The novel

I just finished reading the novel, _Burn, Witch, Burn!_ by A. Merritt. Other than the element of Mme. Mandillip and Lachna and turning people into dolls, the two stories have very little in common. In the novel, Mme. Mandillip really is a witch, and although she looks masculine, she is not a man in drag. She is also able to project illusions of beauty on herself when she wants to. the novel climaxes with what the title implies, and none of the film's humor is apparent in the book.

The book is set in New York City and told from the point of view of Dr. Lowell, an abnormal psychiatrist. When a mob boss, named Ricori brings in one of his men, Peters, for assistance, it sets the story off. One of the nurses, who is in love with Lowell's assistant, Dr. Braile, gets killed and turned into a doll, but it won't obey Mme. Mandilip, so she nails her up in a crucifixion position. The doll ultimately plays a part in Mme. Mandilip's demise.

Overall, I thought the film was better, but really too different to make a comparison. There aren't any real unexpected twists, and while well-written, the characters seem mainly functionaries to the plot, even if one of the mobsters is an Arizona hick named McCann.