251:
Stella to see if she knows more than she is letting him believe. On the night of Duval's scheduled execution, with very little time left, Mark gets to hypnotize Stella. Under hypnosis, she tells him the truth about her plan together with Duval to get the $ 10,000 and that she killed Maria when Duval tried to give the money back. She also admits having tried to burn down the medical office, destroying numerous records, to cover the fact that she had been embezzling from him. Gregg overhears this and arrests Stella, explaining to Mark that he had never really suspected him but needed to gather evidence against Stella.
477:
216:) is cheating on him on a regular basis, which is something Mark is well aware of. When Maria returns home one night in the early morning hours after a rendez-vous with her lover, Mark finally tells her that he has had enough and that he wants a divorce. Maria, who is leading a very comfortable life as a doctor's wife, refuses her consent to a divorce, and laughs at him as she does so. That night Mark has a dream about strangling his wife to death.
243:
audio recording of the session though, and on the audio Mark talks about meeting up with his wife at a cabin in the mountains. He also tells of having a quarrel with her and leaving the cabin just as Duval arrives, going straight to his office and sedating himself into deep sleep. Gregg listens to the recording, but still seems to suspect Mark of being the real murderer.
352:“Though LeBorg was unhappy with being assigned to what he felt was a routine horror film, he did an excellent job with time and resources at his command…he was a master at creating the proper mood and atmosphere for a horror film, and during this period, horror films were hot at the box office.” —Biographer Wheeler Winston Dixon in
362:
250:
Upon his return to the office Mark gets a visit from inspector Gregg. Mark is confronted with the fact that there's a connection between Mark's private clinic and the acid used on the face of his murdered wife. Mark realizes there might be more at stake than he first thought and decides to hypnotize
246:
Curious and craving for information Mark visits the incarcerated Duval and finds out that he borrowed $ 10,000 from Maria in order to pay off some gambling debts. After the visit Mark hears that Duval's request for pardoning has been denied by the governor. He talks to nurse Stella, who faints right
242:
Duval is eventually convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In a moment of guilt Mark gets the idea to hypnotize himself to find out if he really is the real murderer. The hypnosis, however, is not completed because inspector Gregg arrives and interrupts. Nurse Stella does make an
219:
When Maria goes away for the weekend, Mark decides to leave and gets into his car and drives off. Come Monday morning he wakes up in his office only to learn that he is suffering a mental blackout and that the memories of the weekend is missing. He is informed by the police that his wife has been
559:
declared the series "feeble melodramas with little to recommend them beyond their camp qualities and the morose spectacle of seeing a badly miscast Chaney struggle his way through acting assignments that were painfully beyond his depth." They concluded that the series were "generally regarded by
200:. Chaney Jr. plays a neurologist, Dr. Mark Steele, who loses memory of the past few days after learning that his wife has been brutally murdered. Aware of his wife's infidelity and believing he could be the killer, Steele asks his office nurse Stella Madden to help him recover his lost memories.
467:
went into production on
October 25, 1943 and was finished filming in 20 days. Patrica Morison recalled working on the film with Chaney, stating she "didn't get to know him terribly well - he was a rather shy man, but I enjoyed working with him very much. He was very nice to me."
29:
434:'s insistence. Dein stated that Chaney felt the dialogue was too technical and he couldn't say the words. LeBorg stated it was both Chaney and Pivar who suggested it, stating "Pivar was very, very crude, not very intelligent, and he couldn't read very well."
425:
series. Dein later reflected on his work at
Universal, stating that he worked there "as a reader for a few weeks, which was another horror story. We called this the Snake Pit. In those days, we were not considered to be prolific writers; we were hacks." The
247:
in front of him in the office. Mark assumes that the nurse is beat from too much work. He suggests hiring another nurse as a secretary to handle the bills for the time being, and drives Stella to visit her family.
545:
could have been a most promising introduction to
Universal's new "Inner Sanctum" series" and concluded that the film was "good enough for everyday consumption, and likely to encourage an appreciable following."
535:
that the film was "mildly interesting but not thrilling. t has a dreary habit of talking itself out of promising situations" and that Chaney's voice-overs dissipated the suspense. Dorothy
Masters of
223:
His worries increase after finding a button from his own jacket near where his wife's body was found. He starts suspecting that he himself has done away with her. His nurse, Stella Madden (
552:
found LeBorg's direction was "filled with imaginative touches and extracts a maximum of suspense from the psychological plot" and that Chaney "gives an arresting portrayal of the doctor."
