The Mad Doctor (1941)

A smooth and sinister physician (Basil Rathbone) woos, weds and murders several of his wealthy female patients for their fortunes. He sets up a Park Avenue psychiatry practice and sets his eyes on "curing" a troubled heiress (Ellen Drew). But something different occurs ..... he falls in love with her. Directed by Tim Whelan (THIEF OF BAGDAD) with a script co-written by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht (THE FRONT PAGE). An above average thriller with a solid performance by Basil Rathbone in one of his rare leading man roles (the Sherlock Holmes franchise excepted). The nominal "hero" (John Howard) is unlikable and arrogant which gives a perverse sympathy to Rathbone's serial killer. As Ellen Drew's character says of him, there's something frightening about him but also something sad and this is what gives him a dual nature and makes him more interesting than the bland "hero". The film's last 15 minutes or so are very intense and director Whelan squeezes all the tension he can out of the material. With Martin Kosleck (very good as Rathbone's homicidal companion), Ralph Morgan and Barbara Jo Allen.