A crippled man finds a boy and vows to make him a great dancer.A crippled man finds a boy and vows to make him a great dancer.A crippled man finds a boy and vows to make him a great dancer.
André Luguet
- Count Robert Renaud
- (as Andre Luguet)
Chester A. Bachman
- Poster Hanger
- (uncredited)
Charles Brinley
- Poster Hanger
- (uncredited)
Boris Karloff
- Fedor's Father
- (uncredited)
Mae Madison
- Olga Chekova
- (uncredited)
George Marion
- Old Soldier at Theatre Stage
- (uncredited)
Walter Miller
- Opera Spectator
- (uncredited)
Lee Moran
- Montmartre Cabaret Director
- (uncredited)
Charles Williams
- Stagehand
- (uncredited)
Harry Wilson
- Curtain Man
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMichael Curtiz hired Boris Karloff because he mistakenly thought he was Russian.
- GoofsA title card misspells Montmartre as "Montmarte."
- Quotes
Nana Carlova: [after Tsarakov has cunningly expelled her from the Ballet Russe] But, where will I go?
Vladimar Ivan Tsarakov: Well, I hate to advise people, my dear, but it seems to me that you have the best chance of success possibly by placing yourself somewhere where only youth and beauty are necessary.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are shown over a background of a figure dancing; a reference to the plot which involves a dancer.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Taxi (1931)
- SoundtracksDanse Russe Trépak
(uncredited)
from "Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a"
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Played during the opening puppet sequence
Featured review
A real puppet master
The Mad Genius is far from the best of John Barrymore's sound films. But it certainly provides a character for him to go full blast in terms of style and yet not seem overacted. Barrymore's plays a cripple who wanted to be a great ballet dancer, but only is confined to doing puppet shows with his sidekick Charles Butterworth.
One day he and Butterworth rescue young Frankie Darro from a cruel father Boris Karloff. Barrymore sees in young Darro the promise and form of the dancer he wanted to be. This was before the Code so the homoerotic ideas in the scene are exploited to the max.
Fast forward a dozen years and Darro is now Donald Cook at the top of his game as a ballet dancer, a veritable Nijinsky. He's also got eyes for pretty Marian Marsh, but so has Barrymore.
Barrymore's years of training in the puppet theater have stood him in good stead as he's now a real puppet master, scheming and manipulating people to his will. His scene with Luis Alberni who is manager of the company to get him to do something he doesn't want to do is unforgettable. I won't reveal what he has over him, but this also was a subject later banned by the Code.
Not the best of Barrymore's work, but it should provide a real introduction to his acting. And he's given great support by the ensemble Warner Brothers and director Michael Curtiz gave him.
One day he and Butterworth rescue young Frankie Darro from a cruel father Boris Karloff. Barrymore sees in young Darro the promise and form of the dancer he wanted to be. This was before the Code so the homoerotic ideas in the scene are exploited to the max.
Fast forward a dozen years and Darro is now Donald Cook at the top of his game as a ballet dancer, a veritable Nijinsky. He's also got eyes for pretty Marian Marsh, but so has Barrymore.
Barrymore's years of training in the puppet theater have stood him in good stead as he's now a real puppet master, scheming and manipulating people to his will. His scene with Luis Alberni who is manager of the company to get him to do something he doesn't want to do is unforgettable. I won't reveal what he has over him, but this also was a subject later banned by the Code.
Not the best of Barrymore's work, but it should provide a real introduction to his acting. And he's given great support by the ensemble Warner Brothers and director Michael Curtiz gave him.
helpful•71
- bkoganbing
- Jan 21, 2015
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $441,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Color
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