Juggernaut (1936) User Reviews

Karloff Stretches To Play A Mad French Scientist

[boblipton · 6/10 · 12 November 2019]

Boris Karloff is a research doctor who needs money to complete his research. He's returned to Britain to search for backers, and gets involved in one of those family situations. Old Morton Selten is married to young Mona Goya, and she has a young man on the string. Selten is failing, so Karloff is called in, Meanwhile, Selten has changed his will and given power of attorney to his son, Arthur Margetson; he hates Miss Goya and she him. Suddenly, Margetson is dead, and the nurse, Joan Wyndham suspects foul play.

It's a pretty good murder, one of the last that Henry Edwards directed for Julius Hagen. Karloff is, as always, a treat to watch, playing his doctor with intelligence, although clearly finds the screaming and shouting going on a distraction from his duties; Miss Wyndham is good as the nurse who suspects the worse and finds herself trapped. There's also Nina Boucicault as Selten's sister; she was the daughter of the dramatist Dion Boucicault, and the first women to play Peter Pan.

It's a solid effort, with its only flaw the blaring theme by W.L. Trytel. Karloff had made three films in Great Britain in quick succession. After this, it was back to the US; Charlie Chan needed him.

Good Karloff, pretty bad film

[TheLittleSongbird · 4/10 · 15 April 2013]

Juggernaut did seem like an interesting film and I've always liked Boris Karloff. Karloff himself doesn't disappoint, he is magnetic and quite menacing even when deliberately hunched over throughout. The sets are nicely done too as is most of the photography, and the score is haunting and doesn't overpower everything too much. There are one too many things wrong with Juggernaut as well unfortunately. Of the acting, only Karloff acquits himself well. Mona Goya overacts dreadfully and is excruciatingly irritating as a result, while the rest of the supporting cast in comparison under-characterise. In all fairness though they don't have a lot to work with, with their characters- too many in the film also for a start- rather thinly sketched and somewhat like genre-clichés. The dialogue is very weak, there is a lot of talk and little of it flows particularly well. The story is very dully paced, confused and rather silly eventually with a protracted climax. It also works neither as a horror or a mystery, the suspense, thrills, mystery and scare levels are really quite low, so everything felt very bland. And for a premise that had a scientist killing so that he could continue experimenting(as well as for money and covering up of evidence) that would have worked if the nature of his experiments weren't so skimmed over and they have next to nothing of a role to play. Juggernaut is only over an hour but because of the pacing it actually felt longer by about twice as long. If I have got anything mixed up here, that shows how much and how quickly the film lost me. Overall, Karloff is good but the film, one that is rarely talked about and in my mind for good reason, isn't. 4/10 Bethany Cox

Not so much a movie as a 30s soap opera on film.

[lemon_magic · 4/10 · 8 August 2016]

OK time waster, chiefly interesting for Karloff's portrayal of the villain. Most of the criticisms leveled at it here on IMDb are valid: the screenplay could have staged as a stage production, given the shouted dialog and the static nature of the production, and it's pretty dull in spots.

To be fair, though, the movie's plot, which takes a little more than an hour to play out, would occupy a dozen characters in a modern television soap opera for 4 months, and most of the acting is what you'd expect from movies of the time. Karloff is (of course) the best thing in it, and he's front and center most of the time, so if you are watching this movie for him, you'll get what you came for.

Of particular note is Mona Goya's performance as the scheming wife. Modern viewers will probably find her extremely annoying and over- amped, but she's fine as long as she doesn't open her mouth. I would guess that deliberate acting choices were being made (by both her and the director), but those choices are the ones every actress in a similar role at the time would make, and the results are both over- familiar and tiresome. She doesn't sink the movie, but she's the biggest problem with it.

Since this isn't really a "monster" or science fiction movie(the "paralysis research" thing is just an excuse to get things started), fans of those genres can give this one a miss unless they want to see everything Karloff has ever done. I do, so this was OK for me.