728:
Dixon, 1992 p. 92: LeBorg: “Piver didn’t give a damn…He had a contract, so he didn’t give a damn…” Re: production of
Calling Mr. Death. April 8, 1988 interview with Dixon.
212:) treats his patients successfully with hypnosis, but has troubles of his own from a marriage falling apart, that he cannot treat himself in the same way. His wife Maria (
220:
murdered, and that her face was disfigured by some kind of acid. Mark begins to worry about not remembering the slightest thing about his own actions during the weekend.
440:
was hopeful for the series, craving diversity in his roles after
Universal had placed him in various monster roles in their horror films. Pivar planned to produce two
452:
was chosen by Pivar to direct the film, with LeBorg recalling that "Pivar had confidence in me because I was a fighter who tried to get better and better material."
621:
1343:
921:
227:) tells him not to air his suspicions to the police until he knows more. The police go on to arrest Maria's lover, an architect named Robert Duval (
1328:
391:
for their series of mystery novels they had published starting in the 1930s. The radio adaptations had initially started in
January 1941 on the
836:
181:
1338:
1064:
1333:
821:
399:
of
Universal sought out a suitable entry for the first film in the series, and purchased an original screenplay by freelance writer
1358:
1074:
1348:
1104:
914:
476:
1363:
1353:
860:
1323:
1254:
1094:
409:
455:
Just before filming was set to begin, Sondergaard was dropped from the cast and her role was rewritten and given to
1184:
1084:
387:, Inc. who were publishers of the popular mystery novels and radio shows. Simon and Schuster were using the title
907:
1274:
1284:
625:
537:
484:
380:
548:
1164:
954:
894:
803:
415:
361:
189:
235:), one of the detectives on the case, still believes that Mark is the murderer. Duval's disabled wife (
1054:
1034:
984:
337:
1318:
1004:
812:
430:
feature a "stream of consciousness" voiceover which Dein stated he incorporated into his script at
292:
228:
1294:
1144:
1024:
531:
400:
384:
994:
28:
396:
1264:
872:
832:
817:
112:
1244:
1204:
1174:
1114:
931:
456:
445:
369:
365:
274:
239:) pays Mark a visit, trying to convince him to help her prove that her husband is innocent.
232:
224:
197:
193:
66:
541:
opined that if "Reginald LeBorg been as masterful with his cast as he was with the script,
1214:
1194:
1134:
1044:
1014:
449:
328:
280:
71:
42:
654:
494:
was distributed by
Universal on December 17, 1943. It was later theatrically shown as a
368:(pictured) was considered for the role of Stella Madden but was replaced last minute by
1124:
495:
437:
431:
421:
304:
268:
209:
61:
1312:
1224:
899:
500:
480:
89:
1154:
974:
853:
526:
392:
176:
383:" series. In June 1943, Universal purchased the screen rights to the series from
964:
513:
286:
213:
76:
310:
888:
459:. LeBorg speculated that Sondergaard was dropped from the film as "she was a
1234:
322:
185:
677:
Dixon, 1992 p. 13: Composite quote for brevity, clarity; meaning unaltered.
883:
298:
236:
877:
866:
460:
463:
and she and her husband were shooting their mouths off quite often."
782:
780:
778:
776:
763:
761:
748:
746:
593:
712:
710:
708:
706:
693:
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
591:
589:
587:
585:
583:
581:
579:
577:
575:
573:
808:
The Films of
Reginald LeBorg: Interviews, Essays, and Filmography.
475:
360:
903:
560:
buffs and film historians as a missed cinematic opportunity."
407:. Dein had previously worked on various mystery films such as
444:
mystery films a year with each film featuring Chaney and
659:, Turner Classic Movies website; accessed June 8, 2016.
645:
Dixon, 1992 p. 10-11, p. 130-131: Directorial Credits
827:
Weaver, Tom; Brunas, Michael; Brunas, John (2007) .
555:
From retrospective reviews, the authors of the book
160:
150:
127:
119:
103:
95:
85:
56:
48:
38:
21:
786:
767:
752:
737:
716:
697:
597:
483:poster for the double feature, 14 January 1944
350:
511:film that was also directed by LeBorg, titled
915:
8:
188:film series, which was based on the popular
668:Dixon, 1992 p. 130-131: Directorial Credits
922:
908:
900:
208:A respected neurologist, Dr. Mark Steele (
27:
18:
831:(2 ed.). McFarland & Company.
