The Crime of Doctor Crespi (1935)

A crazed scientist invents a serum that induces a catatonic state in whoever it is injected into. He uses the serum to paralyze his enemies, so that he can bury them alive.

Director:

John H. Auer

Writers:

John H. Auer (story), Edgar Allan Poe (suggested by: "Premature Burial")

Stars:

Erich von Stroheim, Harriet Russell, Dwight Frye

Cast

Cast overview:
Erich von Stroheim	...	Dr. Andre Crespi
Harriet Russell	...	Estelle Gorham Ross
Dwight Frye	...	Dr. Thomas
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Dr. John Arnold
John Bohn	...	Dr. Stephen Ross
Geraldine Kay	...	Miss Rexford
Jean Brooks	...	Miss Gordon (as Jeanne Kelly)
Patsy Berlin	...	Jeanne Ross, the Child
Joe Verdi	...	Di Angelo
Dean Raymond	...	Minister

Storyline

Dr. Crespi has a festering hatred for Dr. Stephen Ross, the man who married his ex-sweetheart. Ross must undergo surgery and Crespi, sensing an opportunity, seizes it. Ross "appears" to die but Crespi has given him a drug that places the victim in a trance-like state, but leaves him in possession of his senses. Crespi attends the premature burial of his hated colleague. Dr. John Arnold has his suspicions and calls on Dr. Thomas to to help him. They exhume the body and find Ross alive, albeit now a terrified, ghostly figure given to stalking the hospital corridors.

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Plot Keywords:

colleague | victim | drug | premature burial | surgery | 

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Taglines:

It Starts Where "Frankenstein" Left Off! (original poster)

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Crime do Dr. Crespi

Filming Locations:

Biograph Studios, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Liberty Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

63 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA 'High Fidelity' Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in eight days.

User Reviews

Dr. Crespi is no humanitarian!

It seems rather ironic that Erich von Stroheim stars in this film considering it was shot in only 8 days. Why is this so ironic? Well, when von Stroheim was a director, he made "Greed"...a film that originally clocked in at 10.5 hours!!! The studio was irate to say the least and pared the film down to 2 hours....and Von Stroheim received very few assignments to direct after this and his next debacle, "Queen Kelly"...which he never actually finished!

Doctor Crespi (von Stroheim) is a well respected doctor. However, he's hiding his rage...rage at the man who he credits with stealing Crespi's girlfriend. So, when this same man needs an operation, Crespi agrees to do it...and now he finally can get his revenge. Using a formula he's created himself, he injects the patient...who appears to die and remains in a dead-like state for 24 hours. But Crespi knows that the man IS still alive...and he taunts the man and describes the agony he'll go through when he's buried alive! Is there any hope for the victim? Well, Crespi's assistant (Dwight Frye) doesn't trust him...and he begins to suspect that perhaps Crespi poisoned the man. What's next?

This is a well made and very effective B-horror film. Nothing to dislike about this one....very enjoyable and worth your time...particularly if you like the genre.