Calling Dr. Death 1943
Directed by
David Hoffman
Made by
Universal Pictures
Calling Dr. Death Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Calling Dr. Death (1943). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Dr. Mark Steele, a respected neurologist who often uses hypnosis to treat his patients, endures a growing personal crisis as his marriage unravels. His wife Maria Steele is having an affair, living a comfortable life as a doctor’s wife, and when she refuses his plea for a divorce, he realizes he cannot prevail by gentle means alone. After a night of confrontation, he has a dream in which he strangulates his wife, a vision that foreshadows trouble and clouds his judgment.
When Maria leaves for a weekend, Dr. Mark Steele spontaneously drives away from the city. He awakens on Monday in his office to a chilling reality: his memories of the weekend are gone, and Maria has been murdered in a manner that disfigures her face with acid. A button from his own jacket is found near the crime scene, and Mark is plagued by the fear that he himself might be the killer. The sense of guilt deepens as he begins to question his own actions during the blank period.
His nurse, Stella Madden, urges him to keep quiet and not speak to the police until more facts come to light. Meanwhile, the police move quickly and arrest Robert ‘Bob’ Duval, Maria’s lover, for murder. Detective Inspector Gregg remains skeptical of Mark, convinced that the neurologist may somehow be involved or connected to the crime. To complicate matters, Duval’s disabled wife visits Mark, pressing him to help prove her husband’s innocence.
Duval is convicted of first-degree murder and faces the death penalty, shaking Mark into action. In a moment of guilt and curiosity, he attempts to hypnotize himself to uncover the truth about his possible complicity. The attempt is interrupted by Inspector Gregg, but Stella records the session, capturing crucial details. In the recording, Mark describes meeting his wife at a mountain cabin, a quarrel, and leaving the cabin just as Duval arrives, then returning to his office and slipping into a deep sleep.
Gregg’s investigation continues, and Mark learns that Duval had borrowed $10,000 from Maria to cover gambling debts. A further turn comes when Duval’s bid for a pardon is denied by the governor. Mark speaks with Stella again, who suddenly faints—an event that hints at larger stakes at play. He contemplates hiring another nurse to manage the growing financial strain, and drives Stella to visit her family, a move that raises even more questions for the anxious physician.
Back at the office, Gregg confronts Mark with the emerging web of connections, and Mark resolves to push further by hypnotizing Stella to uncover what she may know beyond what has already surfaced. On the night of Duval’s scheduled execution, Stella succumbs to the hypnotic probe and reveals the full truth: her plan with Duval to obtain the $10,000, and the crucial confession that she killed Maria when Duval tried to return the money. Stella also admits an earlier attempt to burn down the medical office to destroy records, covering up her embezzlement from Mark.
As the final threads come together, Gregg overhears Stella’s confession and arrests her, explaining to Mark that he never truly doubted the doctor’s innocence but needed hard evidence against Stella to secure justice. The case resolves with a sense of cautious relief for Mark, who must live with the knowledge of Stella’s treachery and the emotional toll of the weekend that set these events in motion.
Calling Dr. Death Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Calling Dr. Death (1943) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Professional success vs. marital turmoil
Dr. Mark Steele is a renowned neurologist who uses hypnosis to help his patients, but his personal life is unraveling as his wife Maria cheats on him. He confronts her about divorce, yet she refuses to consent and laughs it off. That night he even dreams of strangling his wife to death, foreshadowing darker thoughts to come.
Weekend departure and memory loss
Maria leaves for a weekend rendezvous and Mark drives off afterward. When Monday arrives, he wakes in his office with a blank memory of the weekend and realizes he cannot recall what happened. The sense of danger deepens as he learns that Maria has been murdered.
Murder revealed and a possible suspect
Police inform Mark that Maria has been murdered and disfigured by acid. Mark finds a button from his own jacket near the scene, which triggers fear that he may be implicated in the crime. His nurse Stella advises him to keep quiet until more is known.
Nurse counsels caution
Stella Madden urges Mark not to air suspicions to the police until he has more information. She warns that jumping to conclusions could harm his case and complicate investigations. Mark begins to worry about the implications of his potential involvement.
Duval imprisoned for murder
The police arrest Maria's lover, architect Robert Duval, for the murder. The case intensifies as the investigation zeroes in on possible motives and means. Inspector Gregg continues to keep a close eye on Mark, unsure of his innocence.
Duval's wife seeks exoneration
Duval's disabled wife visits Mark's office to plead for help proving her husband innocent. She believes Duval is being punished unfairly and hopes Mark's expertise with hypnosis or mental clarity can uncover the truth. Mark weighs the delicate balance of professional duty and personal risk.
Duval is convicted
Duval is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death after the trial. The weight of the case piles up around Mark as he contemplates his own possible guilt and begins to seek the truth beneath the surface. Maria's killer remains to be uncovered, and Mark's memory puzzle grows more complex.
Self-hypnosis attempt begins
In a moment of guilt, Mark contemplates hypnotizing himself to determine if he is the real murderer. He begins the session, but Inspector Gregg arrives and interrupts before it can be completed. Stella records the session audio, revealing Mark's account of meeting his wife at a mountain cabin and leaving before Duval arrives.
Recording confirms ongoing doubt
Gregg listens to the recording and continues to doubt Mark's innocence, using the evidence to build a case against Stella and others. Mark remains unsettled, realizing there are deeper conspiracies at play. Stella's account deepens the mystery but also hints at embezzlement within Mark's clinic.