569:
616:
614:
612:
610:
608:
606:
517:. It was released on April 14, 1944.
7:
507:The film was followed by the second
231:), for the murder. Inspector Gregg (
1344:Films directed by Reginald Le Borg
14:
787:Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007
768:Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007
753:Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007
738:Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007
717:Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007
698:Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007
598:Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007
192:, the film stars Chaney Jr. and
123:Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
113:Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
179:, and the first installment in
1329:American black-and-white films
1105:Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
259:Cast is sourced from the book
1:
190:radio series of the same name
16:1943 film by Reginald Le Borg
1075:Philo Vance's Secret Mission
1065:The Adventures of Don Coyote
861:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
448:in the lead roles. Director
354:The Films of Reginald LeBorg
334:Charles Wagenheim as Coroner
1339:Films based on radio series
1255:The Flight That Disappeared
1095:Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad
525:From contemporary reviews,
379:was the first film in the "
182:The Inner Sanctum Mysteries
1380:
1185:The Great Jesse James Raid
622:"Calling Dr. Death (1943)"
395:and was broadcast weekly.
136:17 December 1943
938:
26:
1334:Universal Pictures films
816:, Metuchen, New Jersey.
1285:The Eyes of Annie Jones
626:American Film Institute
538:The New York Daily News
428:Inner Sanctum Mysteries
319:Fred Giermann as Father
1359:American mystery films
804:Dixon, Wheeler Winston
549:The Hollywood Reporter
488:
373:
358:
196:, and was directed by
1349:Inner Sanctum Mystery
955:San Diego, I Love You
479:
381:Inner Sanctum Mystery
364:
1364:1940s American films
1354:Medical-themed films
331:as District Attorney
813:The Scarecrow Press
316:Mary Hale as Marion
1324:1943 mystery films
1295:So Evil, My Sister
1145:Young Daniel Boone
1025:Joe Palooka, Champ
930:Films directed by
895:TCM Movie Database
810:Filmmakers No. 31
532:The New York Times
489:
385:Simon and Schuster
374:
271:as Dr. Mark Steele
1306:
1305:
1275:Diary of a Madman
985:The Mummy's Ghost
945:Calling Dr. Death
890:Calling Dr. Death
879:Calling Dr. Death
868:Calling Dr. Death
855:Calling Dr. Death
838:978-0-7864-2974-5
829:Universal Horrors
656:Calling Dr. Death
557:Universal Horrors
543:Calling Dr. Death
492:Calling Dr. Death
465:Calling Dr. Death
405:Calling Dr. Death
377:Calling Dr. Death
261:Universal Horrors
172:Calling Dr. Death
168:
167:
22:Calling Dr. Death
1371:
1299:
1289:
1279:
1269:
1259:
1249:
1245:The Dalton Girls
1239:
1229:
1219:
1209:
1205:The White Orchid
1199:
1189:
1179:
1175:The Flanagan Boy
1169:
1159:
1149:
1139:
1129:
1119:
1109:
1099:
1089:
1079:
1069:
1059:
1049:
1039:
1029:
1019:
1009:
999:
989:
979:
969:
959:
949:
932:Reginald Le Borg
924:
917:
910:
901:
842:
790:
784:
771:
765:
756:
750:
741:
735:
729:
726:
720:
714:
701:
695:
678:
675:
669:
666:
660:
652:
646:
643:
637:
636:
634:
632:
618:
601:
595:
457:Patricia Morison
446:Gale Sondergaard
393:NBC Blue Network
370:Patricia Morison
366:Gale Sondergaard
277:as Stella Madden
275:Patricia Morison
233:J. Carroll Naish
225:Patricia Morison
198:Reginald Le Borg
194:Patricia Morison
143:
141:
67:Patricia Morison
31:
19:
1379:
1378:
1374:
1373:
1372:
1370:
1369:
1368:
1309:
1308:
1307:
1302:
1292:
1282:
1272:
1262:
1252:
1242:
1232:
1222:
1215:The Black Sleep
1212:
1202:
1195:Sins of Jezebel
1192:
1182:
1172:
1162:
1152:
1142:
1135:Hold That Baby!
