GRIEF STREET (1931) Barbara Kent, John Holland & Dorothy Christy | Crime, Film-noir | B&W

Grief Street is a 1931 American pre-Code mystery crime film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Barbara Kent and John Holland. It was produced and distributed by the Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation.

SYNOPSIS
A womanizing matinée idol is found strangled in his dressing room. The door is locked from the inside and there is no other way into the room. He had been having an affair with his leading lady, while his actress wife is doing the same with the stage manager. Everyone, including a young actress who had been fired from the play, and an old actor now relegated to a stage-doorman, has a motive. The explanation for the murder lies within the script of the play.

Alvin Merle, a womanizing Broadway matinée idol, is found strangled in his dressing room. The door is locked from the inside and there is no possible other way into the room. Merle is having an affair with his leading lady, while his wife, actress Ethel Wynn, appearing in another play in a theater around the corner, is doing the same with Frank Murray, the stage manager on Merle's play. Newspaper reporter Jim Ryan is investigating the case and meets Jean Royce, a young actress who had been fired from the play while in rehearsals. Everybody, including Michael, the old actor now relegated to being just a stage-doorman, has a motive. The explanation for the murder lies within the script of the play.

CAST & CREW
Barbara Kent as Jean Royce
John Holland as Jim Ryan
Dorothy Christy as Mrs. Alvin Merle aka Ethel Wynn
Crauford Kent as Alvin Merle
Lillian Rich as Pamela Gregory
James P. Burtis as Police Sgt. Jardine
Larry Steers as Ralph Burns
Lloyd Whitlock as Frank Murray
Lafe McKee as Michael - Stage Doorman
Creighton Hale as Ted
Raymond Largay as Police Capt. Blake
Walter Brennan as Walt

Directed by Richard Thorpe
Story by Arthur Hoerl
Produced by George R. Batcheller
Cinematography M.A. Anderson
Production company Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation
Distributed by Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corp.
Release date October 1, 1931 (US)
Running time 64 minutes
Country United States
Language English

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