History Film / DevilDoll

->''"In Berlin. 1948. Find... me."''

->''"In Berlin. 1948. Find.. me."''

''Devil Doll'' is a 1964 British film about hypnotist-cum-ventriloquist "The Great Vorelli" (Bryant Halliday) in his struggle to prove to the people who laughed at him long ago that yes, he ''can'' transfer a mind into the body of a wooden vent figure. At one show, by what seems to be pure serendipity, the "[[DesignatedHero good guy]]" Mark English (William Sylvester, before ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'') ropes his girlfriend Marianne (Yvonne Romain) into volunteering for Vorelli's act. English's obsessive skepticism results in acquisition of expert testimony and even an impromptu, depressing trip to UsefulNotes/{{Germany}}. Along the way, minds are controlled, people are menaced with knives, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking dummies are insulted]]. Somehow, Vorelli's dummy [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal turns the tables]] at the close of the movie, and everything ends.

* MisappliedPhlebotinum:
** So you have vast and fearsome powers over the human mind. You're capable of hypnotizing people to do your will with a mere glance, forcing them to live their darkest nightmares, re-writing their personalities, or even taking their very '''souls''' from their bodies -- and you use these powers to ''perform in a stage show?'' One could argue that Vorelli gets off on being a DevilInPlainSight and that it's not about material gain, except that the entire movie is about him using his power to get his hands on Marianne's money. Sure that's something, but he's still settling for grand theft when power like this could easily let him rule his own country if not the entire world. Even when he's performing overtly criminal acts he still aims low.
** Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership (Vorelli may be able to transfer souls but can he balance a nation's economy?), plus it would make him a target. If word got out that a man could control anyone's mind and transfer their souls to inanimate objects, everyone would either be out to either kill him or force him to serve their interests. CIA would want him, so would the KGB, and either would kill him to keep out of the other one's hands. Organized crime figures would be ''very'' interested in hiring Vorelli, and wouldn't take no for an answer. And absolutely ''no one'' would feel safe. With hypnotism, Vorelli can just take what he desires (money, sex) without the hassle or the responsibility, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work. To quote Film/LordOfIllusions "Illusionists get Vegas contracts. Wizards get burned at the stake".

* PrettyInMink: We immediately know Marianne has money since she has a white fox wrapped draped over her chair when she first appears.

* MindRape: Literally. Vorelli uses hypnotism to force a girl to get naked in front of an entire audience.

* MisappliedPhlebotinum: So you have vast and fearsome powers over the human mind. You're capable of hypnotizing people to do your will with a mere glance, forcing them to live their darkest nightmares, re-writing their personalities, or even taking their very '''souls''' from their bodies -- and you use these powers to ''perform in a stage show?'' One could argue that Vorelli gets off on being a DevilInPlainSight and that it's not about material gain, except that the entire movie is about him using his power to get his hands on Marianne's money. Sure that's something, but he's still settling for grand theft when power like this could easily let him rule his own country if not the entire world. Even when he's performing overtly criminal acts he still aims low.

Not to be confused with 1936 film ''Film/TheDevilDoll''. Also not to be confused with the Slovenian/Italian band Music/DevilDoll, although they named themselves after this film. And for the love of God, do ''not'' confuse this movie with ''Black Devil Doll from Hell.'' [[NotSafeForWork You will thank us later.]]

Not to be confused with 1936 film ''Film/TheDevilDoll''. And for the love of God, do ''not'' confuse this movie with ''Black Devil Doll From Hell.'' [[NotSafeForWork You will thank us later.]]

** Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership (Vorelli may be able to transfer souls but can he balance a nation's economy?), plus it would make him a target. If word got out that a man could control anyone's mind and transfer their souls to inanimate objects, everyone would either be out to either kill him or force him to serve their interests. Absolutely ''no one'' would feel safe. With hypnotism, Vorelli can just take what he desires (money, sex) without the hassle, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work. To quote Film/LordOfIllusions "Illusionists get Vegas contracts. Wizards get burned at the stake".

** Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership, plus it would make him a target. If word got out that a man could control anyone's mind and transfer their souls to inanimate objects, everyone would either be out to either kill him or force him to serve their interests. Absolutely ''no one'' would feel safe. With hypnotism, Vorelli can just take what he desires (money, sex) without the hassle, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work. To quote Film/LordOfIllusions "Illusionists get Vegas contracts. Wizards get burned at the stake".

** Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership, plus it would make him a target. If word got out that a man could control anyone's mind and transfer their souls to inanimate objects, everyone would either be out to either kill him or force him to serve their interests. With hypnotism, Vorelli can just take what he desires (money, sex) without the hassle, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work. To quote Film/LordOfIllusions "Illusionists get Vegas contracts. Wizards get burned at the stake".

** Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership, plus it would make him a target. With hypnotism, Vorelli can just take what he desires (money, sex) without the hassle, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work. To quote Film/LordOfIllusions "Illusionists get Vegas contracts. Wizards get burned at the stake".

** Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership, plus it would make him a target. With hypnotism, Vorelli can just take what he desires (money, sex) without the hassle, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work. To quote LordofIllusions "Illusionists get Vegas contracts. Wizards get burned at the stake".

** Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership, plus it would make him a target. Vorelli can just take what he desires without the hassle, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work.

* BeardOfEvil: Vorelli has one, which totally makes him look like the devil.