The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse

Year: 1938

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Anatole Litvak

CrimeDrama

An affluent society doctor becomes obsessed with studying the medical roots of criminal behavior, so he infiltrates a gang of thieves by becoming one himself. Within the criminal circle he challenges the existing boss, ultimately seizing control from the deeply resentful leader, delivering a fast‑paced tale of thrills and intrigue.

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the slick, restless streets of 1930s New York, an elite physician fascinated by the anatomy of vice decides that theory alone will never satisfy his curiosity. Dr. Clitterhouse—a man accustomed to the comforts of high society and the quiet certainty of a laboratory—becomes driven to understand the physiological pulse that powers criminal minds. The film invites the audience into a world where polished mansions and bustling nightclubs exist side‑by‑side with shadowed alleys, creating a vivid backdrop for a story that blurs the line between respectable science and unlawful impulse.

Guided by a single, obsessive question, the doctor steps beyond the confines of his clinic and slips into the underworld, assuming the role of a thief to observe his subjects from within. The atmosphere crackles with a blend of sophisticated wit and gritty tension, as the polished veneer of his past clashes with the raw, improvisational energy of the criminal circle he infiltrates. This uneasy marriage of intellect and instinct fuels a narrative that feels both methodical and wildly unpredictable.

Within the gang, the doctor’s presence unsettles the established hierarchy, drawing the attention of the charismatic leader who guards his domain jealously. As ‘Rocks’ Valentine—the gang’s formidable boss—measures this new challenger, a subtle power struggle emerges, hinting at deeper questions about authority, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to prove a hypothesis. The tension is heightened by the enigmatic Jo Keller, a figure who straddles the line between legitimate society and the black market, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the doctor’s undercover experiment.

The tone remains fast‑paced and suspenseful, balancing dark humor with earnest curiosity. Viewers are kept on edge, ever aware that each interaction could tip the delicate balance between scientific pursuit and moral transgression, promising a thrilling exploration of what it really means to study the heart of crime.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:08

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Movies with brilliant criminal masterminds like The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse

Brilliant minds who use their intelligence to mastermind crimes.If you enjoyed the intellectual heists and moral ambiguity of The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, you'll appreciate these movies. They feature similar stories of affluent, brilliant minds using their intelligence for crime, blending psychological study with thrilling underworld action.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a character with significant intellectual credentials who applies their analytical skills to criminal enterprises, often as a form of personal research or experiment. The story explores the tension between their clinical methodology and the messy reality of crime, usually culminating in a loss of control or an identity crisis.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their central character archetype: the intellectual-turned-criminal. They share a focus on methodical planning, the clash between rationality and criminal chaos, and a darkly curious tone that questions the boundaries of sanity and ethics.

Stories of dangerous obsession like The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse

Characters who risk everything for a dangerous and all-consuming obsession.Fans of The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse looking for similar movies will find them here. This collection features tales of obsessive characters who descend into criminality or darkness for a personal goal, blending psychological drama with a steady, suspenseful pace and a bittersweet conclusion.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a character's single-minded pursuit of knowledge or control, which requires them to infiltrate a dangerous world. Their initial success is often tempered by a rising internal conflict, leading to an ending where they achieve their goal but at a great personal or ethical cost, leaving them hollow or compromised.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core theme of obsession leading to self-destruction. They are united by a steady, suspenseful pacing that builds towards a morally complex conclusion, a dark tone with intellectual undertones, and a medium emotional weight that engages the mind as much as the emotions.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse

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