Crime and Punishment *** (1935, Edward Arnold, Peter Lorre, Marian Marsh) – Classic Movie Review 10,221

Josef Von Sternberg brings his customary eye for moody atmosphere to the 1935 crime drama Crime and Punishment, his film of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 1866 novel, and he is abetted by electrifying performances from Peter Lorre, oozing guilt as the law student Raskolnikov haunted by a murder he has committed and Edward Arnold as the cunning Inspector Porfiry.

There is also a splendid cameo from Mrs Patrick Campbell as the viciously unscrupulous pawnbroker Raskolnikov kills after she degrades a prostitute.

Unfortunately the rest of the acting is not in this category and poor Marian Marsh is at a loss as the desperate prostitute Sonya whom Raskolnikov (Lorre) falls for.

Lucien Ballard’s luminous black and white photography is the other main asset.

The screenplay is by S K Lauren and Joseph Anthony.

Also in the cast are Tala Birell, Elisabeth Risdon, Mrs Patrick Campbell, Douglass Dumbrille, Robert Allen, Gene Lockhart, Charles Waldron, Thurston Hall, Johnny Arthur, Rafaela Ottuno and Michael Mark.

Von Sternberg disliked the film, recalling it was ‘no more related to the true text of the novel than the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Gower is related to the Russian environment.’

It was shot at Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios, 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood.

Crime and Punishment is directed by Josef Von Sternberg, runs 88 minutes, is made by B P Schulberg Productions and Columbia Pictures, released by Columbia Pictures (1935) (US) and Columbia Pictures Corporation (1935) (UK), is written by S K Lauren and Joseph Anthony, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel, is shot in black and white by Lucien Ballard, is produced by B P Schulberg, is scored by Louis Silvers (music and musical director) and R H Bassett, and is designed by Stephen Goosson.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,221

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