- Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn
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Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn Directed by Milton Rosmer Produced by George King (producer) Written by Randall Faye (writer) Starring See below Music by Leo T. Croke Cinematography George Stretton Editing by Charles Saunders Release date(s) 18 August 1936 Running time 70 minutes
58 minutes (Ontario, Canada)Country UK Language English Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn is a 1935 British film melodrama film starring Tod Slaughter and Eric Portman. It was directed by Milton Rosmer, whose most famous film was the English-language version of Emil and the Detectives that same year. It is based on the true story of the 1827 Red Barn Murder. The film is also known as Murder in the Red Barn (short UK title).
The film is based on the popular 19th century melodramas about the case and is highly theatrical, with an opening in which all the characters are introduced by a Master of Ceremonies in front of a painted backdrop, but is also slightly more lavishly produced and cinematically inventive than the later films directed by Tod Slaughter's producer George King. Slaughter gives a full-throated over-the-top performance in a calculatedly melodramatic style, encouraging the audience to vicariously share in his villainy; this approach became his trademark and gives his films a cult status of their own peculiar kind.
Contents
Plot summary
Tod Slaughter, in his film debut, plays the wicked Squire Corder who seduces then murders innocent country maiden Maria Marten (Sophie Stewart) before burying her body beneath the barn floor.
Cast
- Tod Slaughter as Squire William Corder
- Sophie Stewart as Maria Marten
- D. J. Williams as Farmer Thomas Marten
- Eric Portman as Carlos, the gypsy
- Clare Greet as Mrs. Marten
- Gerard Tyrell as Timothy Winterbottom
- Ann Trevor as Nan, the maid
- Stella Rho as Gypsey Crone
- Dennis Hoey as Gambling Winner
- Quentin McPhearson as Matthew Sennett
- Antonia Brough as Maud Sennett
- Noel Dainton as Officer Steele of the Bow Street Runners
Soundtrack
External links
- Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn at the Internet Movie Database
- Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
The films of Milton Rosmer 1920s Balaclava (1928)1930s Dreyfus (1931) • The Perfect Lady (1931) • Many Waters (1931) • Dr. Josser, K.C. (1931) • After the Ball (1932) • Channel Crossing (1933) • The Secret of the Loch (1934) • What Happened to Harkness? (1934) • Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn (1935) • Emil and the Detectives (1935) • The Guv'nor (1935) • Everything Is Thunder (1936) • The Great Barrier (1937) • The Challenge (1938)Categories:- English-language films
- 1935 films
- British films
- Thriller films
- 1930s crime films
- 1930s drama films
- Black-and-white films
- Films directed by Milton Rosmer
- Thriller film stubs
- 1930s drama film stubs
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