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Cast
John Barrymore
as Vladimar Ivan Tsarakov
Marian Marsh
as Nana Carlova
Charles Butterworth
as Karimsky
Donald Cook
as Fedor Ivanoff
Luis Alberni
as Sergei Bankieff
Carmel Myers
as Sonya Preskoya
André Luguet
as Count Robert Renaud
Frankie Darro
as Fedor as a Boy
Chester A. Bachman
as Poster Hanger (uncredited)
Charles Brinley
as Poster Hanger (uncredited)
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1931
Runtime1h 21m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, Horror, Romance
Votes23
DirectorMichael Curtiz
WritersJ. Grubb Alexander, Harvey F. Thew
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.4 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Mad Genius
About The Mad Genius
A crippled puppeteer rescues an abused young boy and turns the boy into a great ballet dancer. Complications ensue when, as a young man, the dancer falls in love with a young woman the puppeteer is also in love with.
Directed by Michael Curtiz, The Mad Genius leans on a strong ensemble — John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, Charles Butterworth — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1931.
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