Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Calling Dr. Death Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 11, 2021

Note: This film is available as part of Inner Sanctum Mysteries: The Complete Film Series.

There may be two schools of thought with regard to those who make horror films, with one group opting for graphic, on screen representations of whatever traumas characters experience, and with another group thinking that it’s best not to show every jot and tittle of various nefarious behaviors, in the belief that the audience’s imagination can make things even scarier than any overt offerings can. In that regard, it’s interesting to think about some of the old radio shows that frequently featured mystery, thriller or horror elements, since it probably goes without saying that a broadcast without a video element necessarily requires the active participation of a listener’s imagination in order to make everything “click”. There were any number of “spooky” radio programs back in the day, including such well remembered efforts as Suspense (which kind of amazingly managed to last until 1962), though Inner Sanctum owed its genesis to another medium that requires an active imagination — namely, reading. Simon and Schuster launched an imprint called Inner Sanctum in 1930 which did traffic in mystery and thriller novels, but which kind of humorously also offered other genres, including romance.

In 1941, the radio edition premiered in January and became a staple of the American broadcast landscape, with a licensing deal with Simon and Schuster that required regular advertising of whatever the latest Inner Sanctum book was. A little bit over two years later, Universal did another licensing deal with Simon and Schuster to use the Inner Sanctum title, though as the commentary on Calling Dr. Death gets into, Universal was kind of aggressively circumscribed by both the publishing house and the radio version in that the film company could not use the radio sound effect of a creaking door (which memorably opened and closed each episode), and was also prohibited from actually adapting any of the Simon and Schuster books (which may seem like a kind of odd requirement). Universal ended up making six titles under their Inner Sanctum imprint, with all of them offering Lon Chaney, Jr. a chance to do something other than grow hair (The Wolf Man), get wrapped in ragged bandages (The Mummy's Tomb) or attempt to maraud around in Boris Karloff's oversized boots (The Ghost of Frankenstein). With regard to the two "schools" of horror mentioned above, for reasons probably related as much to the production era as to any deliberate stylistic choice, things can be somewhat discursive in terms of on screen horror.

Calling Dr. Death was the first of the Universal Inner Sanctum outings, and it establishes a few tropes that are at least intermittently followed in the subsequent films. The first of these is presenting Lon Chaney, Jr., frequently as varying versions of a troubled character who is often involved in some kind of an unhappy relationship. In this particular outing, Chaney is famed neurologist Mark Steele, whose facility with hypnotism has earned him an impressive reputation and a steady supply of clients, including a supposedly "mute" young woman he's seen helping in an early vignette. Steele's devoted nurse Stella Madden (Patricia Morison) is by his side and an able helpmate, and she seems only too aware that Mark is very unhappily married to the social climbing Maria (Ramsay Ames).

When Maria ends up not only murdered but also badly disfigured, hard charging detective Gregg (J. Carrol Naish) enters the fray and seems to have his sights centered squarely on Mark. Unfortunately for Mark, he has absolutely no memory of an entire weekend which includes the time it is suspected Maria met her fate, and perhaps unsurprisingly, he ultimately turns to hypnotism himself in order to ferret out what actually happened.

Despite its apparently pretty miniscule budget, Calling Dr. Death is really rather stylish a lot of the time, with director Reginald LeBorg (who also did some of the other Universal Inner Sanctum series) investing the presentation with a kind of nascent noir sensibility, including some evocative chiaroscuro lighting and at least some uses of askew framings. In terms of the on screen presentation of murder, when the "big reveal" is offered late in the film as to how Maria was killed, it's done in silhouette. The denouement frankly may have been more shocking to early forties audiences than it will be to more jaded types today, who may see the supposed twist coming from virtually the get go.

Calling Dr. Death Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Calling Dr. Death is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.36:1. This is one of the nicer looking transfers in the set, though there are quite a few signs of age related wear tear, typically rather minor and in the form of scratches and other nicks and blemishes. There are a couple of unfortunate hairs in the gate, including on the left side of the frame during the opening credits, and a warped frame or two, but on the whole this transfer offers secure contrast and some appealing detail levels. Shadow detail is surprisingly strong, all things considered, and there is an organic looking grain field. My score is 3.75.

Calling Dr. Death Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Calling Dr. Death features an LPCM 2.0 Mono track that betrays occasional fidelity issues, notably in the opening "crystal ball" sequence, where the comments of the "host" are a bit hard to make out. Otherwise, though, both a rather strident score by Paul Sawtell, which includes a bunch of organ cues apparently meant to evoke the radio version, and dialogue are offered without any problems. Chaney's whispered narration (a recurring motif in several of the Inner Sanctum films) sounds fine. There are also no signs of actual damage or dropouts. Optional English subtitles are available.

Calling Dr. Death Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Eureka! has packaged this set on two discs, with both film specific and more generalist supplements on each disc. Here is a list of all the contents, including supplements, on both discs.

Disc One

• Films

  Calling Dr. Death

  Audio Commentary by C. Courtney Joyner and Regina Le Borg can be accessed under Calling Dr. Death on the Main Menu.

  
  

  Trailer (HD; 1:07) can be accessed under Calling Dr. Death on the Main Menu.

Weird Woman

Audio Commentary by Justin Humphreys and Del Howison can be accessed under Weird Woman on the Main Menu.




Trailer (HD; 1:22) can be accessed under Weird Woman on the Main Menu.

Dead Man's Eyes

Trailer (HD; 1:05) can be accessed under Dead Man's Eyes on the Main Menu.

• Kim Newman on the Inner Sanctum Mysteries (HD; 26:56) is another enjoyable interview with the typically affable and informative Newman.


• This is The Inner Sanctum (HD; 31:47) is another interesting overview of the series, which time spent on each film.


• Radio Episodes

  The Amazing Death of Mrs. Putnam (25:15)

  
  

  The Black Seagull (28:46)

  
  

  The Skull That Walked (29:42)

Disc Two

• Films

  The Frozen Ghost

  Trailer (HD; 1:11) can be accessed under The Frozen Ghost on the Main Menu.

Strange Confession

Audio Commentary by Peter Atkins and C. Courtney Joyner can be accessed under Strange Confession on the Main Menu.

Pillow of Death

• The Creaking Door: Inside the Inner Sanctum (HD; 17:37) focuses on the radio broadcast.


• Martin Kosleck Interview (HD; 11:00) begins with Kosleck insisting there are no small parts, or at least none that he ever took.


• Radio Episodes

  Skeleton Bay (29:44)

  
  

  The Man Who Couldn't Die (29:22)

  
  

  Death of a Doll (25:08)

Calling Dr. Death Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Calling Dr. Death gets the Inner Sanctum series off to a fine if ultimately kind of predictable start. Chaney is fine in a largely sympathetic role, and the supporting cast is fun, including the always watchable Morison. Technical merits are generally solid, and Calling Dr. Death comes Recommended.