rampant, certainly assisted with the disappearance of a few recently buried corpses. What was their purpose in Dr. Blair's experiments? You'll have to watch the movie. As the townspeople become more and more uneasy, I half expected a mob brandishing fiery torches to descend on the isolated manor. (Actually, they do, near the end.) The ending was wonderfully unsettling, and left viewers with questions never to be answered. After watching the film, I pondered the fate of Karloff's character, and the more I thought about, the more chills these thoughts gave me. Karloff is great, as always, as the mad scientist (for lack of a better term) consumed with his quest, but he also provides us with a rich, deep characterization in that Julian feels very remorseful when his experimentation leads to the injury (Karl, who Dr. Julian now provides and cares for) or death. I thought that aspect rare in movies like this. His only intention, his desire, is to speak to his dead wife. Anne Revere is wonderful as Mrs. Walters, and her character makes no bones about what she is in it for, money...she insinuates herself into Julian's life to the point where she actually becomes a surrogate wife, taking care of all matters, allowing Julian to work unfettered, unencumbered with mundane responsibilities. She was very attractive, but in a cruel sense, as she had a gaze that could c Karloff Kapers!! Finally, " The Devil Commands" is here on DVD. Why carp about no extras..This is a surreal excursion into the supernatural with a rather noirish blend of atmosphere. Ann Revere adds to the excitement and at one time most folks thought that the narration was a bit tepid, however it is important and helps the film move along. This is one of Edward Dmytryks first works and its one of the best Karloff Kolumbia efforts.. C Pope Buy The Devil Commands at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Devil Commands Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Devil Commands This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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