Maria Marten or Murder in the Red Barn
Encyclopedia
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.
) before burying her body beneath the barn floor.
1935 in film
-Events:*Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .*Seven year old Shirley Temple wins a special Academy Award.*The Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment started in order to educate the Bantu peoples.-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:...
British film melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
film starring Tod Slaughter
Tod Slaughter
Tod Slaughter was an English actor, best known for playing over-the-top maniacs in macabre film adaptations of Victorian melodramas.-Ealy life:...
and Eric Portman
Eric Portman
Eric Portman was a distinguished English stage and film actor...
. It was directed by Milton Rosmer
Milton Rosmer
Milton Rosmer was a British actor, film director and screenwriter. He was born in Southport, Lancashire on 4 November 1881. He made his screen debut in the 1916 film The Mystery of a Hansom Cab and continued to act in film and television until 1956...
, whose most famous film was the English-language version of Emil and the Detectives
Emil and the Detectives
Emil and the Detectives is a 1929 novel for children set mainly in Berlin, by the German writer Erich Kästner. It was Kästner's first major success, the only one of his pre-1945 works to escape Nazi censorship, and remains his best-known work, and has been translated into at least 59 languages...
that same year. It is based on the true story of the 1827 Red Barn Murder
Red Barn Murder
The Red Barn Murder was a notorious murder committed in Polstead, Suffolk, England, in 1827. A young woman, Maria Marten, was shot dead by her lover, William Corder. The two had arranged to meet at the Red Barn, a local landmark, before eloping to Ipswich. Maria was never heard from again...
. 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
George King (film director)
George King was an English actors' agent, film director, producer and screenplay writer. He helmed several of Tod Slaughter's melodramas, including 1936's The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.-Career:...
. 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.
Plot summary
Tod Slaughter, in his film debut, plays the wicked Squire Corder who seduces then murders innocent country maiden Maria Marten (Sophie StewartSophie Stewart
Sophie Stewart was a British actress. She was born in Crieff, Perthshire on 5 March 1908. Died 1977. In 1937 she starred in Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel as Lady Blakeney.She was married to the actor Ellis Irving.-Selected filmography:...
) before burying her body beneath the barn floor.
Cast
- Tod SlaughterTod SlaughterTod Slaughter was an English actor, best known for playing over-the-top maniacs in macabre film adaptations of Victorian melodramas.-Ealy life:...
as Squire William Corder - Sophie StewartSophie StewartSophie Stewart was a British actress. She was born in Crieff, Perthshire on 5 March 1908. Died 1977. In 1937 she starred in Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel as Lady Blakeney.She was married to the actor Ellis Irving.-Selected filmography:...
as Maria Marten - D. J. WilliamsD. J. Williams (actor)D. J. Williams was a British actor. He also directed one film, The Shuttle of Life, which starred Evelyn Brent.-Selected filmography:* Look Up and Laugh * Scrooge * Captain Bill * Silver Blaze...
as Farmer Thomas Marten - Eric PortmanEric PortmanEric Portman was a distinguished English stage and film actor...
as Carlos, the gypsy - Clare GreetClare GreetClare Greet was an English film actress. She appeared in 26 films between 1921 and 1939, including six films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.She was born in England and died in London....
as Mrs. Marten - Gerard Tyrell as Timothy Winterbottom
- Ann TrevorAnn Trevor-Selected filmography:* Wuthering Heights * Daniel Deronda * A Tale of Two Cities * A Rogue in Love * Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn -External links:...
as Nan, the maid - Stella Rho as Gypsey Crone
- Dennis HoeyDennis HoeyDennis Hoey was a British film and stage actor, best known for playing Inspector Lestrade in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. He played the Master of Harrow in The Foxes of Harrow and appeared in Tarzan and the Leopard Woman. After a career as a singer, Hoey moved to acting on the stage in...
as Gambling Winner - Quentin McPhearson as Matthew Sennett
- Antonia BroughAntonia Brough-Selected filmography:* The Farmer's Wife * Under the Greenwood Tree * Spanish Eyes * Song of Soho * Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn * Dandy Dick...
as Maud Sennett - Noel Dainton as Officer Steele of the Bow Street Runners