Experiment Perilous (1944): Cast & Plot
Experiment Perilous is a 1944 romantic thriller directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring George Brent as Dr. Huntington Bailey, Paul Lukas and John Mylong. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Jacques Tourneur
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- RKO Radio Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Experiment Perilous About?
The premise of Experiment Perilous without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in 1903, Doctor Huntington Bailey befriends an elderly lady on a train who mentions she will visit her brother Nick and his young wife Allida. After the sudden death of his fellow passenger, Bailey arrives in New York, encounters the eccentric couple, and grows increasingly uneasy about Nick’s treatment of Allida, suspecting hidden motives and danger lurking beneath the genteel façade.
Experiment Perilous Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- reference to napoleon
- reference to alexander the great
- audio flashback
- daisy the flower
- dancing
- singing
- song
- butler
- following someone
- restaurant
- younger version of character
- circular staircase
+38 more Show fewer
- man carries a little boy in his arms
- man carries a woman in his arms
- house on fire
- horse drawn fire truck
- hospital
- death of husband
- title co written by female
- dysfunctional brother sister relationship
- austrian man
- train trip
- painter as artist
- female writer
- train porter
- volatile mood
- diary
- drunkenness
- insanely jealous
- thunderstorm
- 5 year old boy
- family mansion
- dysfunctional marriage
- possessiveness
- murderer
- jade necklace
- first person narration
- portrait painting
- gaslighting
- department store
- vermont
- female singer
- unrequited love
- snowy landscape
- valise
- attempted murder
- ruse
- gothic thriller
- forbidden love
- dumb cop
Experiment Perilous Cast & Characters
George Brent leads the cast as Dr. Huntington Bailey, with Paul Lukas as Nicholas 'Nick' Bederaux and John Mylong as Nicholas Bederaux, Sr. (uncredited). Directed by Jacques Tourneur; 100 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Jacques Tourneur
-
George Brent as Dr. Huntington Bailey -
Paul Lukas as Nicholas 'Nick' Bederaux - John Mylong as Nicholas Bederaux, Sr. (uncredited)
- Olive Blakeney as Clarissa 'Cissie' Bederaux
Also Starring in Experiment Perilous
· 96 more- Billy Ward Alec Bederaux (uncredited)
- Hedy Lamarr Allida Bederaux
- Gino Corrado Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
- Mike Lally Intern (uncredited)
- James Conaty Art Exhibition Guest (uncredited)
- Dick Gordon Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
- Sam Harris
- Harold Miller
- Sam McDaniel Porter (uncredited)
- Stuart Hall Party Guest (uncredited)
- Sherry Hall Josh - Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- John Elliott Phone Operator (uncredited)
- Eric Mayne Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
- Paul Kruger Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
- Hans Moebus Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
- Monty O'Grady Minor Role (uncredited)
Show all 100 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Paul Power Art Exhibition Guest (uncredited)
- Albert Dekker 'Clag' Claghorn
- Edward Biby Art Exhibition Guest (uncredited)
- Jack Deery Doorman (uncredited)
- Michael Jeffers Department Store Customer (uncredited)
- Georges Renavent Voice Instructor (uncredited)
- Joe Gilbert Party Guest (uncredited)
- Broderick O'Farrell Frank, the Bederaux's Butler (uncredited)
- Michael Visaroff Ballet Master (uncredited)
- Eddie Hart Doorman (uncredited)
- Nolan Leary Bellhop (uncredited)
- Larry Wheat Caterer (uncredited)
- Perc Launders Ambulance Man (uncredited)
- Adrienne D'Ambricourt French Instructor (uncredited)
- Charles McMurphy Cop (uncredited)
- Carl Esmond John Maitland
- James Carlisle
- Oliver Cross
- Terry Frost Emergency Ward Intern (uncredited)
- Joel Friedkin Brakeman (uncredited)
- George N. Neise Alec Gregory
