The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934) User Reviews

THE MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD (Edward Ludwig, 1934) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 12 April 2006]

This little-known drama is often mistakenly thought of as a horror film by virtue of its luridly suggestive title, its being a Universal production and the appearance of several horror stalwarts. Actually, it's quite splendid and very stylish, making the most of its Grade A budget.

Claude Rains is marvelous as ever in the title role and is superbly supported by a wonderful cast - a blonde Joan Bennett, a treacherous Lionel Atwill, Wallace Ford, Gilbert Emery, Edward Van Sloan (the latter two are actually uncredited and appear very briefly; so, too, does Valerie Hobson according to the IMDb, thought I didn't spot her)! The unusual, thought-provoking (and sadly, more topical than ever) plot, taking a critical look at political opportunism, spin doctoring and warmongering, is nicely handled all around, with as much care given to the touching domestic life of the main characters as to the period detail or its vigorous scenes of warfare and political discussions.

The effectively filmed finale (which gives the film its title) is a highlight and, hopefully, it should be able to get a new lease of life whenever the film is released on DVD, even if it has to be passed off as a horror title to make it; however, I don't think many will complain of this once they've seen it but will instead be very thankful that it has finally been made available on the newest home video format. Are you listening, Universal?

Claude Rains is shocked ... shocked I say! ...to discover that politicians are dishonest

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 2 October 2010]

This is a great anti-war film with a commentary on the politics of power that is all too relevant today. Claude Rains plays Paul Verin, a pacifist writer with a great heart and mind but no ambition. Lionel Atwill plays Henry Dumont, the head of a newspaper chain who has no heart, a mediocre mind, and great ambition. The second type of man always needs the first type of man, and this sets up our story. Dumont just doesn't want to rule, he wants to make a fortune for himself and his friends through ruling, and he sees the greatest opportunity for monetary gain through war and the munitions business. First, however, Dumont needs to whip up the masses to be in his corner, and thus he turns his attentions to the writing skills of Paul Verin, who is duped by Dumont into believing they have the shared goal of furthering peace.

Joan Bennett plays Verin's wife, Adele, who is a very morally ambiguous character. Until the end, she can never make up her mind whether or not she loves the creature comforts of life more than Paul, and the fact that I couldn't decide whether I liked this person or not is a tribute to her acting.

The beginning starts with a bang, and the movie does have a bit of implied horror in it. The scene opens on a window breaking, a woman screaming, and a delirious Claude Rains staggering out of his house and into the snowy streets of WWI Paris carrying a mysterious satchel with one arm and his small daughter with the other. I'll let you watch and see how this all plays out. Highly recommended.

Seen on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater in 1974

[kevinolzak · 6/10 · 29 January 2014]

1934's "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head" marked Claude Rains' return to Universal after the huge success of "The Invisible Man," only here he's cast as Paul Verin, meek, mild mannered writer, an impassioned pacifist who accepts a generous offer from his unscrupulous former employer, Henri Dumont (Lionel Atwill), who seeks to gain fame and fortune by putting his own name on Verin's articles (a flashback set just prior to the outbreak of WW1). An unsuccessful 1932 stage play that had also starred Rains (closing after 28 performances), this adaptation shows its talky origins only too well, frequently dragging in spots, while its 1945 remake, "Strange Confession," with Lon Chaney in the lead and J. Carrol Naish in the Atwill role, was effectively streamlined and updated into a far more compact 62 minutes, eliminating the entire anti-war backstory. The fetching Joan Bennett, still a blonde, plays Verin's wife Adele, whose ambitious prodding nearly gets her husband killed, while both Atwill and Wallace Ford fail to conceal their lust for her (we must regard her unfavorably after she fails to chastise Atwill for kissing her). Cast as daughter Linette is the atrocious train wreck called 'Baby Jane,' who must have greatly improved if she continued to work under the name Juanita Quigley (that's what happened to Baby Jane!). Several Universal veterans in smaller roles include Lawrence Grant ("Son of Frankenstein"), Doris Lloyd, Henry Armetta ("The Black Cat"), even Edward Van Sloan. Look fast for breathtaking newcomer Valerie Hobson, unbilled 17 minutes in, standing next to the partying Wallace Ford, who'd rather play with Joan Bennett. Unlike "The Invisible Man" and "Mystery of Edwin Drood," "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head" was never part of Universal's popular SHOCK! television package of the late 50s; yet because of its false marketing as a shocker, it did make a whopping four appearances on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater- Mar 16 1974 (following 1967's "The Bamboo Saucer"), Sept 18 1976 (following 1937's "Night Key"), Aug 13 1977 (following 1943's "The Mummy's Ghost"), and Mar 26 1983 (solo).

