Film Snail

5.6

Experiment Perilous

NR·1944·91m

Thriller

Romance

Thriller

Romance

Summary

In 1903, Doctor Huntington Bailey meets a friendly older lady during a train trip. She tells him that she is going to visit her brother Nick and his lovely young wife Allida. Once in New York, Bailey hears that his train companion suddenly died. Shortly afterward, he meets the strange couple and gets suspicious of Nick's treatment of his wife.

Cast

George Brent

Dr. Huntington Bailey

Hedy Lamarr

Allida Bederaux

Paul Lukas

Nicholas 'Nick' Bederaux

Albert Dekker

'Clag' Claghorn

Carl Esmond

John Maitland

Olive Blakeney

Clarissa 'Cissie' Bederaux

George N. Neise

Alec Gregory

Margaret Wycherly

Maggie, the Maid

Stephanie Bachelor

Elaine

Mary Servoss

Miss Wilson

Julia Dean

Deria

William Post Jr.

District Attorney

John Ardell

(uncredited)

Richard Bartell

Hospital Intern (uncredited)

Mary Benoit

(uncredited)

John Benson

(uncredited)

Edward Biby

Art Exhibition Guest (uncredited)

Helen Blizzard

(uncredited)

Lulu Mae Bohrman

(uncredited)

Wanda Cantlon

(uncredited)

Edward Clark

Train Steward (uncredited)

Janet Clark

Young Deria (uncredited)

James Conaty

Art Exhibition Guest (uncredited)

Gino Corrado

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Tom Costello

(uncredited)

Oliver Cross

(uncredited)

Adrienne D'Ambricourt

French Instructor (uncredited)

Dulce Day

(uncredited)

Jack Deery

Doorman (uncredited)

Gary Del Mar

(uncredited)

Bill Dillon

(uncredited)

Joan Dix

(uncredited)

Dick Earle

(uncredited)

Ruth Eddings

(uncredited)

John Elliott

Phone Operator (uncredited)

Kathleen Ellis

(uncredited)

Virginia Engels

(uncredited)

John Estes

(uncredited)

Bob Evans

(uncredited)

Evelyn Falke

Cissie, Age 5 (uncredited)

Tom Ferrandini

(uncredited)

Jack Fitzpatrick

(uncredited)

Almeda Fowler

Clerk (uncredited)

Joel Friedkin

Brakeman (uncredited)

Terry Frost

Emergency Ward Intern (uncredited)

Joe Gilbert

Party Guest (uncredited)

George Golden

(uncredited)

Dick Gordon

Nightclub Guest (uncredited)

Sherry Hall

Josh - Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Stuart Hall

Party Guest (uncredited)

Carey Harrison

(uncredited)

Eddie Hart

Doorman (uncredited)

Nan Holliday

(uncredited)

Fred Hueston

Nightclub Guest (uncredited)

Mitchell Ingraham

Bellboy (uncredited)

Michael Jeffers

Department Store Customer (uncredited)

Paul Kruger

Nightclub Guest (uncredited)

Mike Lally

Intern (uncredited)

Perc Launders

Ambulance Man (uncredited)

Louise Laureau

(uncredited)

Perk Lazelle

Nightclub Guest (uncredited)

Nolan Leary

Bellhop (uncredited)

Bert LeBaron

Attendant (uncredited)

Joseph P. Mack

(uncredited)

Thomas Martin

(uncredited)

Eric Mayne

Nightclub Guest (uncredited)

Sam McDaniel

Porter (uncredited)

Stanley McKay

(uncredited)

Charles McMurphy

Cop (uncredited)

Charles Meakin

(uncredited)

Mal Merrihugh

(uncredited)

Harold Miller

(uncredited)

Peggy Miller

Cissie, Age 8 (uncredited)

Hans Moebus

Nightclub Guest (uncredited)

Bob Morgan

(uncredited)

Clark Morgan

(uncredited)

