The Mad Genius
“Cruel passions! Mad longings! A monster playing with the souls of his fellow beings!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Mad Genius - Original Theatrical TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-10-24
Top Cast
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John Barrymore
Vladimar Ivan Tsarakov
Marian Marsh
Nana Carlova
Charles Butterworth
Karimsky
Donald Cook
Fedor Ivanoff
Luis Alberni
Sergei Bankieff
Carmel Myers
Sonya Preskoya
André Luguet
Count Robert Renaud
Frankie Darro
Fedor as a Boy
Chester A. Bachman
Poster Hanger (uncredited)
Charles Brinley
Poster Hanger (uncredited)
Boris Karloff
Fedor's Father (uncredited)
Mae Madison
Olga Chekova (uncredited)
Walter Miller
Opera Spectator (uncredited)
Lee Moran
Montmartre Cabaret Director (uncredited)
Charles Williams
Stagehand (uncredited)
Harry Wilson
Curtain Man (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 7, 1931
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Michael Curtiz
- Screenplay & Story
- Harvey F. Thew, J. Grubb Alexander
- Original Score
- David Mendoza
- Original Title
- The Mad Genius
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 21m
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Michael Curtiz
Harvey F. Thew, J. Grubb Alexander, Martin Brown
David Mendoza
Barney McGill
Ralph Dawson
Department Leadership Roster
Harvey F. Thew
Screenplay
J. Grubb Alexander
Screenplay
Michael Curtiz
Director
David Mendoza
Original Music Composer
Barney McGill
Director of Photography
Earl Luick
Costume Design
Ralph Dawson
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Mad Genius.
Featured In Curated Collections
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THE EXCEEDINGLY-ASTOUNDING MONDO-AWESOME FLICKERS PROJECT 2016 😲😇♠️
Here's to Sweet 16 -- 2016, that is. And for more magnificent movie watchin' with yet another go at keeping track of all the films I watch this year. This time around, the title of 2016's list was invented by AngelAce.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Mad Genius
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Mad Genius about?
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.
Who directed The Mad Genius?
The Mad Genius was directed by Michael Curtiz.
Who stars in The Mad Genius?
The principal cast of The Mad Genius includes John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, Charles Butterworth, Donald Cook, Luis Alberni.
When was The Mad Genius released and how long is it?
The Mad Genius was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 1h 21m.
Who composed the musical score for The Mad Genius?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Mad Genius was composed by David Mendoza.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Mad Genius?
The Mad Genius holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).