- Thomas Martin
- Bert LeBaron Attendant (uncredited)
- Edward Clark Train Steward (uncredited)
- Perk Lazelle Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
- Margaret Wycherly Maggie, the Maid
- Lillian West Salesgirl (uncredited)
- Foster H. Phinney Party Guest (uncredited)
- Victor Romito
- Mitchell Ingraham Bellboy (uncredited)
- Richard Bartell Hospital Intern (uncredited)
- Almeda Fowler Clerk (uncredited)
- Charles Meakin
- Mary Servoss Miss Wilson
- Field Norton Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
- William Post Jr. District Attorney
- Tom Ferrandini
- George Golden
- Larry Williams
- Lulu Mae Bohrman
- Alan Ward Shoes (uncredited)
- Robert Strong
- Stephanie Bachelor Elaine
- John Benson
- Peggy Miller Cissie, Age 8 (uncredited)
- Julia Dean Deria
- Virginia Engels
- Mary Benoit
- Tom Costello
- Fred Hueston Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
- Ruth Eddings
- Janet Clark Young Deria (uncredited)
- Bob Morgan
- Bob Evans
- Carey Harrison
- Dick Earle
- Michael Orr Nick, Age 3 (uncredited)
- Clark Morgan
- Evelyn Falke Cissie, Age 5 (uncredited)
- Gale Ronn
- Thomas Murray
- Joseph P. Mack
- Wanda Cantlon
- Dulce Day
- Joan Dix
- John Ardell
- Mal Merrihugh
- Stanley McKay
- John Estes
- Larry Stanton Minor Role (uncredited)
- Glen Stephens
- Gary Del Mar
- Bill Dillon
- Nan Holliday
- Helen Blizzard
- Kathleen Ellis
- Jack Fitzpatrick
- Louise Laureau
- Josephine Smith
- Don Wayson
More from Jacques Tourneur
More films directed by Jacques Tourneur, best-rated first: Out of the Past, Cat People, Nightfall and War-Gods of the Deep.
Experiment Perilous Plot Summary
What happens in Experiment Perilous from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set in 1903, a rain-soaked train trip becomes the spark that starts a tense, probing drama. On that journey, Dr. Huntington Bailey meets an empathetic older woman who seeks reassurance during a vicious downpour and explains she’s bound for New York to visit her brother, Nicholas ‘Nick’ Bederaux, and his wife, Allida Bederaux, whom she helped raise. When Bailey learns that his train companion died unexpectedly while visiting her brother for tea, a chilling sense of fate lingers. Soon he encounters the couple in the city and begins to sense something deeply troubling in how [Nicholas ‘Nick’ Bederaux] treats his wife, a pattern that hints at a controlling, protective shell masking fear and jealousy.
Full summary
The whole story of Experiment Perilous, scene by scene
Experiment Perilous Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Experiment Perilous.
How Well Do You Know Experiment Perilous?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year is the story set?
Experiment Perilous Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “I sklava tis agapis” and “Peirama ston kindyno”.
- Also known as
-
- I sklava tis agapis
- Peirama ston kindyno
- Рискованный эксперимент
- Experiment perillós
- Angoisse
- Experiment in Terror
- Noche en el alma
- Schiava del male
- 危险试验
- Idílio Perigoso
Seen Experiment Perilous?
Movies Like Experiment Perilous
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Experiment in Terror, Dangerous Crossing and Strange Impersonation.
Experiment Perilous FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Experiment Perilous, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Experiment Perilous?
Experiment Perilous runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was Experiment Perilous released?
Experiment Perilous was released on December 18, 1944.
Who directed Experiment Perilous?
Experiment Perilous was directed by Jacques Tourneur.
More films by Jacques Tourneur Who is in the cast of Experiment Perilous?
Experiment Perilous stars George Brent as Dr. Huntington Bailey, Paul Lukas as Nicholas 'Nick' Bederaux and John Mylong as Nicholas Bederaux, Sr. (uncredited), among 100 credited actors.
Does Experiment Perilous have a post-credit scene?
No. Experiment Perilous has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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