The Black Doll (1938)
Overview
Nicholas Rood, dishonest mine owner, finds a Black Doll on his desk and knows that vengeance is about to overtake him for murdering his former partner. He is knifed as he talks to his daughter Marian. She summons her fiancé Nick Halstead, a private detective. He finds that six people had a motive for the murder; Rood's sister Mrs. Laura Leland; her son Rex; Rood's associates Mallison and Walling; Esteban, a servant and Dr. Giddings. Sheriff Renick and his deputy Red get the clues all mixed up, but Nick finally narrows the search down to one suspect...
Cast
Donald Woods
Nick Halstead
Nan Grey
Marian Rood
Edgar Kennedy
Sheriff Renick
C. Henry Gordon
Nelson Rood
Doris Lloyd
Laura Leland
John Wray
Walling
Addison Richards
A.H. Mallison
Holmes Herbert
Dr. Giddings
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- Reviews
CinemaSerf
This is quite a decent little comedy thriller - let down by some really naff writing and a B-rate cast that even the usually reliable C. Henry Gordon cannot elevate beyond mediocrity. The story centres around the murder of a rather unscrupulous mine owner who had previously disposed of his erstwhile partner. His daughter "Marian" (Nan Grey) recruits the services of her fiancé "Nick" (Donald Woods) - who happens to be a private eye - and the pair try to discover whom, amongst a multitude of suspects - dealt the deathly blow. The budget must have been nominal, but Otis Garrett keeps the pot boiling along well enough for an hour with just enough red herrings and jeopardy to keep it from running aground. Not a film you will remember, but not terrible either.