Better than I expected it to be

[oyason · 21 July 2005]

In JUGGERNAUT, Boris Karloff plays a furious medical specialist who has received a major setback in his research into human paralysis. His desperation for renewed funding- and a hyper-inflated ego- lead him into a devil's agreement with the wife of a millionaire cotton industrialist, who is seeking a way to murder her husband so that she can go on with her high living affair with a jigolo. Running a timely interference are the family members of the rich patriarch, loyal personal servants and an observant and resourceful nurse portrayed by Joan Wyndham. Definitely the stuff of melodrama, and not a particularly unusual role in Karloff's career.

What's interesting about this piece is the pacing- which I suspect seemed very slow to American audiences, even at the time of its release (1936), if contemporary reviews found in books on Karloff are any indicator. Though some of it is indeed histrionic in content, there are only a few spots in the work where "over the top" acting disrupt its continuity. As a whole, of course, it's junk, but it's the junk of guilty pleasure. it's fascinating to watch Karloff breathe life into yet another tripped-up scientist characterization. His Dr. Sartorious is bitter, high strung, barely a note below fury at all moments, far from the characterizations of educated fruitcake benevolence that the actor is so often remembered for.

As for his "slouching" noted by other reviewers, I suspect it had less to do with conscious characterization then with the back ailment and arthritically bowed legs that plagued Karloff most of his life, which were flaring up before the man was in his 50s. You can view almost any of his films and see evidence of the ailment early on.

I think JUGGERNAUT is actually a better film then it's often reviewed as. It's not Karloff at the top of his form, but it's Karloff attempting to bring new flavor to what for many other actors would have long become a shop-worn characterization, and for that reason, well worth the hour or so it takes to take it in.

Juggernaut not one of Karloff's best

[mike1964 · 3/10 · 29 July 2001]

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Juggernaut is a British made "thriller" released in the US by First National. Karloff is Dr. Sartorius who has to leave his research because his funds have dried up. Karloff is forced to retreat to France and start up a medical practice. He is propositioned by a conniving woman who wants to get rid of her much older husband. She knows Karloff needs the money.

Karloff agrees to the proposition and soon becomes the personal doctor of the husband. All the while, the wife is prancing about town with the local no good playboy. Karloff finally injects the old geyser with poison and he kicks off. However, his son (from another marriage) arrives a few days before the killing and finds out the will has been changed. When he spills the beans to the wife, she goes berserk and even bites the son's hand.

Meanwhile, Karloff's nurse has misplaced the hypo Karloff used to kill the old man. When Karloff finds out he isn't getting any money, he asks the wife to poison the son. The nurse suspects Karloff and finds the missing hypo. Analysis shows poison, but not quite in time as Karloff kidnaps the nurse.

To make a long story short, the nurse escapes, gets the police, and manages to save the son who is about to be injected by Karloff. Karloff instead injects himself and dies.

This movie does have some good points. Karloff is possessed and plays the type of mad doctor he did in The Devil Commands and the Man Who Lived Again. It is peculiar, however, to see him walk around stiffly and slightly hunched over. We never find out why he is walking this way. I suspect the director thought it made him more sinister.

The actress playing the 2-timing wife overacts something terrible. She has a French accent. Even though she overacts badly, you still manage to hate her (or maybe you hate her because of her acting...).

A little below average for a Karloff vehicle. If you buy the Sinister Cinema VHS copy, the audio is a bit choppy.

