MovieChat Forums > The Return of Doctor X (1939) Discussion > Trailer on Legends of Horror DVD

Trailer on Legends of Horror DVD

posted 16 years ago by swollen_ostrich
1 reply | jump to latest

The Legends of Horror DVD set has a trailer for this movie on it.

Weird thing is that 90% of the footage shown in said trailer isn't actually in the movie!!!

Does anyone know any history of this movie that can shed some light on this?

I watched both the movie and the trailer last night and here are the things I can remember from the trailer that weren't in the movie as shown on the dvd:

1) Several quick shots of "medical" equipment not shown in the movie (these could be stock footage used to pad the trailer, but I'm not sure).

2) Dr. Xavier confronting Dr. Flegg about what he told Garret and Dr. Rhodes, followed by Dr. Flegg asking Dr. Xavier for more time. Dr. Xavier tells him he has one week.

3) A different version of the conversation with Garret and Dr. Rhodes with Angela Merrova - this one has her dressed in black, sitting up, and Dr. Xavier coming through the door while they are asking Merrova about him. The version in the movie has them finding Angela Merrova passing out in her room, in white, with Dr. Xavier walking in unannounced.

4) A scene with Dr. Flegg giving a lecture about his experiments, with him getting shot just as he is about to spill the beans about "Mr. X" - this is followed by a quick reaction shot of Garret in the audience starting to rush up on the stage.

5) A scene with nurse Vance recognizing Dr. Xavier after he kidnaps her.

Now, I did NOT get a chance to listen to the commentary track on the DVD, so it's quite possible that my questions are answered there. If so, if someone could just let me know and I will listen to it at my earliest convenience.

[–] aventer-1 14 years ago

Commentary on this and other Warner dvds mention that the movie ran several days over shooting schedual, several pages of script were trashed to try and keep on schedual and there was a day of reshoots. It certainly looks like the story went in one direction and was altered significantly during production while the trailer department went ahead and used what footage they were given, unaware that these were scenes that had been scrapped. There are a few serious jumps in the continuity, some poorly matched stock shots bridging scenes (such as the taxi that changes make, model and color), missing actors and characters who can't get their names straight. Also, this was the directors first picture. He relates his experience on the commentary track at the age of 99! Its quite interesting and sadly, this interesting fellow, Vincent Sherman, died shortly after doing the interview.