Crime and Punishment (1935)

Mr Pinky was introduced to the world of master director Josef Von Sternberg via his series of lavish, baroque and beautifully lit movies starring the incomparable Marlene Dietrich. After reading Sternberg’s autobiography Fun in a Chinese Laundry it has been a slow process tracking down viewings of his other films.

Crime and Punishment was made in 1935 and at this stage is only available via a Spanish import dvd. I can heartily recommend tracking down a copy just to witness this master cinematic stylist working with what must have been a limited budget yet still managing to create a work of high art.

This was to be Sternberg’s first film without Dietrich to lavish his attentions on and instead Peter Lorre as the murderous student Raskolnikov became the perfect subject for Sternberg’s masterful eye. I believe this was Lorre’s first American film and certainly his performance in Fritz Lang’s M and this film make for interesting comparisons.

I am sure there have been major liberties taken with the original novel but hey, this was Hollywood in the thirties and what we as classic celluloid fans are left with is a gloriously photographed and marvellously acted film. Mr Pinky suggests to just wallow in its beauty!