The Drunkard
The Drunkard

Movie spotlight

The Drunkard

1937
Movie
87 min
French

A mother of three escapes the death sentence during her poisoning trial. After spending ten years in prison, she finds her children and rebuilds her family.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Director: Arthur RossGenres: Drama, Crime

Plot Summary

A young man, struggling with alcoholism, finds himself entangled in the criminal underworld. He attempts to reform and win back the love of his life, but his past and his addiction continually threaten to pull him back into despair. The film follows his arduous journey through the consequences of his choices and his fight for redemption.

Critical Reception

The Drunkard (1937) is a lesser-known melodrama that received mixed to negative reviews upon its release, often criticized for its heavy-handed moralizing and melodramatic plot. However, some contemporary reviews noted its earnest attempts to tackle the social issue of alcoholism, even if the execution was deemed flawed. It is generally considered a B-movie from its era, notable more for its historical context than its artistic merit.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film's message about the dangers of alcohol is clear, though sometimes overly didactic.

  • Performances are generally considered earnest but fall short of achieving genuine emotional depth.

  • The plot is predictable and leans heavily into melodrama, typical of many films of this era attempting social commentary.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for 'The Drunkard (1937)' is not readily available.

Fun Fact

The film is an adaptation of W.H. Loper's play of the same name, which itself was a cautionary tale about the effects of alcohol and often performed in temperance-focused venues.

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