Juggernaut (1936) *

[JoeKarlosi · 2/10 · 30 August 2004]

This has been put out on the DVD market by Alpha, and it's for die-hard Boris Karloff fans (like moi) only. It's not a horror flick, but a drama where Boris is a struggling scientist agreeing to kill a wealthy woman's husband in order to gain the fortune needed to continue with his work. But once the dying victim changes his will and leaves his spouse nothing, all hell breaks loose. It's appeasing enough seeing Karloff as another selfish sinister type, and some of the acting is unintentionally hilarious (especially from the leading lady Mona Goya who is absolutely a laugh riot as the double-crossed wife). But proceed with much caution. * out of ****

Doctor Sleep

[Prismark10 · 3/10 · 11 November 2017]

Juggernaut is really a very low budget film that holds interest as it was one of several British films made by Boris Karloff after he made his name in Hollywood for making horror films for Universal Pictures.

Karloff plays Dr Sartorius somewhere in north Africa whose funding for medical experiments has been cut. Distraught he succumbs to the dastardly plans of Yvonne Clifford (Mona Goya) a greedy, philandering wife of a rich old man. She wants Sartorius to poison her husband so she can inherit his fortune and he gets money for his research. Her plans become unstuck when she finds out that her stepson will administer his father's estate.

Goya is wildly over the top in her performance, Karloff is rather laid back even though he is playing a sinister role.

There is actually a rather short film but still packs a plot and some poor acting.

nEeD a NeW pRiNt

[mlink-36-9815 · 7/10 · 3 December 2018]

The print in general use is so chopped up that it causes disenchantment. not saying its a great movie but its alot better than charlie chan. I like most of the people involved ...

It's hard to notice Boris Karloff in this film due to Mona Goya's god-awful performance!

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 29 December 2010]

If your goal is to enjoy a Boris Karloff film, you will no doubt be a bit disappointed. However, if your goal is to watch a histrionic performance that is so bad that it might make you laugh, then this is the film for you!

The film begins with Karloff playing Dr. Sartorius--a researcher who is trying to find some cure for some disease. However, when his funding is cut and he's forced to do mundane medical work, his mad scientist side comes out--something hardly surprising in a Karloff film! Fortunately for him, he finds a horrible rich lady (Goya) who is married to a sickly old man. She offers to give him funding if he kills the husband and makes it look like an accident. Unfortunately, her plans go awry as upon the old man's death, the son becomes the trustee of the estate...and he can't stand the horrible lady. However, considering how much she overacts and emotes, it's pretty clear EVERYONE hates the woman--including every sane person in the audience! You just have to see her in action to know what I mean!! It's a shame really, as Karloff is rather subtle here and while that might be a good thing normally, here it just allows Goya to dominate much of the film. As a result, even for a bad Karloff film, it's a VERY bad Karloff film! It's all a shame, as Karloff made man good low-budget horror films...and I was hoping this would be yet another.

Juggernaut 1936

[silvershadows-09863 · 7/10 · 21 June 2020]

This film is tough to find in good quality. I recently watched a Talking Pictures TV print and it was the best I've seen. Call me crazy. but I like this film. It is highly melodramatic, played out like a horror film. Karloff plays a doctor, highly in need of cash for his research. He agrees to work as a personal physician to a wealthy, old man. The old man's wife (Mona Goya) is a selfish woman, 30 years younger than her husband. She carries on with her love affairs and doesn't care what anyone thinks. She patiently waits for her old, feeble husband to die, when she will take control of the estate.

A wrench in Goya's plan comes in the form of the arrival of her husband's son (Arthur Margetson). The old man realizes marrying Goya was a mistake. He is changing his will to leave everything to his son. Now Karloff and Goya plot to kill the old man before the new will can kick in. One reviewer said the film is boring, It's hardly that. Another said Goya is a terrible actress. I thought she was great as the scheming hag, who goes into hysterics when she smells her plans go up in smoke. It's a minor film for sure, but not without interest. And of course, Boris is always great.

Waiting For The Old Coot To Croak

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 11 February 2012]

Boris Karloff is cast once again as a man of science in the British independent film Juggernaut released here by the short lived Grand National studio. Science might be Boris's game, but he's not mad just led terribly astray.

It's his research and his own mortality that Karloff is worried about, that he might die before finding a cure for some tropical diseases. He's been cut off from research funds and left at sea.

