Dr. Cyclops (1940) – Review

In today’s climate, a scientist trying to reduce humanity’s impact on the environment would most likely be considered noble character, if not a downright heroic, but in the 1940s Paramount Pictures took what could have been an altruistic premise and shifted it into the “mad scientist” genre.  The result was a little classic called Dr. Cyclops.

The film begins with the introduction of the brilliant but eccentric scientist Dr. Alexander Thorkel (Albert Dekker), who is working somewhere in the Peruvian jungle.  He has invited a group of scientists to this remote jungle laboratory to aid him with his incredible discovery; this group consists of Dr. Mary Robinson (Janice Logan), Dr. Rupert Bulfinch (Charles Halton), mineralogist Bill Stockton (Thomas Coley) and a local miner along for the ride, Steve Baker (Victor Kilian). Upon arrival, they find themselves a little perturbed when all that Thorkel needs from them is a couple of observations through a microscope, his eyes having deteriorated too much for him to do this himself, but once he learns all he needs to know from them he dismisses the group out of hand.

“Thanks for your help, now kindly fuck off.”

Needless to say, our intrepid scientists do not take such an insult lightly and they decide to investigate on their own, and their disdain for the man grows when they come to the conclusion that he has gone mad. That they see Thorkel hunting for a shrunken horse increases their belief in his suspect sanity, but when Thorkel discovers them going through his things he accuses them of trying to steal his work and take all the credit. This is when the other shoe drops, it turns out that he’s not completely crazy, or at least not in the way they originally thought.  They are in the presence of a scientific breakthrough that surpasses their wildest imagination.  It seems that Dr. Thorkel has actually perfected a method to shrink living organisms to miniature size, unfortunately, he decides to use this method to get rid of a few unwanted guests.

“Honey, I shrunk the scientists.”

With our poor group of scientists shrunk down to miniature sizes things become dangerous rather quickly and for the remained of the film it becomes a literal cat-and-mouse game between our heroes, who along with a miniaturized Pedro Caroz (Frank Yaconelli) – he was Thorkel’s assistant who, like the others, learned too much – must now join forces to escape the giant clutches of this mad doctor. But can our heroes escape into the jungle and if so is that any safer? This is but one of many dilemmas facing our tiny heroes and director Ernest B. Schoedsack is able to keep the momentum going and the dangers mounting to make a very thrilling and original science fiction flick.  As the story progresses we quickly learn just how cuckoo for cocoa puffs Dr. Thorkel is.

“I’m going to put you in my Barbie Dreamhouse.”

Stray Observation:

• The man aiding Dr. Thorkel in his research loses his nerve and demands that the doctor stop with the experiments, which is not something you tell a mad scientist if you have plans to live to retirement age.
• Our group of tiny humans is threatened by a particularly nasty house cat, which is a particular type of villain that will plague miniaturized people in movies for years to come.
• Mary Robinson is a doctor in her own right but because she’s a woman when it comes to fashioning clothing for the group she is the one sewing them new outfits.
• When Dr. Rupert Bulfinch learns that they will eventually regain their normal size he declares to Thorkel that “There will be a reckoning!” Which is another thing you don’t tell a mad scientist if you plan on living to retirement age.

Sometimes scientists can be the dumbest people on the planet.

This movie excels at creating an atmosphere of wonder and terror as the characters are reduced to mere inches, confronting a world of giant insects, menacing plants and the omnipotent presence of Dr. Cyclops himself. This film is also one of the earliest examples of the “improved” Technicolor two-strip “Process 3” and the first one to be used for the science fiction genre, the other two entries being Doctor X and Mystery of the Wax Museum, and it was nominated at the Academy Awards for its exceptional special effects by Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings, whose efforts here, despite the limitations of the era, are surprisingly impressive and breathe life into the miniaturized sets and creatures that fill the screen with a sense of otherworldly menace.

I always admire the giant props in these kinds of movies.

Albert Dekker’s portrayal of Dr. Thorkel is nothing short of mesmerizing as he captures the character’s genius and madness with conviction, effortlessly transforming from a seemingly benevolent scientist into a diabolical antagonist. His commanding presence dominates every scene, leaving us torn between admiration and fear. Aside from the fun performance by Dekker, which can’t be overstated, one of the film’s more notable achievements is its ability to blend scientific marvels with a haunting sense of dread. The miniaturized world feels genuinely eerie, showcasing the dark side of unchecked scientific curiosity. Schoedsack skilfully utilizes lighting and camera angles to enhance the suspenseful moments, eliciting a range of emotions from the viewers.

Note: The look of Dr. Thorkel has become a science fiction staple among mad doctors and Albert Dekker gives a landmark performance that all other mad scientists will be measured by.

The supporting cast all contribute to the film’s overall quality with solid performances giving each character distinct traits that add depth to the narrative and heighten the tension as they face the dangers of their shrunken world. While Dr. Cyclops does adhere to certain clichés of its time, such as the underdeveloped female characters and the occasionally predictable plot progression, it remains an engaging and entertaining piece of science fiction history. The film’s pacing is swift, with each scene offering a new spectacle or peril that keeps the audience engrossed.

Just watch where you step or the little people may shoot you.

In conclusion, Dr. Cyclops remains an engaging and visually impressive science fiction horror film from the 1940s, with impressive special effects and a captivating performance by Albert Dekker.  It is also one of the seminal moments in the genre and while it may not have the same level of character depth and nuanced storytelling found in contemporary cinema, it still offers an entertaining and imaginative experience for fans of classic horror movies. If you can appreciate the charm of early special effects, and the thrill of a mad scientist’s experiments gone wrong, then Dr. Cyclops is worth a watch.