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The Crimes of Stephen Hawke (1936)

| Crime, Drama, Thriller | May 1936 (UK)
The Crimes of Stephen Hawke Poster
A crazed killer known as "The Spinebreaker" is terrorizing London with a series of grisly murders. The police seem powerless to stop him.

Director:

George King

Writers:

Jack Celestin (scenario), Frederick Hayward (screenplay) | 2 more credits »

Stars:

Tod Slaughter, Marjorie Taylor, D.J. Williams | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Credited cast:
Tod Slaughter Tod Slaughter ... Stephen Hawke
Marjorie Taylor Marjorie Taylor ... Julia Hawke
D.J. Williams D.J. Williams ... Joshua Trimble
Eric Portman ... Matthew Trimble
Graham Soutten Graham Soutten ... Nathaniel (as Ben Soutten)
Gerald Barry Gerald Barry ... Miles Archer
George M. Slater George M. Slater ... Lord Brickhaven
Charles Penrose Charles Penrose ... Sir Franklin
Norman Pierce Norman Pierce ... Landlord
Flotsam and Jetsam Flotsam and Jetsam ... Themselves
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
B.C. Hilliam B.C. Hilliam ... Himself (as Flotsam)
Malcolm 'Mr. Jetsam' McEachern Malcolm 'Mr. Jetsam' McEachern ... Himself (as Jetsam)
See full cast »
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Storyline

The film begins in a BBC studio with the 100th edition of "In Town Tonight". Flotsam and Jetsom open with a "topical number". Then there is an interview with a distinguished actor, which dissolves into a performance of one of his famous melodramas about a wicked moneylender etc. Written by Michael Crew <m.crew@bbcnc.org.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

melodrama | london england | broken back | slaughter | serial killer | See All (6) »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1936 (UK) See more »

Also Known As:

Crimen y pasión See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

George King Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Doom Asylum (1988) See more »

Soundtracks

In Town To-Night
(uncredited)
aka "Knightsbridge March"
Music by Eric Coates
See more »

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User Reviews

 
A Brief History of Spine
26 February 2009 | by wes-connors – See all my reviews

"Stephen Hawke is a moneylender whose compassion for his clients is only outshined by his devotion to his lovely daughter. What she and the rest of the public don't know is that Stephen Hawke is leading a double life. At night, he becomes 'The Spine Breaker', a notorious killer with the habit of viciously killing his victims in the most horrible ways imaginable," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis. Silly movie, enriched as much as possible by two under-appreciated British stars - murderous Tod Slaughter (as Stephen Hawke) and Shakespearian Eric Portman (as Matthew Trimble) - both deserving better productions.

**** The Crimes of Stephen Hawke (1936) George King ~ Tod Slaughter, Eric Portman, Marjorie Taylor
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