Enter Mona Goya, trophy wife of rich old Morton Selten who is not in good health, but not dying fast enough to suit Mona. She's already got Anthony Ireland in tow ready to share in the fortune when the old coot croaks. But Selten isn't croaking fast enough to suit her.

Enter Karloff who needs money for his research and do I have to go into the rest of it for you? The whole thing ends in one sudden melodramatic climax as if the rest of the film wasn't melodramatic enough.

What is good about Juggernaut that without his usual makeup and sinister science as part of the plot, Karloff does do a very good job as a man who succumbs to evil so he can put a coda of good on his life. But the whole film is really rather far fetched and could have used better writing and production values.

KARLOFF AS AN EVIL FRENCH DOCTOR!

[whpratt1 · 8/10 · 28 April 2003]

Dr. Sartorius (Boris Karloff) is without financial means to experiment for a paralysis cure and must give up his lab work. He meets Lady Yvonne Clifford (Mona Goya), a very wealthy wife of an ailing cotton millionaire Sir Charles Clifford (Morton Selten). Lady Clifford asks Dr. Sartorius to help her obtain her husband's money. Dr Sartorius eager to obtain money for his expenses and laboratory studies, agrees to poison her husband, making it look like he died from natural causes. After a period of time, Sir Charles begins to suspect Dr. Sartorius of making him gravely ill. This Karloff movie has a very different ending which surprised me. Karloff is without any monster makeup, however, he is terrifying and proves to be a very evil French doctor as usual.

Worth Watching If You Are A Fan Of Karloff

[Rainey-Dawn · 5/10 · 11 March 2016]

This film is what I call "basic" - meaning not a lot to it. Doctor Sartorius (Karloff) is a "mad doctor" who's lost all his funding, Yvonne Clifford (Mona Goya) is married to a rich man while having an affair with man with not a lot of money. So she enlists the help of Dr. Sartorius to bump off her husband but there is one problem - the nurse.

If you like Boris Karloff then this film is worth watching otherwise you can pass this one by - you are not missing anything. It's not a terrible film but it's not a great film - I put it in the so-so category.

When you read reviews of this film you will find that reviewers talking about Mona Goya's performance being bad - and it's true she is not very good in this movie. Very much over acting in this film but she does not take away from Karloff's performance.

5/10

What a Waste of a Fabulous Title!

[richardchatten · 2/10 · 25 March 2020]

Boris Karloff was already in Britain making the far superior 'The Man Who Changed His Mind' when he was signed up by Julius Hagen to make another film into which Karloff had obviously simply been shoehorned because he was available.

A histrionic melodrama based on a 1928 novel by Alice Campbell from which Karloff is offscreen most of the time. Despite plush production values - and a sleek femme fatale in Mona Goya - it's haphazard production is only too obvious in the finished product, of which Karloff himself said "My God - I've GOT to do better next time. That last thing was AWFUL!"

Watch it for Karloff

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 2 April 2018]

JUGGERNAUT is a very cheap 'old dark house' style mystery in which the whole story is enclosed within just a handful of rooms. It's worth seeing purely for Boris Karloff, headlining the proceedings as a sinister doctor desperate for cash to continue his vital and secret experiments. It turns out he's willing to do just about anything to get his hands on said cash, which is where the murder plot takes place. The cast of characters are rather unlikeable here, but Karloff is excellent and there's a genuinely menacing and atmospheric feeling to the proceedings at times.

A Yesteryear Mystery Thriller... Not Too Bad, But Could Have Been Better...

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 5/10 · 16 September 2020]

My Ratings: Story 1.00 : Direction 1.00 : Pace 1.00 : Acting 0.75 : Entertaining 0.75 Total 4.50 out of 10.00.

Sometimes you have to go back to the days of overacting and melodrama. Should you have one of those days then this film is for you.

