The Outsider *** (1939, George Sanders, Mary Maguire, Frederick Leister, Peter Murray-Hill, Barbara Blair, Walter Hudd, Kathleen Harrison) – Classic Movie Review 13,522

The 1939 British drama film The Outsider stars George Sanders as an infamous osteopath who invents a machine that miraculously cures one of his disabled patients he has fallen in love with.

Director Paul L Stein’s 1939 British drama film The Outsider stars George Sanders, Mary Maguire, Frederick Leister, Peter Murray-Hill, Barbara Blair, Walter Hudd, and Kathleen Harrison.

The 1939 The Outsider is a better-cast and more plushly produced remake of the 1931 film The Outsider, based on a 1923 play by Dorothy Brandon, with George Sanders on typically fine form in the role of the dubious doctor Anton Ragatzy, a controversial osteopath who invents a machine that will either cure the patients permanently or leave them disabled forever.

He uses the machine on a reluctant Lalage “Lally” Sturdee (Mary Maguire), the disabled daughter of a real doctor, a famous surgeon (Frederick Leister), that miraculously helps to get back on her feet, meanwhile falling in love with her, though she is in love with Basil (Peter Murray-Hill).

Cinematographer Günther Krampf lenses both versions.

The film is shot at Elstree Studios.

The sets are designed by Cedric Dawe.

The cast are George Sanders, Mary Maguire, Frederick Leister, Peter Murray-Hill, Barbara Blair, Walter Hudd, Kathleen Harrison, P Kynaston Reeves, Edmond Breon, Ralph Truman, and Roddy McDowall.

The Outsider is directed by Paul L Stein, runs 90 minutes, is made and released by Associated British Picture Corporation, is written by Dudley Leslie, is shot in black and white by Günther Krampf, is produced by Walter C Mycroft, is scored by Kenneth Leslie-Smith, and is designed by Cedric Dawe.

Release date: 30 January 1939.

Austrian and British film director Paul L Stein’s 30-year career started with the 1920 German silent drama Intrigue starring Pola Negri and ended with The Twenty Questions Murder Mystery (1950).

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,522

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