Money trail emerges
Mark visits Duval in prison and learns that the murdered Maria had borrowed $10,000 from him to cover gambling debts. This financial tie complicates the motive and further blurs the lines between justice and temptation. Mark's investigation grows deeper as he follows the money trail.
Stella's stress and a possible plan
Mark talks with Stella, who faints in his office from stress or exhaustion. He contemplates hiring another nurse as secretary to handle bills while he delves into the case, and drives Stella to visit her family to recover. A crucial shift begins as evidence accumulates against multiple suspects.
The climactic reveal and arrest
On the night of Duval's scheduled execution, Mark hypnotizes Stella to uncover who truly killed Maria. Stella confesses that she plotted with Duval to obtain the money and killed Maria when Duval tried to return the funds. She also admits trying to burn down the medical office to cover embezzlement. Gregg overhears and arrests Stella, revealing that he had been gathering evidence rather than truly doubting Mark.
Calling Dr. Death Characters
Explore all characters from Calling Dr. Death (1943). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Dr. Mark Steele (Lon Chaney Jr.)
A respected neurologist who treats patients with hypnosis but is emotionally volatile due to a faltering marriage. He is intelligent and composed, yet his memory becomes unreliable after the weekend, driving him to test his own involvement. He remains morally complex, torn between professional duty and personal turmoil, and his pursuit of truth is complicated by his own mind.
Maria Steele (Ramsay Ames)
Mark's wife, living a comfortable life and engaged in an ongoing affair. She resists divorce, influencing the couple’s volatile dynamic and providing motive in the murder investigation. Her confidence and infidelity complicate perceptions of guilt and blame.
Stella Madden (Patricia Morison)
Mark's nurse who becomes entangled in the murder plot. She assists Mark but is later revealed to be embezzling and involved with Duval, adding layers of deception. Her eventual confession triggers the unraveling of the case.
Inspector Gregg (J. Carrol Naish)
A skeptical detective who questions Mark's alibi and pursues hard evidence. He pieces together clues, listens to recordings, and ultimately arrests Stella, while keeping the possibility that Mark might still be implicated in doubt.
Robert 'Bob' Duval (David Bruce)
An architect and Maria’s lover who has gambled away money and borrowed from Maria. His involvement in the crime and his attempt to secure a pardon become central to the murder investigation and its aftermath.
Calling Dr. Death Settings
Learn where and when Calling Dr. Death (1943) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
City clinic, Mountain cabin
Dr. Mark Steele's private neurological clinic anchors the film, reflecting his status and scientific authority. The mountain cabin later appears as a secluded space where crucial events and confessions surface. The settings contrast clinical precision with intimate, high-stakes drama, highlighting memory, motive, and truth as shifting targets.
Calling Dr. Death Themes
Discover the main themes in Calling Dr. Death (1943). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Memory & Guilt
The plot hinges on Mark's uncertain memory after the weekend, with hypnosis used to probe what he might have done. The doctor’s professional certainty clashes with personal doubt as memories become unreliable. Guilt manifests through memory gaps that threaten to reveal hidden actions. The narrative treats memory as a weapon and a liability.
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Marriage & Infidelity
Maria's affair and her resistance to divorce drive the conflict, exposing fragile trust. Mark’s sense of betrayal collides with professional detachment, fueling suspicion. The couple’s comfortable life contrasts with their emotional fractures. The theme examines how love, jealousy and control shape murderous motives.
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Investigation & Truth
Inspector Gregg pursues the truth as evidence points toward Maria's lover and the web of deception grows. Hypnosis recordings and interrogations become tools to edge toward a definitive account. The film treats truth as elusive, needing solid proof beyond volatile memory. The climax hinges on separating fact from self-deception.
Calling Dr. Death Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Calling Dr. Death (1943). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the hushed corridors of a bustling urban hospital, Dr. Mark Steele moves with the practiced confidence of a neurologist whose life has been built on understanding the mind. His reputation rests on a precise gift: the use of hypnosis to unlock hidden memories for his patients. Yet the steady rhythm of his professional world begins to crack as his personal life unravels, his marriage to Maria fraying under the weight of secrets and unspoken resentment. The film paints this domestic tension with a cool, methodical palette, letting the ordinary details of evening routines hint at something far darker simmering beneath the surface.
When the weekend slips away in a bewildering blackout, Mark awakens to a world that feels both familiar and alien. Fragmented recollections and a disorienting sense of loss set the stage for a psychological puzzle that threatens to upend his identity. The atmosphere grows taut with a lingering dread, as every quiet hallway and reflective surface seems to echo with questions that refuse to settle. This shrouded premise places the audience in the same precarious position as the doctor: unsure of what truly happened, and even more unsure of whom to trust—including himself.
Into this cloud of uncertainty steps his striking nurse, Stella, whose calm professionalism masks a subtle, magnetic pull. She becomes both confidante and catalyst, encouraging Mark to confront the gaps in his memory through the very technique that defines his career. Their interactions crackle with an undercurrent of unspoken desire and professional tension, offering a fragile lifeline as he teeters on the brink of self‑doubt. Meanwhile, the looming presence of law enforcement adds a relentless, procedural counterpoint to the film’s more intimate, introspective mood.
The tone of Calling Dr. Death is a seamless blend of noir‑styled suspense and clinical coolness, wrapped in a stylishly muted aesthetic that mirrors the protagonist’s own attempt to compartmentalize chaos. It invites viewers to linger in the uneasy space where truth is as pliable as a hypnotic suggestion, and where the line between victim and perpetrator blurs under the soft glow of flickering office lights. The result is a compelling, atmosphere‑driven setup that leaves the audience longing for the first glimpse of what lies hidden in the mind’s darkest corners.
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