It's a decent story. A doctor, who has been hampered and hindered by government grants, rather than helped, has to find another way to fund his research. Enter the Clifford family. Papa Clifford is not a well man and his new wife, Yvonne, cannot wait for the inheritance. She hires the good doctor so he can run his experiments and get his much-needed money... just as long as hubby doesn't last too long.

I would have to say I would love to read the novel Alice Campbell wrote, as I don't believe the writers did it justice with the screenplay. Many times there's a disjointedness to the tale. This may be down to the quick cutting editor or director, though I cannot help but think it's the writers. Also, a wee bit more characterisation wouldn't have gone amiss. This would have been a nice way to show motive and motivation. That said, it is watchable, just could have been better.

Which is the same for the direction. Henry Edwards isn't a bad director, however, he is a mite pedestrian in his techniques. He stomps through the story at a brisk pace; sometimes with a heavy foot. The climax is the best example of this. If I'd gone to the picture theatre and paid my hard-earned money to watch this film, I would have felt more than an iota of upset. The ending comes quickly and is over just as fast and credits roll. It would have been nice to have a build-up to the ending. Then a couple of short scenes to tie off all the loose threads; of which there are three major yarns left dangling.

As for the acting, Boris Karloff is okay as the good "Bad" doctor Sartorius. Shame they typecast him as the baddie as you've seen this character before. It would have been nice if he had been the father of the Clifford family. Let him stretch his acting wings a little. The best actor was Arthur Margetson, who played Roger Clifford. He is natural and relaxed. His character is the most realistic and believable. He made this film more watchable for me. Now we come to the great melodramatic overtones... while the lead actresses were good, they must have come from the silent era as they were both superb at the pertinent pause and significant stare. The only thing missing was the orchestration of, "Da Dah DAHHH!"

Would I recommend it? Yes, I would. It's not a bad waste of time in this coronavirus void. There's a slight mystery in the story. It's also good to see how things were done in Yesteryear. The way the story is told, and the filmmaking adds an unintentional lightness to the viewing experience... plus it's not that long.

Now briskly stride on over to my The Game Is Afoot list to see where I've ranked this deadly little thriller.

Take Care & Stay Well.

Bad Karloff film is worth seeing for his fans only because of some atypical acting choices by

[dbborroughs · 4/10 · 15 July 2006]

One of Boris Karloff's real clinkers. Essentially the dying Karloff (looking about 120 years older than he was)is a scientist in need of cash to finish his experiments before he dies. Moving from Morocco where his funding is taken over by someone else he goes to the South of France where he works a s physician while trying to scrap enough money to prove his theories. Desperate for money he makes a deal with the young rich wife of a cotton baron who is dying. She will fund him if he helps her poison the husband so she can take his money and carry on with a gigolo (who I think is married). If you think I got that from watching the movie you're wrong, I had to read what other people posted to figure out happened. Why? because this movie had me lost from two minutes in.I had no idea what was going on with its numerous characters and multiple converging plot lines. Little is spelled out and much isn't said until towards the end by which time I really didn't care. Its a dull mess of interest purely for Karloff's performance which is rather odd at times. To be honest this is the only time I've ever seen him venture into Bela Lugosi bizarre territory. Its not every scene but a few and makes me wonder how much they hung out.

One of Karloff's Worst

[Michael_Elliott · 8 March 2008]

Juggernaut (1936)

* (out of 4)

Incredibly bad thriller about a mad scientist (Boris Karloff) who is hired by a millionaire to kill her husband but things take a turn for the worse. This film runs 62 minutes but I could have sworn it was 62 hours. The movie is so incredibly slow, boring and annoying that I kept wishing Karloff would insert me with some poison. The only good thing is Karloff's performance but that too gets lost in all the badness. Mona Goya plays the wife and gives without a doubt one of the worst performances I've ever seen. The most annoying to as she does nothing but shout throughout the film.

