The Crouching Beast

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The Crouching Beast
The Crouching Beast.jpg
Directed by Victor Hanbury
Written by
Based on The Crouching Beast by Valentine Williams
Produced by John Stafford
Starring
Cinematography James Wilson
Edited by David Lean
Music by Jack Beaver
Production
company
Distributed by RKO Pictures
Release dates
  • 29 August 1935 (1935-08-29)(London)
  • 6 January 1936 (1936-01-06)(UK)
Running time
78 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

The Crouching Beast is a 1935 British war thriller film directed by Victor Hanbury and starring Fritz Kortner, Wynne Gibson and Richard Bird. [1] It was written by L. du Garde Peach based on the 1928 novel The Crouching Beast by Valentine Williams. The film was distributed by the Hollywood studio RKO Pictures in order to fulfil its British quota. However it was considerably more expensive than many of the quota quickies produced by American companies during the era.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Plot

In 1915 during the First World War, a British secret agent is killed while stealing secret Turkish plans for the Gallipoli Campaign. Before his death, the British agent manages to pass his information to an American journalist. Travelling to Constantinople, she manages to make contact with the British network, but the ruthless head of Turkish intelligence is close on her trail.

Cast

Production

The films was shot at Welwyn Studios with sets designed by the art director Duncan Sutherland. [2]

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A film which misses through redundant episodes, poor dialogue, and indifferent acting, the pace and excitement which it might have had. ... Nobody minds a familiar story if it is told effectively and with some distinction; here the fine acting and appearance of Fritz Kortner is negatived by the very English Turks, the very English young German officer, and the cardboard settings of cafe´ and street life. Wynne Gibson is not well cast for the snappy journalist, ready for adventure and risk. It is fair entertainment and would have been better without the occasional attempts at humour." [3]

Picture Show wrote: "The menacing figure of 'Clubfoot' loses much of his menace in this somewhat highly coloured melodrama, which shows him completely outwitted by American girl and an Englishman. ... Story suffers from its direction, which does not make most of situations and thrills." [4]

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References

  1. ↑ "The Crouching Beast". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  2. ↑ Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939 (PDF). British Film Institute. p. 85.
  3. ↑ "The Crouching Beast" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 2 (13): 122. 1 January 1935. ProQuest   1305803381 – via ProQuest.
  4. ↑ "The Crouching Beast" . Picture Show . 34 (871): 19. 11 January 1936. ProQuest   1880315479 – via ProQuest.


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