An American Tragedy (1931)
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- Approved
- 1h 36min
- Crime, Drama
- 22 Aug 1931 (USA)
- Movie
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Phillips Holmes | ... |
Clyde Griffiths
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Sylvia Sidney | ... |
Roberta Alden
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Frances Dee | ... |
Sondra Finchley
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Irving Pichel | ... |
District Attorney Orville Mason
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Frederick Burton | ... |
Samuel Griffiths
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Claire McDowell | ... |
Mrs. Samuel Griffiths
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Wallace Middleton | ... |
Gilbert Griffiths
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Emmett Corrigan | ... |
Belknap
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Charles Middleton | ... |
Jephson
(as Charles B. Middleton)
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Lucille La Verne | ... |
Mrs. Asa Griffiths
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Al Hart | ... |
Titus Alden
(as Albert Hart)
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Fanny Midgley | ... |
Mrs. Titus Alden
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Arnold Korff | ... |
Judge
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Russ Powell | ... |
Coroner Fred Heit
(as Russell Powell)
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
William Bailey | ... |
Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
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Ed Brady | ... |
Train Brakeman (uncredited)
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Martin Cichy | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Richard Cramer | ... |
Deputy Sheriff Kraut (uncredited)
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Sidney D'Albrook | ... |
Courtroom Policeman (uncredited)
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Claire Dodd | ... |
Gaile Warren (uncredited)
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Robert Dudley | ... |
Juror (uncredited)
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James Durkin | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Elizabeth Forrester | ... |
Jill Trumbull (uncredited)
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Sherry Hall | ... |
Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
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George Irving | ... |
Mr. Finchley (uncredited)
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Arline Judge | ... |
Bella Griffiths (uncredited)
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Harry Leroy | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Guy Oliver | ... |
Simeon Dinsmore (uncredited)
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Franklin Parker | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Imboden Parrish | ... |
Earl Newcomb (uncredited)
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Evelyn Pierce | ... |
Bertine Cranston (uncredited)
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Ronald R. Rondell | ... |
Guest at Winter Ball (uncredited)
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Matty Roubert | ... |
Vendor Outside of Courtroom (uncredited)
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Harry Schultz | ... |
Lawyer's Assistant (uncredited)
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Harry Semels | ... |
Juror (uncredited)
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Harry Stubbs | ... |
Court Clerk (uncredited)
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Nella Walker | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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Vivian Winston | ... |
Myra Griffiths (uncredited)
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Directed by
Josef von Sternberg | ... | (as Josef Von Sternberg) |
Written by
Theodore Dreiser | ... | (novel) |
Samuel Hoffenstein | ... | (screenplay) |
Josef von Sternberg | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
Josef von Sternberg | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
John Leipold | ... | (uncredited) |
Ralph Rainger | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
Lee Garmes | ... | (photographed by) |
Art Direction by
Hans Dreier | ... | (uncredited) |
Set Decoration by
Hans Dreier | ... | (uncredited) |
Costume Design by
Travis Banton | ... | (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Harry D. Mills | ... | sound recording engineer (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Ivano | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1931) (United States) (theatrical) (as Paramount Publix Corporation)
- Paramount Film Service (1931) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Paramount British Pictures (1931) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Paramount Film Service (1932) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1932) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1932) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (United States) (tv)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2015) (United States) (DVD) (Universal Vault Series)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Electric (noiseless sound recording system)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
Having just reached adulthood, Clyde Griffiths has always lamented his lot in life as the only son of poor missionaries. He has gotten a peripheral view of society life, to which he aspires, in his work as a bellhop at an upscale hotel. If being truthful to himself, he would admit that he lacks moral strength, often taking the easiest but perhaps not the most ethical path to protect himself. Forced to move from place to place out of circumstance, he ends up in Lycurgus, New York working at the Samuel Griffiths Collar and Shirt factory, Samuel Griffiths being his paternal uncle. Not knowing his uncle or his family, Clyde only wants a chance to get ahead, not expecting anything else from his wealthy relations. After an apprenticeship, Clyde ends up as the foreman in the stamping department. Despite a company rule forbidding foremen to fraternize with staff, especially those working in the same department, Clyde begins an affair, a clandestine one out of necessity, with Roberta Alden, who works in the stamping department under him. Their love is an obsessive one, made all the more powerful by its clandestine nature. That changes for Clyde when he meets, through his wealthy relations, society belle Sondra Finchley; the two immediately fall in love with each other. The extra draw of Sondra over Bert is Sondra's standing in society--but then Bert informs him that she's pregnant by him and pressures him to marry her. Wanting to be with Sondra instead, Clyde contemplates murdering Bert by drowning her in a lake, knowing she doesn't know how to swim. Although Clyde is ultimately unable to commit this act of murder and will do right in marrying Bert, his lack of moral strength results in a tragic situation. Written by Huggo |
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Taglines | Impetous youth...loving grandly...branded by passion...scorning advice...TOO WEAK TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES! (Print Ad-The Philadelphia Inquirer,((Philadelphia, Penna.)) 4 September 1931) See more » |
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Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
Trivia | The mother of Grace Brown, the real-life murder victim, filed a $150,000 libel suit against Paramount in 1934. The suit was settled out of court. See more » |
Goofs | The first day of the defense's case is stated in a newspaper article to be in October, but the day-by-day calendar in the courtroom indicates it is November. See more » |
Movie Connections | Referenced in Horse Feathers (1932). See more » |
Soundtracks | Some of These Days See more » |
Crazy Credits | The credits appear on the surface of a lake. When each set has been up long enough to read it, a stone falls into the water and the credits dissolve. See more » |