One of the Few Bad Karloff Movies

[utgard14 · 4/10 · 4 March 2014]

Dry, dull British mystery film that is probably Boris Karloff's worst film from the 1930s. The story is about a doctor named Sartorius (Karloff), who is enticed by a woman (Mona Goya) to kill her older ailing husband. When I say this is Karloff's worst from the '30s, I should stress it isn't his fault. He's perfectly fine in his role. The problems are that the movie is lacking in any atmosphere or suspense and the performance of Mona Goya is awful. She overacts so much it's distracting. Her terrible acting could have some camp value if the movie didn't take itself so seriously. It's all so tedious. Karloff's good but can't keep this one afloat.

I think its a lot of fun

[asinyne · 8/10 · 18 November 2009]

I adamantly disagree with those claiming this is a really bad film. I suppose they want monsters or vampires or whatever but this isn't about all that. Juggernaut is a very well produced, reasonably well written, and quite well acted feature. My only gripe would be the paradox that the Doctor found himself him wasn't fleshed out as well as it could have been. However, this movie is pretty short so that probably explains the shortcuts. You see, essentially Karloff's character (who has a short time to live) has to make a difficult choice: he can let his life's work come to a screeching halt for the most trivial reason (lack of money) or he can turn to murder for hire and finish his research which may benefit mankind greatly. In my opinion the doctor transitioned a bit to smoothly from dedicated man of science and medicine to homicidal maniac.

Despite this problem I enjoyed the entire film. The actress who played the wicked wife was a bit over the top but the role was over the top so...? Opposite her was the understated performance of the other leading lady who was pretty and quite effective. The gent who played the caddish gambler was perfect for his part. Of course Karloff hogged the spotlight in every scene but how could he not. The little smile there at the end when he was found out was simply genius.

I love these old films because they carry you relatively far back in time. It's like having a little window that allows you to peek into a different time and attitude. I love the cars, the fashions, the slang, the hair, even the furnishings. (In one memorable scene there is a stunning nude statue just behind the action...cool!) It makes me wonder a bit as to why the cameras lingered in that area for such a major part of the film...ha. Thankfully many of these oldies have a bit more than just nostalgia value...they are interesting.

The production values were, for the most part, quite good. I really liked the storyline and Karloff really elevated the cast and the movie with his strong presence. Definitely worth checking out but no monsters or vampires for you kiddies.

One of those oh so bad it's good Z grade movies.

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 14 April 2015]

What's a good doctor like Boris Karloff going to do when the money they need for research is yanked out of their claws? Accept the offer to kill, that's what, and here, he is promised by a truly evil woman for the money to finish as long as he will do her the small favor of knocking off her elderly husband. Mona Goya, a hot-tempered female, is consumed with being with her secret lover and getting rid of the elderly old coot she's obviously only married for his money. But when the soon to be murdered husband changes his will to make sure she gets nothing, she's furious, but it's too late. He has already injected the ailing husband and conveniently looses the syringe which his suspicious nurse (Joan Wyndham) finds and has checked out for foul play. In just an hour, this melodrama plays out, with Goya chewing the scenery and Karloff being as subtle as possible while trapping the sweet nurse to prevent her from revealing all she knows. Goya is so obviously predatory that there's no hiding her motivations especially when she bites the hand of her stepson who is made executor of the estate and can see right through her. The venom in her evil tongue would be enough to kill any man, so she didn't really need Karloff. This prevents any real mystery or suspense, but there are plenty of campy moments to keep you hooked.

Mad doctor and his experiments

[russjones-80887 · 4/10 · 28 July 2020]

After losing the funding for his experiments, a doctor leaves Morocco and takes up a post in France. A young wife persuades him to poison her husband and, in return, he will receive £20,000 which will enable his work to resume.

An average thriller with somewhat wooden acting. Boris Karloff is typically menacing as the doctor, supported by Mona Goya as the wife and Joan Wyndham as the nurse trying to thwart their scheme. Only of interest to fans of the star.

