Dear Chanfans: FYI The past two weekends I have turned on TCM early Sunday morning, around 9:00am or so, and found a Crime Doctor film playing. I only caught the end on both of them. I thought I'd mention it in case anybody wanted to tune in next time and see if they play another. While no Charlie Chan they looked pretty good.
I've recorded them all. They're excellent, with strong plots, good casts, and nice atmosphere. TCM has been playing them on Saturday mornings. Unfortunately, they just played the last one.
But they'll probably replay them at some time. TCM has been scheduling a lot more "new" films lately (films they haven't shown before). For a fan of mystery series from the thirties and forties, it's been a paradise. Not only the Crime Doctor, but also Boston Blackie, and Lone Wolf. The Crime Doctor series is a little darker than the other two. It's not played for laughs. No amusing sidekicks or anything, but it's quite good.
The Crime Doctor was played by Warner Baxter throughout the series. He apparently had some health problems and by the last one you could tell. He died just a couple of years later. But series quality was good from beginning to the end.
I seem to remember John Cucinotta remarked some time ago (over at the other message board!) that Warner Baxter had a labotomy a couple of years later to relieve the arthritic pain that Baxter had.
I think Baxter died from pneumonia complications of the operation.
Sad, especially since Baxter had had a nervous breakdown in the early 40s that made the Crime Doctor a blessing since it placed few physical demands on him.
Yes, yes, yes. I remember so well the Crime Doctor series even though I was a kid when I saw them. Warner Baxter played Dr. Ordway and he was marvelous and the stories were great! When I looked Baxter up I was sorry to see that he underwent lobotomy to cure arthritis. Not good for anyone!! Very sad indeed. Must look for these films and must order TCM on cable.