For those of you who don't know, Tod Slaughter (1885-1956) was an unabashed and unapologetic purveyor of Victorian style stage melodrama. He barnstormed throughout the English provinces during the early days of the Twentieth Century before serving in World War I. This new set, THE CRIMINAL ACTS OF TOD SLAUGHTER, features all but 2 of the 10 movies he made
In the late 1920s, to stem the ever growing influx of Hollywood movies into England, a law was passed saying that 20% of all films had to be British made. In order to meet this quota, the "Quota Quickie" was established. These were essentially British B movies quickly and cheaply made to keep British artists and technicians employed. How they performed at the box office was of minor concern.
Tod Slaughter's melodramas, shot between 1935-1940, were tailor made for the QQ system. These were essentially his existing stage productions turned into film versions, and of the 8 films in this set, only one (SEXTON BLAKE AND THE HOODED TERROR - 1938) was set in contemporary times. Another one (CRIMES AT THE DARK HOUSE - 1940) was an adaptation of Wilkie Collins' THE WOMAN IN WHITE.
The remaining six films, while not intended as such, turn out to be a cinematic capturing of a type of material and a style of performance that had flourished during the Victorian Era and allows the viewer a glimpse into that time. Hark back to plots in which virtue is always rewarded and vice punished with the villain (always Slaughter) getting his well deserved just desserts.
For those who have never seen him, think of Tod as a live action Snidely Whiplash (Dudley Do-Right's nemesis in ROCKY & BULLWINKLE). The most renowned film in the set is SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (1936) which served as the basis of the Stephen Sondheim musical (1979) and the Tim Burton movie with Johnny Depp (2007). The most highly regarded film in this set (originally and today) is THE FACE IN THE WINDOW (1939).
Film critic Ken Hanke, whose 1987 article on Slaughter in FILMS IN REVIEW helped to draw attention to him in America, wrote "THE FACE IN THE WINDOW is effective as a self-mocking parody and as a bona fide horror film. Here at least we have the great British horror star in the great British horror film". The remaining three movies (THE CRIMES OF STEPHEN HAWKE (1936), IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND (1937), and THE TICKET OF LEAVE MAN - 1938) round out the collection and are just as full of "strong meat" as Slaughter liked to say, as the others...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.