Karloff's presence not enough for stodgy British melodrama

[kevinolzak · 3/10 · 26 June 2022]

1936's "Juggernaut" (also known as "The Demon Doctor") concluded the Boris Karloff trilogy of British titles from his Universal heyday of the 30s, little seen at the time and not exactly better known today. Wardour Films made the winning bid to extend the actor's homecoming from Apr. 25-June 6, under the stodgy direction of Henry Edwards, as simple minded as "The Man Who Changed His Mind" was complex, Boris as Dr. Victor Sartorius a dying scientist eager to conclude his experiments on paralysis before the Grim Reaper comes calling, accepting an offer from wealthy Lady Yvonne Clifford (Mona Goya) to earn a tidy sum if he can help push her elderly husband Sir Charles (Morton Selten) into the afterlife. The old man is fully aware of what a tramp he's got for a spouse and changes his will to make his son Roger (Arthur Margetson, previously seen opposite Bela Lugosi in Hammer's "Phantom Ship") sole beneficiary to allow her only a small stipend, meaning that the overworked doctor now has two murders to contemplate, successfully implementing the first by fatal injection. This is his undoing due to the attentive nurse (Joan Wyndham) analyzing the contents of his syringe to learn the awful truth. Karloff's background is kept vague, he rarely emerges from his private room to administer to his patient (only 16 minutes screen time), a 20 minute premise stretched beyond endurance to a full hour. The acting is variable, Mexican-born Mona Goya in particular so over the top that only audience laughter can result, not the worst Karloff vehicle of his most illustrious decade but certainly near the bottom, soon called back to Hollywood to costar with Warner Oland in "Charlie Chan at the Opera."

Try to get hold of a COMPLETE copy!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 28 February 2018]

Producer: Julius Hagen. Julius Hagen Productions. U.K. release through Wardour. U.S. release through Grand National and copyrighted by Grand National, 30 April 1937. New York opening at the Globe: 14 July 1937. London trade show: 8 September 1936. 6,668 feet. 73 minutes. U.S. re-issue title: The Demon Doctor. A 7/10 DVD is available from Alpha. I would give this particular DVD a higher rating except for the important facts that it runs only 62 minutes and comes to a rather abrupt conclusion. Wait for the 73 minutes version!

SYNOPSIS: Demon doctor will do anything to find the money to continue his research.

COMMENT: A most interesting Karloff outing, produced on a grand scale with enormous sets and hundreds of costumed extras, this film not only hands a typically sinister role to Karloff but also highlights three fascinating female players: villainess Mona Goya, heroine Joan Wyndham, and amazingly slim Nina Boucicault. Miss Goya, exquisitely costumed, constantly dazzles the eyes; while Miss Wyndham makes the most of a thrilling escape episode. The director loves to explore his vast sets with overhead shots. All told. worth seeing, even in Alpha's truncated version. The movie was remade as The Temptress in 1949 with Arnold Bell as the scientist.

'The hypocritically hypodermic tainting Dr. Sartorious has a monstrous dead-side manner!'

[Weirdling_Wolf · 8/10 · 11 April 2022]

Capable director Henry Edwards marvellously melodramatic thriller'Juggernaut' (1936) finds legendary horror icon Boris Karloff in especially poisonous form as the gruff, diabolically duplicitous Dr. Sartorious whose singularly sinister obsession with his mysterious 'experiments' cause him to grievously forswear his Hippocratic oath and hypocritically pledge his horrific hypodermic to the far less honourable desires of base greed and monomaniacal ambition! His nefarious modus operandi no less despicable than the bewitchingly exotic beauty Mona Goya, who is so wonderfully vile as the vulpine, neurotically scheming adulterous wife so morbidly besotted with her young wastrel joy boy paramour that she is more than willing to plunge injudiciously into the very same despicable depths of immorality as the cruel, creepily cadaverous Dr. Sartorious!