THE MOONSTONE (1934) David Manners & Phyllis Barry | Crime, Mystery, Romance | B&W

The Moonstone is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Reginald Barker and starring David Manners, Phyllis Barry, Gustav von Seyffertitz and Jameson Thomas. It is an adaptation of the 1868 novel The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. The film retains the book's British location, but uses a contemporary 1930s setting rather than the Victorian era of the original. It is one of three film versions of the novel, which include silent versions in 1915 and 1909, although a number of television and radio adaptations have been made.

SYNOPSIS
As with the book, the film is based around the Herncastle Moonstone, a valuable diamond from India.

Typical Monogram whodunit from the 30's, with dialogue and sound effects based on the well known mystery book with same title. A valuable gem from India is stolen in an old dark mansion and it is up to Scotland Yard inspector Charles Irwin to find out who did it among all the suspects who were in the house.

CAST & CREW
David Manners as Franklyn Blake
Phyllis Barry as Ann Verinder
Gustav von Seyffertitz as Carl Von Lucker
Jameson Thomas as Godfrey Ablewhite
Herbert Bunston as Sir John Verinder
Charles Irwin as Inspector Cuff
Elspeth Dudgeon as Betteredge
John Davidson as Yandoo
Claude King as Sir Basil Wynard
Olaf Hytten as Dr. Ezra Jennings
Evalyn Bostock as Roseanna Spearman
Fred Walton as Henry the Butler
John Power as The Driver
Harold Entwistle as Sutter
A.C. Henderson as Robbin

Directed by Reginald Barker
Written by Adele Buffington
Based on The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Produced by Paul Malvern
Cinematography Robert H. Planck
Edited by Jack Ogilvie, Carl Pierson
Music by Abe Meyer
Production company Monogram Pictures
Distributed by Monogram Pictures
Release date 1934
Running time 62 minutes
Country United States
Language English

NOTES
The film was made by Monogram Studios, one of the smaller Hollywood outfits often known collectively as Poverty Row. The adaptation of a prestigious British Victorian novel marked a break from their usual films which were generally cheaply made American-set Westerns. To fit the story into a limited running time, large amounts of the original novel are dropped from the adaptation.

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