Dr. Renault's Secret
Encyclopedia
Dr. Renault's Secret is an American horror movie that was released to theaters in 1942. It was made by 20th Century Fox
studios and was filmed in Black and White. The story was written by William Bruckner and Robert Metzler. The production was directed by Harry Lachman
and is a B-Movie
with both mad scientist
and monster
themes.
) arrives in a French village in order to wed the niece of prominent local doctor, Dr. Renault (George Zucco
). Dr. Forbes learns from the innkeeper that a storm has washed out the bridge to Renault's house and he ends up spending the night at the inn. There he meets most of the films main characters including Dr. Renault's strangely deformed man servant, Noel (J. Carrol Naish
). It is during the night that the first of the murders occurs. Another tourist takes the room meant for him and is killed mysteriously.
The next day, Forbes travels to the house of Dr. Renault, where he is reunited with Renault's pretty young niece, Madeline (Lynne Roberts
). A sequence of strange events, including an incident in which Noel is viciously attacked by a stray dog that Madeline picked up, convince Forbes that there is something unusual about Noel, but he does not know what it is. Also, it quickly becomes clear that Noel is interested in Madeline as well.
After Madeline's stray dog gets killed, Renault confronts Noel and it is revealed that his man servant is actually an experiment - an animal given the physical and mental characteristics of a man. Fearing for Forbes' life (as well as his own), Renault locks Noel in a cage, but the former animal is able to use his strength to escape and follows Forbes and Madeline to a carnival
. There he is heckled by a pair of villagers, who are promptly murdered in their homes.
Forbes' suspicions increase and he sneaks into Dr. Renault's laboratory. There he finds a book detailing the experiments Dr. Renault carried out to transform Noel from an ape into a man. Renault catches Forbes reading his notes and threatens to kill him if he reveals the truth to anyone, but Noel sneaks up on the both of them and attacks Dr. Renault. In the closing sequence, Madeline is abducted by her gardener, an ex-convict named Rogell (Mike Mazurki
), and Noel pursues them. After a lengthy chase, Rogell shoots Noel. Before succumbing to his wounds, Noel strangles
Rogell.
in a remote village outside of Paris. To back this up we are told about the French holiday of Bastille Day
. However no one in the film speaks with a French accent or uses any known French customs.
The film has also been part of a double-bill with another 1942 horror film The Undying Monster
. The screenplay was inspired by the lost 1927 film, The Wizard.
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
studios and was filmed in Black and White. The story was written by William Bruckner and Robert Metzler. The production was directed by Harry Lachman
Harry Lachman
Harry B. Lachman was an American artist, set designer, and film director.Born La Salle, Illinois, Lachman was educated at the University of Michigan before becoming a magazine and book illustrator, contributing 4 colour illustrations to the 1907 work John Smith, Gentleman Adventurer by Charles...
and is a B-Movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
with both mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
and monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
themes.
Plot
A young doctor named Larry Forbes (Shepperd StrudwickShepperd Strudwick
Shepperd Strudwick was an American actor of film, television, and stage....
) arrives in a French village in order to wed the niece of prominent local doctor, Dr. Renault (George Zucco
George Zucco
George Desylla Zucco was an English character actor who appeared, almost always in supporting roles, in 96 films during a career spanning two decades, from 1931 to 1951. He is fondly remembered for his roles in classic horror films.-Early life:Zucco was born in Manchester, England...
). Dr. Forbes learns from the innkeeper that a storm has washed out the bridge to Renault's house and he ends up spending the night at the inn. There he meets most of the films main characters including Dr. Renault's strangely deformed man servant, Noel (J. Carrol Naish
J. Carrol Naish
Joseph Patrick Carrol Naish was an American character actor born in New York City. Naish was twice nominated for an Academy Award for film roles, and he later found fame in the title role of CBS Radio's Life With Luigi , which was also on CBS Television .Naish appeared on stage for several years...
). It is during the night that the first of the murders occurs. Another tourist takes the room meant for him and is killed mysteriously.
