In his introduction Angus Wilson discusses what is known about Dicken’s intentions and suggests that, as well as a crime novel, Edwin Drood is a work in which Dickens develops his lifelong preoccupation with the forces of good and evil. But as intriguing as this central plot are the startling innovations in Dicken’s work and the troubled elements lurking within the novel: a dark opium underworld, the uneasy and violent fantasies of its inhabitants, the disquieting presence of old ‘Princess Puffer’, his portrait of the quiet cathedral town of Cloisterham from which people have to escape in order to save themselves – and, at the centre, the menacing figure of Jasper. The main issue in the novel is the disappearance of Edwin Drood and the suspicion that he has been murdered. ![]() The Mystery of Edwin Drood is even more of a mystery the Dickens himself intended, for he dies before completing it. Clive and Zeffie Tilbury also are impressive in supporting roles." Butler stated that The Mystery of Edwin Drood "may not be a great film, but the actors make it decent entertainment.Religion - Study, history & religious textsĪntiquity, Specialist & Rare Books (Other Quality)Ĭondition: GOOD (Inscription on inside cover)Įdited by Arthur J Cox with an introduction by Angus Wilson. Douglass Montgomery is quite good in a dual role, and Heather Angel is appropriately lovely and timid. In small town of Chesterham, England, the young and charming Edwin Drood has been mysteriously murdered. ![]() The show is based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel of the same name. In a modern-day retrospective review, Craig Butler of AllMovie stated that "the film's screenplay, which is too often predictable and too seldom surprising" and that Stuart Walker had directed the film "efficiently and with a touch of flair here and there it's not outstanding work." Butler concluded: "Where Drood shines is in its cast, led by a typically marvelous Claude Rains, who conveys the lust, shame, desperation, and determination of his character with aplomb. The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a hilarious, interactive whodunit mystery musical that allows the audience to enter the action and become the ultimate detectives. ![]() William Boehnel of The New York World-Telegram declared the film "a thoroughly entertaining, exciting and atmospherically fine screen version of the novel." Eileen Creelman of the New York Sun declared it "a gruesome melodrama with enough action and background mystery to make it go." Bland Johaneson of the New York Daily Mirror declared the film "handsomely produced and acted" and that it would hold audiences in "complete interest." Īndre Sennwald of The New York Times declared that " combination of adroit direction and acting isn't strong enough to overcome an essentially weak narrative." In the United Kingdom, Kinematograph Weekly said that "Individual acting is very good, and the atmosphere is faithful in detail, but neither can invest the story development with strong suspense nor preserve its secret," concluding that "There is no denying that Claude Rains is a brilliant actor, this does not prevent his mannerisms and inflections from becoming a trifle monotonous." The film was generally well received by critics upon its release. In the book Universal Horrors, the film is described as "neither an all-out horror story nor a puzzling whodunnit" and defined in contemporary terms as "a quaintly charming and atmospheric Victorian melodrama" lacking real suspense. The film was released by Universal Pictures on February 4, 1935. it was not a good movie at all." Reception It has no unity." When asked about The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Manners responded that ". Movies, you do little bits and you don't know where it fits in. You see, in a play you become the play, because you start in the beginning and end up at the end of the script. In later years, Manners said: " didn't like movies. The film was the last for David Manners, who plays Edwin Drood. Production began on November 12, 1934, and continued until January 1935. The film's shooting was initially delayed because of casting difficulties. A set was built in Universal's backlot that was the largest for the studio since the filming of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ![]() According to Universal publicity, the studio's London office shot thousands of feet of film and took numerous still shots of Victorian-style structures in Rochester in 1934 for the film. Universal afforded the film a budget of $215,375 and developed an aggressive advertising campaign to exploit the novel's unresolved ending. Universal Pictures was enthusiastic about adapting The Mystery of Edwin Drood and exploiting its lack of a finale. Douglass Montgomery as Neville Landless.
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