Narcotic (1933)

As the opening scroll tells us, Narcotic was "presented in the hope that the public may become aware of the terrific struggle to rid the world of drug addiction." The movie itself is a ... See full summary »

Directors:

Dwain Esper, Vival Sodar't

Writers:

A.J. Karnopp (story), Hildegarde Stadie (screenplay),

Stars:

Harry Cording, Joan Dix, Patricia Farley

Cast

Cast overview:
Harry Cording	...	Dr. William G. Davis
Joan Dix	...	Mrs. Davies
Patricia Farley	...	Mae
Jean Lacy	...	Lena (as Jean Lacey)
J. Stuart Blackton Jr.	...	Gee Wu
Paul Panzer	...	Cashier
Miami Alvarez	...	Drug addict
Charles Bennett	...	Hand wrestler
Josef Swickard	...	Federal narcotics agent

Storyline

As the opening scroll tells us, Narcotic was "presented in the hope that the public may become aware of the terrific struggle to rid the world of drug addiction." The movie itself is a salacious plunge into a world of sordid pleasures. It tells us the story of Dr. William G. Davies, an infamous snake-oil salesman who started his career as a promising medical student. In the opening sequence he saves an unborn baby by performing a cesarean operation after the mother was killed in an automobile accident. Stock medical footage shows a woman's stomach being sliced open like a ripe watermelon and the baby popping out like a jack-in-a-box. But the allure of opium proves too strong for the doctor to resist. After a single night of relaxation in a Chinatown opium den, Davies becomes a slave to drugs. As his medical practice deteriorates, he shifts his attention to "selling medicine by demonstration." He says to his nurse/fiancee, "I can't see anything wrong if my preparation has merit." ...

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Plot Keywords:

party | drug addiction | opium | opium den | opium addict | 

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Taglines:

One night of bliss... A thousand nights of hell..!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Narcotic Racket

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,900 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer Hildegarde Stadie based the script on true events. She had gone on tour with a great uncle as a little girl when he worked the medicine show circuit selling the elixir Tiger Fat. The film is actually considered to be a very accurate and unexaggerated retelling of his life.

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Goofs

In the close-up of Davies after he forces the man out of his house, the edge of the mike dips into the shot and hovers above his head.

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Quotes

Davies' Date: The marihuana cigarettes are mine.
Drug addict: Well, don't smoke too many, or you might get The Ding.

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Connections

Featured in American Grindhouse (2010)

User Reviews

unrealistic, but interesting example of exploitation genre

From the obviously Caucasian 'Chinaman' who introduces opium to the protagonist, to the patently absurd narcotics party scene, this film makes little attempt at realism, belying its claim that it accurately depicts the scourge of heroin addiction. Disguised as a public service type of message, it instead seeks to titillate the viewer, and is in this sense exploitive, prurient for its day, and intellectually dishonest.

Nice background music, though, including passages from Wagner's Gatterdammerung and Schubert's Unfinished Symphony.