The next day, Forbes travels to the house of Dr. Renault, where he is reunited with Renault's pretty young niece, Madeline (Lynne Roberts
Lynne Roberts
Lynne Roberts, born Theda May Roberts was an American film actress who appeared exclusively in B-movies.-Career:...
). A sequence of strange events, including an incident in which Noel is viciously attacked by a stray dog that Madeline picked up, convince Forbes that there is something unusual about Noel, but he does not know what it is. Also, it quickly becomes clear that Noel is interested in Madeline as well.
After Madeline's stray dog gets killed, Renault confronts Noel and it is revealed that his man servant is actually an experiment - an animal given the physical and mental characteristics of a man. Fearing for Forbes' life (as well as his own), Renault locks Noel in a cage, but the former animal is able to use his strength to escape and follows Forbes and Madeline to a carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
. There he is heckled by a pair of villagers, who are promptly murdered in their homes.
Forbes' suspicions increase and he sneaks into Dr. Renault's laboratory. There he finds a book detailing the experiments Dr. Renault carried out to transform Noel from an ape into a man. Renault catches Forbes reading his notes and threatens to kill him if he reveals the truth to anyone, but Noel sneaks up on the both of them and attacks Dr. Renault. In the closing sequence, Madeline is abducted by her gardener, an ex-convict named Rogell (Mike Mazurki
Mike Mazurki
Mike Mazurki was an Austrian-born American actor and professional wrestler who appeared in over 100 movies. His towering 6' 5" presence and intimidating face usually got him roles playing tough guys, thugs, strong men, and gangsters.Mazurki was born as Mikhail Mazurkevych in Tarnopol, Galicia,...
), and Noel pursues them. After a lengthy chase, Rogell shoots Noel. Before succumbing to his wounds, Noel strangles
Strangles
Strangles is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection of horses and other equines caused by a bacterium, Streptococcus equi var equi...
Rogell.
Cast
- J. Carroll Naish as Noel
- Shepperd StrudwickShepperd StrudwickShepperd Strudwick was an American actor of film, television, and stage....
as Larry Forbes - Lynne RobertsLynne RobertsLynne Roberts, born Theda May Roberts was an American film actress who appeared exclusively in B-movies.-Career:...
as Madeline Renault - George ZuccoGeorge ZuccoGeorge Desylla Zucco was an English character actor who appeared, almost always in supporting roles, in 96 films during a career spanning two decades, from 1931 to 1951. He is fondly remembered for his roles in classic horror films.-Early life:Zucco was born in Manchester, England...
as Dr. Robert Renault - Mike MazurkiMike MazurkiMike Mazurki was an Austrian-born American actor and professional wrestler who appeared in over 100 movies. His towering 6' 5" presence and intimidating face usually got him roles playing tough guys, thugs, strong men, and gangsters.Mazurki was born as Mikhail Mazurkevych in Tarnopol, Galicia,...
as Rogell - Arthur ShieldsArthur ShieldsArthur Shields was an Irish stage and film actor.Born into an Irish Protestant family in Portobello, Dublin, he started acting in the Abbey Theatre when still a young man. He was the younger brother of Oscar-winning actor Barry Fitzgerald. An Irish nationalist, he fought in the Easter Rising of...
as Inspector Duvall - Charles La Torre as Marcel Perron
- Ed Agresti as Mr. La Rue
- Carmen Beretta as Mrs. La Rue
Setting
The viewer is told that the story takes place in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in a remote village outside of Paris. To back this up we are told about the French holiday of Bastille Day
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
. However no one in the film speaks with a French accent or uses any known French customs.
Relation to other films
This B-film film has been compared to H. G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau though the similarities seem minor.The film has also been part of a double-bill with another 1942 horror film The Undying Monster
The Undying Monster
The Undying Monster is a 1942 horror and mystery film, also known as The Hammond Mystery, featuring a werewolf as the primary antagonist...
. The screenplay was inspired by the lost 1927 film, The Wizard.
External links
- Everything2.com review.
- Dr. Renault's Secret (1942), New York Times.