A man poisons his nephew out of desperation for money.A man poisons his nephew out of desperation for money.A man poisons his nephew out of desperation for money.
- Awards
- 1 win
Crauford Kent
- Broker
- (uncredited)
C. Montague Shaw
- Mr. Edwards
- (uncredited)
Carl Stockdale
- Jailer
- (uncredited)
Harry Stubbs
- Mr. Evans
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York on 30 September 1931 at the Lyceum Theater, 149 W. 45th St. and ran for 70 performances. Charles Laughton originated the role of William Marble. Also in the cast were Elsa Lanchester and Lionel Pape. Originally produced in the "pre-code" era, five dialogue cuts to remove suggestive remarks were made for the picture's 1939 re-release. Some censors eliminated references to cyanide before allowing the showing of the movie. Turner Classic Movies airs the original uncensored version, which has been preserved by the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.
- GoofsIn the final scene, a boom-mike shadow catches William Marble's last words and then pulls up and out of the shot.
- Quotes
Marguerite Collins: Here I am, tied to a little shop. Ah well. We must try to smile, eh? But it is lonely. My husband is in a hospital in France. The war.
William Marble: Where was he wounded?
Marguerite Collins: Ohhh...
[shakes head]
Marguerite Collins: . That I cannot tell you. Oh, it is terrible!
Featured review
Charles Laughton Misbehaves
After committing a horrible murder, an insolvent bank clerk finds the PAYMENT DEFERRED on his crime in the most surprising matter.
Reprising his stage role, Charles Laughton, all fidgets & blinks, is the main reason to view this little film. He overacts outrageously and is vastly entertaining to watch, even if the plot of this domestic melodrama becomes turgid at times. With his large face, sad eyes & nervous body, he is the very picture of a man dealing with a terribly guilty conscience. Cooing like a dove, roused to brutish wrath or laughing maniacally, Laughton is certainly never boring. With his great film roles still ahead of him (Henry VIII, Bligh, Quasimodo), Laughton in this early role shows hints of his eventual greatness.
The rest of the cast really defer to Laughton, but they all play their parts very well, especially Dorothy Peterson as his long-suffering wife - her emotional agony as Laughton's secrets slowly dawn upon her are truly painful to watch. Maureen O'Sullivan shows spunk as their social climbing daughter; Verree Teasdale is pure poison as a French seductress.
Billy Bevan as a nosy neighbor, Halliwell Hobbes as an old fellow fascinated with crime, and young Ray Milland as Laughton's charming, tragic nephew all make their small roles memorable.
The frankly handled adultery points to the film's pre-Production Code status.
Reprising his stage role, Charles Laughton, all fidgets & blinks, is the main reason to view this little film. He overacts outrageously and is vastly entertaining to watch, even if the plot of this domestic melodrama becomes turgid at times. With his large face, sad eyes & nervous body, he is the very picture of a man dealing with a terribly guilty conscience. Cooing like a dove, roused to brutish wrath or laughing maniacally, Laughton is certainly never boring. With his great film roles still ahead of him (Henry VIII, Bligh, Quasimodo), Laughton in this early role shows hints of his eventual greatness.
The rest of the cast really defer to Laughton, but they all play their parts very well, especially Dorothy Peterson as his long-suffering wife - her emotional agony as Laughton's secrets slowly dawn upon her are truly painful to watch. Maureen O'Sullivan shows spunk as their social climbing daughter; Verree Teasdale is pure poison as a French seductress.
Billy Bevan as a nosy neighbor, Halliwell Hobbes as an old fellow fascinated with crime, and young Ray Milland as Laughton's charming, tragic nephew all make their small roles memorable.
The frankly handled adultery points to the film's pre-Production Code status.
helpful•242
- Ron Oliver
- Feb 25, 2001
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $197,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content