1132:
1122:
1112:
1102:
1092:
1082:
1072:
1062:
1052:
1045:Susie Steps Out
1042:
1032:
1022:
1015:Honeymoon Ahead
1012:
1002:
995:Dead Man's Eyes
992:
982:
972:
962:
952:
942:
934:
928:
850:
845:
839:
826:
799:
794:
793:
785:
774:
766:
759:
751:
744:
736:
732:
727:
723:
715:
704:
696:
681:
676:
672:
667:
663:
653:
649:
644:
640:
630:
628:
620:
619:
604:
596:
571:
566:
523:
474:
450:Reginald LeBorg
359:
348:
343:
329:George Eldredge
295:as Robert Duval
289:as Maria Steele
281:J. Carrol Naish
257:
206:
153:
146:
139:
137:
130:
115:
108:
106:
81:
72:J. Carrol Naish
43:Reginald LeBorg
34:
33:Official poster
17:
12:
11:
5:
1377:
1375:
1367:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1311:
1310:
1304:
1303:
1301:
1300:
1290:
1280:
1270:
1260:
1250:
1240:
1230:
1220:
1210:
1200:
1190:
1180:
1170:
1160:
1150:
1140:
1130:
1125:Fighting Fools
1120:
1110:
1100:
1090:
1085:Trouble Makers
1080:
1070:
1060:
1050:
1040:
1030:
1020:
1010:
1000:
990:
980:
970:
960:
950:
939:
936:
935:
929:
927:
926:
919:
912:
904:
898:
897:
886:
875:
864:
863:
849:
848:External links
846:
844:
843:
837:
824:
800:
798:
795:
792:
791:
789:, p. 384.
772:
770:, p. 391.
757:
755:, p. 390.
742:
740:, p. 383.
730:
721:
719:, p. 382.
702:
700:, p. 380.
679:
670:
661:
647:
638:
602:
600:, p. 379.
568:
567:
565:
562:
522:
519:
496:double feature
473:
470:
438:Lon Chaney Jr.
432:Lon Chaney Jr.
422:Boston Blackie
349:
347:
344:
342:
341:
335:
332:
326:
320:
317:
314:
308:
305:Holmes Herbert
302:
296:
290:
284:
283:as Insp. Gregg
278:
272:
269:Lon Chaney Jr.
265:
256:
253:
210:Lon Chaney Jr.
205:
202:
166:
165:
162:
158:
157:
154:
151:
148:
147:
145:
144:
133:
131:
128:
125:
124:
121:
120:Distributed by
117:
116:
111:
109:
104:
101:
100:
99:Norman A. Cerf
97:
93:
92:
87:
86:Cinematography
83:
82:
80:
79:
74:
69:
62:Lon Chaney Jr.
60:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1376:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1297:
1296:
1291:
1287:
1286:
1281:
1277:
1276:
1271:
1267:
1266:
1261:
1257:
1256:
1251:
1247:
1246:
1241:
1237:
1236:
1231:
1227:
1226:
1225:Voodoo Island
1221:
1217:
1216:
1211:
1207:
1206:
1201:
1197:
1196:
1191:
1187:
1186:
1181:
1177:
1176:
1171:
1167:
1166:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1141:
1137:
1136:
1131:
1127:
1126:
1121:
1117:
1116:
1111:
1107:
1106:
1101:
1097:
1096:
1091:
1087:
1086:
1081:
1077:
1076:
1071:
1067:
1066:
1061:
1057:
1056:
1051:
1047:
1046:
1041:
1037:
1036:
1035:Little Iodine
1031:
1027:
1026:
1021:
1017:
1016:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1001:
997:
996:
991:
987:
986:
981:
977:
976:
971:
967:
966:
961:
957:
956:
951:
947:
946:
941:
940:
937:
933:
925:
920:
918:
913:
911:
906:
905:
902:
896:
892:
891:
887:
885:
881:
880:
876:
874:
870:
869:
865:
862:
859:
857:
856:
852:
851:
847:
840:
834:
830:
825:
823:
822:0-8108-2550-3
819:
815:
814:
809:
805:
802:
801:
796:
788:
783:
781:
779:
777:
773:
769:
764:
762:
758:
754:
749:
747:
743:
739:
734:
731:
725:
722:
718:
713:
711:
709:
707:
703:
699:
694:
692:
690:
688:
686:
684:
680:
674:
671:
665:
662:
658:
657:
651:
648:
642:
639:
627:
623:
617:
615:
613:
