The “Poverty Row” studios were film studios that churned out films from the 1920s-1950s, primarily on shoestring budgets. These studios—Republic Pictures, Liberty Pictures, and Monograms Pictures—produced films where there was little cash, little time to rehearse, and truncated shooting schedules. Despite this, they managed to produce memorable pictures.
In The Shadow of Hollywood: Highlights from Poverty Row offers viewers four glimpses into what these studios offer. You have death row drama Murder from Chester Erskine. Convicted killer Ethel (Helen Flint) nervously paces in her cell as foreman Edward (O.P. Heggie) has his own doubts regarding her conviction. Noir legend Humphrey Bogart plays Edward’s daughter’s boyfriend Gar. The film is heavy-handed in its themes, yet shows a slick inventive style.
There's John Auer’s 1935 horror film The Crime of Dr. Crespi in which the eponymous physician (Erich von Stroheim), seeking revenge, gives Dr. Ross (John Bohn) a drug that simulates death while allowing the man all use of his senses. The film is ethereal and works well despite having a low budget. von Stroheim’s mad doctor character carries most of the action.
1933’s Back Page features plucky news writer Jerry Hampton (Peggy Shannon) who takes over a floundering small-town newspaper. And 1934’s Woman in the Dark revisits the prisoner theme with a story by Maltese Falcon scribe Dashiell Hammett about a paroled prisoner (Ralph Bellamy) trying to make it out in the real world. There are obvious imperfections (mostly monetary-based) in these four films. Yet they’re all worth pursuing, and are examples of the “less is more” adage. Lightly recommended for your library's film studies and classic film collection. Aud, C, P.