Status
Released
original language
English
Budget
$ 0
Revenue
$ 0
Top Billed 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)
Jack Mylong-Münz
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
Similar Movies
Movie Reviews
A review by John Chard
Written by John Chard on 2013-11-02
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