BEWARE: SPOILERS ABOUND!! Not a perfect film, but moments are absolutely incredible. Talk about being ahead of your censors in 1935.
The story is one that the censors at the time probably would not want to have told. An older man (played by Slaughter) has a "one night stand" with a woman who looks at least twenty years his junior (the character of Maria Marten). He promises the young girl marriage, but on the brink of ruin, decides to marry a rich woman instead. A few months later, Maria finds she's pregnant, and unable to hide the fact anymore. Her father reacts, in perfect melodramatic fashion, by turning her out into the streets. Maria forces Slaughter into a compromising position, and what's left to do? But kill her of course! The rest IS the story.
Now, with that behind us, let me say this story is predictable, the direction for the most part is simple, the acting melodramatic, and the sound engineering is sub par. So now you ask yourself, why did I give the film 9/10 rating? The answer is simple: SLAUGHTER. Simply because of his perfect execution of the oft-overlooked performances of magnificent melodramatic villainy.
The scene with the burial of Maria Marten made me realize that George King's lackluster direction may have all been a set-up for this scene. It's not extraordinary, it simply establishes a perfect atmosphere for Slaughter's performance. This scene is only seconded by the "digging up" scene that comes later, where Slaughter really bares his acting chops!
Really worth seeing for Slaughter, but the story, which on the surface is quite simple, really comes to life in the last twenty minutes was left wandering what was coming next. Worth the watch!
9/10 stars!
The story is one that the censors at the time probably would not want to have told. An older man (played by Slaughter) has a "one night stand" with a woman who looks at least twenty years his junior (the character of Maria Marten). He promises the young girl marriage, but on the brink of ruin, decides to marry a rich woman instead. A few months later, Maria finds she's pregnant, and unable to hide the fact anymore. Her father reacts, in perfect melodramatic fashion, by turning her out into the streets. Maria forces Slaughter into a compromising position, and what's left to do? But kill her of course! The rest IS the story.
Now, with that behind us, let me say this story is predictable, the direction for the most part is simple, the acting melodramatic, and the sound engineering is sub par. So now you ask yourself, why did I give the film 9/10 rating? The answer is simple: SLAUGHTER. Simply because of his perfect execution of the oft-overlooked performances of magnificent melodramatic villainy.
The scene with the burial of Maria Marten made me realize that George King's lackluster direction may have all been a set-up for this scene. It's not extraordinary, it simply establishes a perfect atmosphere for Slaughter's performance. This scene is only seconded by the "digging up" scene that comes later, where Slaughter really bares his acting chops!
Really worth seeing for Slaughter, but the story, which on the surface is quite simple, really comes to life in the last twenty minutes was left wandering what was coming next. Worth the watch!
9/10 stars!