611:
609:
607:
603:
599:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
584:
582:
580:
578:
576:
574:
570:
563:
561:
558:
553:
551:
550:
544:
540:
539:
534:
533:
528:
520:
518:
516:
515:
510:
509:Inner Sanctum
505:
504:
502:
501:The Mad Ghoul
497:
493:
486:
482:
481:Earle Theater
478:
471:
469:
466:
462:
458:
453:
451:
447:
443:
442:Inner Sanctum
439:
435:
433:
429:
424:
423:
418:
417:
412:
411:
406:
402:
398:
394:
390:
389:Inner Sanctum
386:
382:
378:
371:
367:
363:
357:
355:
345:
339:
336:
333:
330:
327:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
309:
306:
303:
301:as Mrs. Duval
300:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
282:
279:
276:
273:
270:
267:
266:
264:
262:
254:
252:
248:
244:
240:
238:
234:
230:
226:
221:
217:
215:
211:
203:
201:
199:
195:
191:
187:
184:
183:
178:
174:
173:
164:United States
163:
159:
155:
149:
135:
134:
132:
126:
122:
118:
114:
110:
102:
98:
94:
91:
90:Virgil Miller
88:
84:
78:
75:
73:
70:
68:
65:
64:
63:
59:
55:
51:
49:Screenplay by
47:
44:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
1293:
1283:
1273:
1263:
1253:
1243:
1233:
1223:
1213:
1203:
1193:
1183:
1173:
1163:
1155:Wyoming Mail
1153:
1143:
1133:
1123:
1113:
1103:
1093:
1083:
1073:
1063:
1053:
1043:
1033:
1023:
1013:
1003:
993:
983:
975:Jungle Woman
973:
963:
953:
944:
943:
889:
878:
867:
854:
828:
811:
807:
733:
724:
673:
664:
655:
650:
641:
629:. Retrieved
556:
554:
547:
542:
536:
530:
527:A. H. Weiler
524:
512:
508:
506:
499:
491:
490:
464:
454:
441:
436:
427:
420:
414:
408:
404:
388:
376:
375:
353:
351:
338:John Elliott
260:
258:
249:
245:
241:
222:
218:
207:
186:anthological
180:
177:mystery film
171:
170:
169:
152:Running time
129:Release date
965:Weird Woman
514:Weird Woman
401:Edward Dein
293:David Bruce
287:Ramsay Ames
229:David Bruce
214:Ramsay Ames
77:Ramsay Ames
52:Edward Dein
39:Directed by
1319:1943 films
1313:Categories
1265:Deadly Duo
797:References
410:The Falcon
346:Production
311:Alec Craig
175:is a 1943
156:63 minutes
140:1943-12-17
105:Production
1235:War Drums
1165:G.I. Jane
1115:Port Said
529:wrote in
521:Reception
485:Allentown
416:Lone Wolf
397:Ben Pivar
340:as Priest
325:as Mother
323:Lisa Golm
307:as Bryant
96:Edited by
1055:Fall Guy
884:AllMovie
806:. 1992.
299:Fay Helm
237:Fay Helm
57:Starring
1005:Destiny
893:at the
858:at the
631:May 14,
472:Release
461:leftist
403:titled
356:(1992)
313:as Bill
161:Country
138: (
107:company
1298:(1972)
1288:(1964)
1278:(1963)
1268:(1962)
1258:(1961)
1248:(1957)
1238:(1957)
1228:(1957)
1218:(1956)
1208:(1954)
1198:(1953)
1188:(1953)
1178:(1953)
1168:(1951)
1158:(1950)
1148:(1950)
1138:(1949)
1128:(1949)
1118:(1948)
1108:(1948)
1098:(1948)
1088:(1948)
1078:(1947)
1068:(1947)
1058:(1947)
1048:(1946)
1038:(1946)
1028:(1946)
1018:(1945)
1008:(1944)
998:(1944)
988:(1944)
978:(1944)
968:(1944)
958:(1944)
948:(1943)
835:
820:
564:Notes
498:with
873:IMDb
833:ISBN
818:ISBN
633:2020
419:and
255:Cast
204:Plot
882:at
871:at
1315::
775:^
760:^
745:^
705:^
682:^
624:.
605:^
572:^
487:PA
413:,
263:.
923:e
916:t
909:v
841:.
635:.
503:.
372:.
142:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
