I saw this one playing on Talking Pictures TV and thought I'd check it out: DOCTOR SYN (1937), the first British adaptation of the popular Russell Thorndike novel series, which was later remade by Hammer as CAPTAIN CLEGG (aka NIGHT CREATURES). This black and white version of the tale feels lower budgeted and not as lavish as the Hammer version, although it has a certain amount of atmosphere in the coastal scenes and the direction by Roy William Neill (later to shoot FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN and various Rathbone/Holmes movies) is good enough. George Arliss plays Syn in a much more sympathetic light than Cushing would, and is well supported by a game cast including Margaret Lockwood and Graham Moffatt. For a 1937 film this one's dated somewhat and feels a little talky at times, leaving it average overall; the Hammer one's a bit better.
Review of Doctor Syn
