MartinHafer It seems rather ironic that Erich von Stroheim stars in this film considering it was shot in only 8 days. Why is this so ironic? Well, when von Stroheim was a director, he made "Greed"...a film that originally clocked in at 10.5 hours!!! The studio was irate to say the least and pared the film down to 2 hours....and Von Stroheim received very few assignments to direct after this and his next debacle, "Queen Kelly"...which he never actually finished!Doctor Crespi (von Stroheim) is a well respected doctor. However, he's hiding his rage...rage at the man who he credits with stealing Crespi's girlfriend. So, when this same man needs an operation, Crespi agrees to do it...and now he finally can get his revenge. Using a formula he's created himself, he injects the patient...who appears to die and remains in a dead-like state for 24 hours. But Crespi knows that the man IS still alive...and he taunts the man and describes the agony he'll go through when he's buried alive! Is there any hope for the victim? Well, Crespi's assistant (Dwight Frye) doesn't trust him...and he begins to suspect that perhaps Crespi poisoned the man. What's next?This is a well made and very effective B-horror film. Nothing to dislike about this one....very enjoyable and worth your time...particularly if you like the genre.

JohnHowardReid Erich Von Stroheim (Dr Andre Crespi), Harriet Russell (Mrs Estelle Ross), Dwight Frye (Dr Thomas), Paul Guilfoyle (Dr Arnold), John Bohn (Dr Ross), Geraldine Kay (Miss Rexford), Jeanne Kelly (Miss Gordon), Patsy Berlin (Jeanne Ross), Joe Verdi (expectant father), Dean Raymond (minister).Director: JOHN H. AUER. Screenplay: John H. Auer. Story: John H. Auer, suggested by the short story, "The Premature Burial", by Edgar Allan Poe, as adapted by Lewis Graham and Edwin Olmstead. Photography: Larry Williams. Film editor: Leonard Wheeler. Art director: William Saulter. Make-up: Fred Ryle. Music director: Milton Schwartzwald. Production supervisor: W.J. O'Connor. Sound recording: Clarence R. Wall. RCA Victor Sound System. Associate producer: Herb Hayman. Producer: John H. Auer. A JHA Production. Executive producer: Max Hoffman. Copyright 16 October 1935 jointly by Liberty Pictures Corporation and Republic Pictures Corporation. Filmed at the old Biograph Studios in New York. U.S. release through Republic: 21 October 1935. New York opening at the Rialto: 12 January 1936. 7 reels. 66 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Famous surgeon has a score to settle with his rival.COMMENT: John H. Auer was certainly one of Republic's more imaginative directors, and here, in his initial venture for that studio (the film was actually purchased by the Herbert J. Yates combine after it was completed for Max Hoffman's Liberty Pictures), he displays an even greater inventiveness in creating an effectively eerie atmosphere and some wonderfully sinister effects on a minuscule budget. His biggest expense was no doubt the hiring of Erich Von Stroheim for the title role. And Von Stroheim's services were certainly worth the money. The "Von" gives a captivatingly charismatic performance, using all the props and bits of business at his command to give extra power to his portrait. Whether bawling out an associate or evilly planning the demise of his rival, Von Stroheim is always in control. So much so, in fact, that the rest of the players, with the sole exception of Dwight Frye, have little chance to impress. Never mind, it's "the man you love to hate" who attracted picture- goers and the other actors were well aware of that fact. Thus Crespi is Von Stroheim's movie. And Auer's.

Anne_Sharp Even though Erich von Stroheim privately referred to this film as "The Crime of Republic," he delivers one of his most gracefully modulated early sound performances in this beguiling low-budget shocker. One of the better examples of the mad-doctor-gets-revenge-against-normal-man-who-stole-his-girl genre of the mid-thirties ("The Raven," "Murders in the Zoo," "Mad Love"), "Crespi" is made especially memorable by its low-key, dapper star, who wears designer lab coats, keeps a baby skeleton in his office as a sort of mascot/alter ego, and shows a refreshing lack of patience with the earnest, romantic idiots he's surrounded with.

Athanatos I've seen this picture rather severely bashed, but it's actually a competent presentation of a classic tale by Poe. The only print that I've seen was in pretty bad shape, and perhaps this contributed to the bashing that it received.