Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

An American Tragedy

  • 19311931
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
825
YOUR RATING
An American Tragedy (1931)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Romance
A poor factory worker, employed by a wealthy uncle, falls in love with a beautiful heiress but his happiness and promising future are jeopardized by a previous affair with a coworker he impr... Read allA poor factory worker, employed by a wealthy uncle, falls in love with a beautiful heiress but his happiness and promising future are jeopardized by a previous affair with a coworker he impregnated.A poor factory worker, employed by a wealthy uncle, falls in love with a beautiful heiress but his happiness and promising future are jeopardized by a previous affair with a coworker he impregnated.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
825
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Josef von Sternberg
  • Writers
    • Theodore Dreiser(novel)
    • Samuel Hoffenstein(screenplay)
    • Josef von Sternberg(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Phillips Holmes
    • Sylvia Sidney
    • Frances Dee
Top credits
  • Director
    • Josef von Sternberg
  • Writers
    • Theodore Dreiser(novel)
    • Samuel Hoffenstein(screenplay)
    • Josef von Sternberg(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Phillips Holmes
    • Sylvia Sidney
    • Frances Dee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos53

    Phillips Holmes and Sylvia Sidney in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Frances Dee and Phillips Holmes in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes and Sylvia Sidney in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes and Sylvia Sidney in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes, Charles Middleton, and Irving Pichel in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Frances Dee and Phillips Holmes in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes and Sylvia Sidney in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes in An American Tragedy (1931)
    Phillips Holmes and Sylvia Sidney in An American Tragedy (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Phillips Holmes
    Phillips Holmes
    • Clyde Griffithsas Clyde Griffiths
    Sylvia Sidney
    Sylvia Sidney
    • Roberta Aldenas Roberta Alden
    Frances Dee
    Frances Dee
    • Sondra Finchleyas Sondra Finchley
    Irving Pichel
    Irving Pichel
    • District Attorney Orville Masonas District Attorney Orville Mason
    Frederick Burton
    Frederick Burton
    • Samuel Griffithsas Samuel Griffiths
    Claire McDowell
    Claire McDowell
    • Mrs. Samuel Griffithsas Mrs. Samuel Griffiths
    Wallace Middleton
    • Gilbert Griffithsas Gilbert Griffiths
    Emmett Corrigan
    Emmett Corrigan
    • Belknapas Belknap
    Charles Middleton
    Charles Middleton
    • Jephsonas Jephson
    • (as Charles B. Middleton)
    Lucille La Verne
    Lucille La Verne
    • Mrs. Asa Griffithsas Mrs. Asa Griffiths
    Al Hart
    Al Hart
    • Titus Aldenas Titus Alden
    • (as Albert Hart)
    Fanny Midgley
    • Mrs. Titus Aldenas Mrs. Titus Alden
    Arnold Korff
    Arnold Korff
    • Judgeas Judge
    Russ Powell
    Russ Powell
    • Coroner Fred Heitas Coroner Fred Heit
    • (as Russell Powell)
    William Bailey
    William Bailey
    • Reporter in Courtroomas Reporter in Courtroom
    • (uncredited)
    Ed Brady
    Ed Brady
    • Train Brakemanas Train Brakeman
    • (uncredited)
    Martin Cichy
    Martin Cichy
    • Courtroom Spectatoras Courtroom Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Cramer
    Richard Cramer
    • Deputy Sheriff Krautas Deputy Sheriff Kraut
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Josef von Sternberg
    • Writers
      • Theodore Dreiser(novel)
      • Samuel Hoffenstein(screenplay)
      • Josef von Sternberg(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Cheat
    6.3
    The Cheat
    The Devil Is Driving
    6.2
    The Devil Is Driving
    Ladies' Man
    5.7
    Ladies' Man
    This Day and Age
    6.4
    This Day and Age
    Million Dollar Legs
    6.9
    Million Dollar Legs
    This Is the Night
    6.7
    This Is the Night
    The Virtuous Sin
    5.6
    The Virtuous Sin
    Hot Saturday
    6.6
    Hot Saturday
    International House
    6.9
    International House
    Kiss and Make-Up
    6.0
    Kiss and Make-Up
    Torch Singer
    6.7
    Torch Singer
    Murders in the Zoo
    6.5
    Murders in the Zoo

