• Source: The Moonstone (1934 film)

      • The Moonstone is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Reginald Barker and starring David Manners, Phyllis Barry, Gustav von Seyffertitz and Jameson Thomas. It is an adaptation of the 1868 novel The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. The film retains the book's British location, but uses a contemporary 1930s setting rather than the Victorian era of the original. It is one of three film versions of the novel, which include silent versions in 1915 and 1909, although a number of television and radio adaptations have been made.


      Plot summary


      As with the book, the film is based around the Herncastle Moonstone, a valuable diamond from India. The plot differs from the original on several particulars, however. Inspector Cuff is commissioned by Scotland Yard to ensure that the Moonstone, which has just arrived in the country, is kept safe. The Moonstone is in the possession of Franklin Blake, who arrives at the Vandier Manor to deliver the jewel to his fiancée Ann Verinder. He is accompanied by his Hindu servant Yandoo, who is an original character for the film. Anne places the diamond under her pillow; as she sleeps, it is stolen.
      Inspector Cuff arrives and begins to interrogate the various suspects. Differences from the book include changing the gender of Gabriel Betteredge and turning Godfrey Ablewhite into an antiquarian book collector. Sir John Verinder, an amalgamation of the book's Lady Verinder and Doctor Candy, eventually reveals that he had drugged Blake's drink on the night of the theft. When Cuff arranges to repeat this incident, Blake's sleepwalking reveals that he had been intercepted by Godfrey Ablewhite. Travelling to London, Cuff is able to arrest Ablewhite as he attempts to sell the diamond.


      Cast


      David Manners as Franklyn Blake
      Phyllis Barry as Ann Verinder
      Gustav von Seyffertitz as Carl Von Lucker
      Jameson Thomas as Godfrey Ablewhite
      Herbert Bunston as Sir John Verinder
      Charles Irwin as Inspector Cuff
      Elspeth Dudgeon as Betteredge, Housekeeper
      John Davidson as Yandoo
      Claude King as Sir Basil Wynard
      Olaf Hytten as Dr. Ezra Jennings
      Evalyn Bostock as Roseanna Spearman, Maid
      Fred Walton as Henry the Butler
      John Power as The Driver
      Harold Entwistle as Sutter
      A.C. Henderson as Robbin


      Production


      The film was made by Monogram Studios, one of the smaller Hollywood outfits often known collectively as Poverty Row. The adaptation of a prestigious British Victorian novel marked a break from their usual films which were generally cheaply made American-set Westerns. To fit the story into a limited running time, large amounts of the original novel are dropped from the adaptation.


      References




      Bibliography


      Reid, John H. B Movies, Bad Movies, Good Movies. Lulu Press, 2004.


      External links


      The Moonstone at IMDb
      The Moonstone is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive

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