Thomas Murray

(uncredited)

John Mylong

Nicholas Bederaux, Sr. (uncredited)

Field Norton

Nightclub Guest (uncredited)

Broderick O'Farrell

Frank, the Bederaux's Butler (uncredited)

Monty O'Grady

Minor Role (uncredited)

Michael Orr

Nick, Age 3 (uncredited)

Foster H. Phinney

Party Guest (uncredited)

Paul Power

Art Exhibition Guest (uncredited)

Georges Renavent

Voice Instructor (uncredited)

Victor Romito

(uncredited)

Gale Ronn

(uncredited)

Josephine Smith

(uncredited)

Larry Stanton

Minor Role (uncredited)

Glen Stephens

(uncredited)

Robert Strong

(uncredited)

Michael Visaroff

Ballet Master (uncredited)

Alan Ward

Shoes (uncredited)

Billy Ward

Alec Bederaux (uncredited)

Don Wayson

(uncredited)

Lillian West

Salesgirl (uncredited)

Larry Wheat

Caterer (uncredited)

Larry Williams

(uncredited)

James Carlisle

Sam Harris

Crew

Director

Jacques Tourneur

Novel

Margaret Carpenter

Screenplay

Warren Duff

Reviews

John Chard

November 2, 2013

What Is This Evil That Shadows Their Lives?

Experiment Perilous is directed by Jacques Tourneur and adapted to screenplay by Warren Duff from the Margaret Carpenter novel of the same name. It stars Hedy Lamarr, George Brent, Paul Lukas, Albert Dekker, Olive Blakeney and Carl Esmond. Music is by Roy Webb and cinematography by Tony Gaudio.

1903 New York and psychiatrist Dr. Huntington Bailey (Brent) is plunged into a psychological maelstrom when he enters the lives of Clarissa (Blakeney), Allida (Lamarr) and Nick Bederaux (Lukas).

I've been living in that diary tonight, living the strange distorted lives of Nick and his sister.

It's a grand title for a film, but one which is something of a bum steer since it conjures up images of Frankenstein type horror. Experiment Perilous comes from a Hippocrates saying and is quoted by Brent's good doctor during the unfurling of the narrative. The Carpenter novel was actually set in the present day but a decision was made to transfer the story to the early part of the 1900's so as to get some period flavours into the mix. A good move as it turned out.

Very much in the vein of The Murder In Thornton Square (or the remake Gaslight also released in 44), Rebecca, Suspicion et al, Tourneur's movie isn't up to the standard of those films, but that in no way means it doesn't hold many pleasures, because it does, especially for Tourneur fans. It's very much a slow burner, a talky picture that for the first hour nearly crumbles under the weight of too much exposition and cod psychological musings. Yet the visuals and alternating interior and exterior period settings set up by Tourneur and Gaudio are mightily impressive (the interior set designs were nominated for an Oscar). Story unfolds to a back drop of a steam train, snowy gas lighted streets and an imposing period Brownstone abode (good use of miniatures a bonus here as well), while the interiors veer from elegant dressings to gloomy rooms of shadows and a hidden away spiral staircase. These are tailored made for Tourneur who ensures the standard formula of plotting is given a kick by its surroundings.

Narratively it's made obvious to us that something isn't right with Lukas' shifty husband character and it comes as no surprise to see a romance begin to form between Brent's doctor and Lamarr's emotionally confused wife in possible peril. But these sign posted developments are well handled by the director, where flashbacks help and sinister additions such as a child hidden away upstairs and the Bederaux's back story keep things perched on the mystery/thriller edge. Cast performances are strong, with Lukas suitably suspicious, Brent unassuming and reflective and the beautiful Lamarr showing a fragile innocence that underpins the story. It all builds to a furious finale that involves fire, water and hopefully some race against time heroics?...

Some patience is needed to get the most out of the picture, but neo-gothic delights are within for those so inclined. 7.5/10