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Theodore Dreiser sued Paramount for misrepresenting his novel by transforming it into an ordinary murder story. The judge ruled in favor of Paramount; Dreiser's motion to prevent release of the film was denied.
    • Goofs
      The first day of the defense's case is stated in a newspaper article to be in October, but the day-by-day calendar in the courtroom indicates it is November.
    • Crazy credits
      The credits appear on the surface of a lake. When each set has been up long enough to read it, a stone falls into the water and the credits dissolve.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Horse Feathers (1932)
    • Soundtracks
      Some of These Days
      (1910) (uncredited)

      Music and Lyrics by Shelton Brooks

      Variations played over opening credits

      Sung by boys and girls at the lake

    User reviews32

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    AN American TRAGEDY (Josef von Sternberg, 1931) ***
    A classic American novel (by Theodore Dreiser) that was twice brought to the screen by master film-makers but, while both were reasonably well-received (the second – George Stevens' A PLACE IN THE SUN {1951} – being even allotted 'masterpiece' status in some quarters), they were also criticized for failing to bring out the essence of their source material! For the record, I had watched the latter version ages ago but will be following this one with it – so, a direct comparison will certainly prove interesting; incidentally, I own two copies of the rare 1931 film and, while I obviously watched the one with superior image quality (acquired only hours prior to the viewing!), I still had to contend with a muffled soundtrack that occasionally rendered the dialogue unintelligible.

    Anyway, Sternberg was deemed the wrong director for this subject matter and, to be honest, the plot does feel somewhat dreary here – though the climactic trial undeniably compels attention (with the film's "Pre-Code" vintage being identified via a discussion of the soon-to-be taboo subject of abortion!). Incidentally, I have just stumbled upon the script which the great Soviet film-maker Sergei M. Eisenstein supplied, since he had previously been entrusted with the project for his American debut – which would subsequently never come to pass! Again, it would be fascinating to evaluate the two versions side-by-side but I do not have the time to go through the latter right now; if anything, I would love to check out Sternberg's celebrated autobiography "Fun In A Chinese Laundry" (which I also recently got hold of) to go along with my current retrospective of his work!

    As was Sternberg's fashion, the visual aspect of the film rather eclipses narrative concerns. Though the contemporary setting here precludes his usual emphasis on ornate sets and expressive lighting, he still employed one of Hollywood's most renowned cameramen in Lee Garmes (especially noteworthy are the ripple effect throughout the opening credits and his trademark use of sustained dissolves during scene transitions). On his part, the latter managed to externalize the protagonist's conflicted feelings by way of the various milieux in which he moved: mission, factory, hotels, high-society circles, country-side, courtroom and, finally, prison.

    This was just as well because stiff leading man Phillips Holmes (who looks an awful lot like Andy Warhol "superstar" Joe Dallesandro!) seems overwhelmed by the complexities of the role, which rather compromises audience identification with his plight! Incidentally, the script's attempt to pass this off as a problem picture was bizarre, to say the least – that said, the whole moralistic angle (which I do not think is present in the 1951 adaptation) led to a predictably serene conclusion, in which the anti-hero accepts the meting out of justice as his only possible fate. Even so, Dreiser was dissatisfied with how the film turned out (apparently ignoring the potent sociological element, he objected to the script's focus on the murder investigation) and took Paramount to court!; though his arguments were ultimately overruled, the studio still ordered considerable re-shoots…and, ironically, it was now Sternberg's turn to express dismay and he even went so far as to disown the released version!

    One of the two women with whom the protagonist is involved is played by Sylvia Sidney (this was made the same year her brief major period – including films for Mamoulian, Vidor, Lang, Hitchcock and Wyler – kicked off): she is excellent, with some even suggesting the actress deserved an Oscar for it!; her death scene is very similar to the botched murder attempt, also occurring during a would-be innocent boat ride, in another classic by an equally gifted film-maker i.e. F.W. Murnau's SUNRISE: A SONG OF TWO HUMANS (1927). The other girl is Frances Dee – whose essentially small part, however, is obviously much reduced in comparison to that of Elizabeth Taylor's in the (lengthier) remake but also to Sidney's here; she is excluded, for plot purposes, from the latter stages of the film – but it must be said that the overall compactness of sequences vis-a'-vis the remake was not an artistic choice but merely the prevalent style of the era! Also on hand to fill in the roles of the two formidable lawyers in the case (incorporating an unprecedented re-enactment of the accident, complete with boat and passengers!) are District Attorney Irving Pichel and Defense Counsel Charles Middleton.
    helpful•9
    4
    • Bunuel1976
    • May 18, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 22, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • En amerikansk tragedi
    • Filming locations
      • Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    An American Tragedy (1931)
    Top Gap
    By what name was An American Tragedy (1931) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.