The Walking Dead (1936)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Ewart Adamson (screen play) &
Peter Milne (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 March 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

BACK FROM THE DEAD! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

After hapless pianist and ex-con John Elman is framed for murder, he is resurrected by a scientist after his execution.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Trial | Racketeer | Execution | Pianist

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	John Ellman
Ricardo Cortez	...	Nolan
Edmund Gwenn	...	Dr. Beaumont
Marguerite Churchill	...	Nancy
Warren Hull	...	Jimmy
Barton MacLane	...	Loder
Henry O'Neill	...	Werner
Joe King	...	Judge Shaw (as Joseph King)
Addison Richards	...	Prison Warden
Paul Harvey	...	Blackstone
Robert Strange	...	Merritt
Joe Sawyer	...	Trigger (as Joseph Sawyer)
Eddie Acuff	...	Betcha
Kenneth Harlan	...	Stephen Martin
Miki Morita	...	Sako
Ruth Robinson	...	Mrs. Shaw
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brandon Beach	...	Second Guest (uncredited)
George Beranger	...	Nolan's Butler (uncredited)
Wade Boteler	...	Cellist's Guard (uncredited)
Tom Brower	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
James P. Burtis	...	Guard Who Answers Phone Too Late (uncredited)
Edwin J. Carlie	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	...	Man in Courtroom (uncredited)
Lucille Collins	...	Courtroom Woman Dodging 'Betcha' (uncredited)
Frank Darien	...	Cemetery Caretaker (uncredited)
Sarah Edwards	...	Female Doctor - Guest at Party (uncredited)
Bill Elliott	...	First American Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Carl Faulkner	...	Warden at Execution (uncredited)
Edward Gargan	...	Guard Sitting Outside Warden's Office (uncredited)
Malcolm Graham	...	Third Guest (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins	...	Trial Reporter (uncredited)
Harry Hollingsworth	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Fred Hueston	...	Fourth Guest (uncredited)
Paul Irving	...	First Guest (uncredited)
Boyd Irwin	...	British Doctor (uncredited)
John Kelly	...	Joe - Merritt's Bodyguard (uncredited)
Crauford Kent	...	British Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Larry Kent	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Richard Kipling	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Isabel La Mal	...	Sob Sister (uncredited)
Charles Marsh	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Florist (uncredited)
Nick Moro	...	Convict (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Juror (uncredited)
Spec O'Donnell	...	Copy Boy (uncredited)
Paul Panzer	...	Man in Courtroom (uncredited)
Jean Perry	...	French Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
James Pierce	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Lee Prather	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Harrington Reynolds	...	English Doctor (uncredited)
Sam Rice	...	Counterman (uncredited)
John J. Richardson	...	Man Leaving First Trial (uncredited)
Syd Saylor	...	Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Tom Schamp	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Courtroom Man Dodging 'Betcha' (uncredited)
Edgar Sherrod	...	Prison Chaplain (uncredited)
Eddie Shubert	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Billy Wayne	...	Trusty (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Man in Courtroom (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Curtiz

Writing credits
Ewart Adamson		(screen play) &
Peter Milne		(screen play) and
Robert Hardy Andrews		(screen play) (as Robert Andrews) and
Lillie Hayward		(screen play)
Ewart Adamson		(story) and
Joseph Fields		(story)

Produced by
Louis F. Edelman	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Hal Mohr		(photography)

Film Editing by
Thomas Pratt		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Hugh Reticker

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Russell Saunders	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Irving Rapper	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.) (A Warner Bros. Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1936) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1936) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. First National Films (1937) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros (1944) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Dominant Pictures Corporation (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1936) | USA:Approved (PCA #1812)

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The accident scene was shot in Griffith Park.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When they lower the glass box over the "dead" Karloff, before he is resuscitated, his right eye blinks.

Quotes:

John Ellman:But you can't kill me for something I didn't do! You can't!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in One for the Fire: The Legacy of 'Night of the Living Dead' (2008)

EDMUND GWENN TRIES TO HELP BORIS KARLOFF!

Gangster's led by Nolan (Ricardo Cortez) want to have a local law abiding judge killed, in doing so, they frame an ex-con, John Ellman (Boris Karloff) for the murder. Nolan acts as Ellman's lawyer and makes certain he is convicted and executed in the electric chair. Dr. Beaumont(Edmund Gwenn), a scientist is able to restore life to dead animals and seeks permission to try reviving Ellman's dead body. Dr. Beaumont is successful in restoring Ellman back to life. Boris Karloff goes on a killing rampage, running through graveyards making this picture very melodramatic with its black and white setting. Edmund Gwenn (Santa Claus in "Miracle on 42nd Street) gives a very dramatic performance doing his very best to help Karloff. There is a great supporting cast with Marguerite Churchill, Warren Hull, Barton MacLane and Joseph Sawyer. This is truly a great Classic film.