Not a horror movie!

[Dara-3 · 7/10 · 25 April 1999]

An intriguing film about a writer who discovers his ideas have been used to promote WWI, Claude Rains does his usual remarkable job. If you see it listed, try to catch it!

A peace loving man can only tolerate so much deceit.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 15 October 2018]

The anti-war sentiments of writer Claude Rains leads him to a desperate act in the climax of this well acted but often slow moving psychological drama set in France during the first world war. Married to the beautiful but somewhat materialistic Joan Bennett, he unintentionally neglects her to the point where she begins seeing his employer (Lionel Atwill at his most lecherous and ruthless) out of need for companionship. Rains is unaware that Atwill is also claiming his writing as his own, using it for his own secret political ambitions, and as France gets deeply involved in the war, Rains finds himself conflicted. A confrontation with Atwill results in Rains being sent off to the front lines where rumors of Atwill's actions reach him at his most vulnerable.

This artistic drama has all the mystery and atmosphere of one of Universal's classic horror films, even though it does not fall under that category in spite of the strange title. You're not seeing things in the credits with a child actress named Baby Jane, playing the role of Rains and Bennett's daughter. She's just a minor distraction in the film, not really making much of an impression. Rains gives a truly commanding performance, with Bennett lovely but not yet established past basically bland heroine parts. Edward Ludwig, in the director's chair, seems to be trying to emulate James Whale. The superb opening and thrilling conclusion almost seem like they're from a different film when compared to the middle section.

a neglected political masterpiece

[alannasser · 10/10 · 31 July 2004]

This is an extraordinarily well filmed and written movie. And it'd have a hard time getting produced and distributed today. The Claude Raines character finds his Leftish anti-war writings used by war makers to promote World War I. His efforts to set things right are portrayed as ruthlessly blocked by elements the film portrays as both pushing the war in their own interests and essentially running the government: a ruling class consisting of the corporate elite in the form of munitions-manufacturing interests.

This is quite a political film, dark, tense and tragic. A neglected masterpiece.

Claude is even great in small films

[rickguidotti · 10/10 · 26 November 2006]

I caught this on TV late one night. From the cheesy title, I expected a horrible *B* film. I've always been a fan of Claude...so I had to watch. Surprise, surprise, this movie is GREAT! It may have been a B film, but it has stayed with me for 30 years. Even though no one has ever heard of it, I recommend it often. As someone else remarked, it isn't a horror movie in the traditional sense. But the horrors of war is the subject. There was not a moment wasted in the direction. The opening shot pulls you right in. You can't believe your eyes. And then a flashback to an idyllic setting. But soon the war has turned our hero's life in pure Hell. The tale is about war profiteering. Strangely appropriate in 2006. Can you say Halliburton? The film brings you round to the opening scene again in a fantastic ending also. And the final words are exactly the opposite of what you expected in the opening scenes. Find & watch it!

Claude Rains anti hero

[searchanddestroy-1 · 9/10 · 29 November 2021]

Claude Rains has already given such kind of characters of anti heroes, as the ones he showed in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, or THE INVISIBLE MAN. Lon Chaney was also used to play such characters fighting against something which was about to destroy them, fights lost in advance. Universal Pictures seemed not being reluctant about those anti Hollywood schemes. Rains was the perfect portrait of the poor hero whom any audience could not ignore, nor feel empathy for. This was an early Edward Ludwig film, surprising and interesting as well for this director who will later become an adventure yarn specialist: WAKE OF THE RED WITCH, SMUGGLER'S ISLAND, JIVARO, FLAME OF THE ISLANDS, CARIBBEAN...But please don't miss this movie for Claude Rains' performance.