
The Beast Must Die (1952)
La bestia debe morir (original title)Reference View | Change View
- 1h 35min
- Mystery, Thriller
- 28 May 1952 (Argentina)
- Movie
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Narciso Ibáñez Menta | ... |
Felix Lane
(as Narciso Ibañez Menta)
|
|
Guillermo Battaglia | ... |
Jorge Rattery
|
|
Milagros de la Vega | ... |
Sra. Rattery
|
|
Nathán Pinzón | ... |
Carpax
(as Nathan Pinzon)
|
|
Beba Bidart | ... |
Rhoda Carpax
|
|
Ernesto Bianco | ... |
Nigel Strangeways
|
|
Gloria Ferrandiz | ... |
Mujer de la cabaña
|
|
![]() |
Humberto Balado | ... |
Ronnie Hershey
|
Josefa Goldar | ... |
Violeta Rattery
|
|
![]() |
Jesús Pampín | ... |
Inspector Blount
(as Jesús Pampin)
|
Amalia Bernabé | ... |
Matilde
|
|
![]() |
Ricardo Argemí | ... |
General Dixon
(as Ricardo Argemi)
|
![]() |
Warly Ceriani | ... |
Guilder
|
![]() |
Carlos Cotto |
|
|
![]() |
Osvaldo Bruzzi |
|
|
![]() |
Eduardo Moyano | ... |
Martie Carter
|
![]() |
Ángel Eleta | ... |
Bailarín
|
Laura Hidalgo | ... |
Linda Lawson
|
|
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
![]() |
Marcelo Lavalle | ... |
Asistente de filmación (uncredited)
|
![]() |
Rafael Salvatore | ... |
Hombre en bar (uncredited)
|
![]() |
Enrique Talión | ... |
(uncredited)
|
Directed by
Román Viñoly Barreto | ... | (as Roman Viñoly Barreto) |
Written by
Cecil Day-Lewis | ... | (from the famous novel by) (as Nicholas Blake) |
Román Viñoly Barreto | ... | (adapted for the screen by) (as Roman Viñoly Barreto) and |
Narciso Ibáñez Menta | ... | (adapted for the screen by) (as Narciso Ibañez Menta) |
Produced by
Laura Hidalgo | ... | producer |
Narciso Ibáñez Menta | ... | producer |
Carmelo Vecchione | ... | assistant producer |
Music by
Silvio Vernazza |
Cinematography by
Alberto Etchebehere |
Editing by
José Serra |
Art Direction by
Mario Vanarelli |
Costume Design by
Eduardo Lerchundi |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Haroldo Conti | ... | assistant director |
Jorge Mobaied | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
Mario Vanarelli | ... | set designer |
Camera and Electrical Department
Julio Dasso | ... | camera operator |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Argentina Sono Film S.A.C.I. (1952) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Clasa-Mohme Inc. (1955) (United States) (theatrical) (Spanish language)
- Flicker Alley (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray) (subtitled)
- Les Films du Camélia (2024) (France) (theatrical) (restored version)
- The Criterion Channel (2025) (United States) (video) (VOD) (subtitled)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
Plot Summary |
Jorge Rattery has just been murdered, he dying in his home in front of many of his family and associates. The suspected method of murder was the poisoning of his medication, the bottle of which had gone missing right after he died before Inspector Blount with the police arrived. Almost everyone close to Jorge in the house at the time could have killed him. Jorge's sister-in-law, actress Linda Lawson, admits that she hated him and wanted to kill him, even though she states she didn't. Jorge's wife, Violeta Rattery, and her preteen son from her first marriage, Ronnie Hershey, also would probably admit that they hated him but had never thought about killing him. The Carpaxes - Jorge's business partner and his wife, Rhoda - state they would have had no reason to kill him in liking him, although they are accused of hating him as much as anyone. And Jorge's mother, the only person who seems to be grieving, blames anyone and everyone in they not being devoted to him like her. But the unusual person involved is successful murder mystery novelist Felix Lane who was at the house as Linda's guest. He ended up telephoning lawyer Nigel Strangeways to engage his services in this matter as he would have been at the top of the suspect list as he had written in the diary he kept with him his intention to murder Jorge, that is until Jorge got his hands on the diary and had it forwarded to his own lawyers after which he banished Felix from the property. His intention to murder Jorge was all in an act of revenge, the plot which he could carry out under that pen name of Felix Lane, and not his "real" identity of widowed scientist Frank Carter which is associated to what Jorge did to him. What plays out in flashback is that plan by Felix and how it is connected to Jorge's actual murder. Written by Huggo |
Plot Keywords | |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
Certification |
Additional Details
Also Known As |
|
Runtime |
|
Country | |
Language | |
Color | |
Aspect Ratio |
|
Sound Mix | |
Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
Trivia | Nicholas Blake, the author of the source novel, is the pen name for Cecil Day-Lewis, the father of Daniel Day-Lewis. See more » |
Goofs | In the montage sequence, Martie salutes with his left hand, showing that the negative must have been reversed. See more » |
Movie Connections | Referenced in The 3 Faces of M (2022). See more » |
Soundtracks | Home! Sweet Home! See more » |
Quotes |
General Dixon:
Where's your present? Martie Carter: In my bedroom. General Dixon: When will you give it to him? Martie Carter: After dinner. General Dixon: From man to man, any chance you could tell me what it is? Martie Carter: All I can say is that it's something to help Dad with his next murder. General Dixon: What barbarity! See more » |