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Date Posted: 21:26:57 09/21/09 Mon
Author: Tim
Subject: Graft (1931)

Like so many 1930s films, much of the action in Graft takes place in the city room of a major American newspaper. Dusty Hotchkiss (Regis Toomey) is a cub reporter trying to make a name for himself by getting the goods on a politically powerful and corrupt building contractor, M.H. Thomas (William B. Davidson). Thomas is trying to influence an important upcoming election for his own benefit, and Joe Terry (Boris Karloff) is a gangster-like henchman who works for him. Female lead Sue Carol is an ally and eventual love interest of reporter Hotchkiss, while Dorothy Revier plays the scorned ex-girlfriend of Thomas. Willard Robertson rounds out the cast as a hardnosed newspaper editor.

While this one doesn’t have as much witty and incisive dialogue as some Universal pictures, it does have a solid story and some good action scenes. Obviously the picture's most historically significant element is the inclusion of Boris Karloff in its cast. Karloff does an excellent job as the menacing Joe Terry, a well-dressed hired thug who has no qualms about resorting to murder when required. Graft was released exactly two months prior to Frankenstein, the film that made Boris Karloff a household name. Karloff also had a supporting role as a gangster in the classic Scarface (released in 1932 but filmed in 1931), directed by Howard Hawks. Scarface (not a Universal picture) is better than Graft, but both pictures prove that the versatile English actor could play an imposing gangster just as convincingly as he could play the monsters and mad scientists in the many great horror films that made him an international icon.

Tim

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Replies:

[> Re: Graft (1931) -- DAN, 08:21:07 09/29/09 Tue [1]

I have yet to see "Graft." I keep hoping it will show up.

I also need to see "Miracle Man" and "Night World."

I already have these early 30's crime films with Karloff on VHS.
The Criminal Code (1931) Columbia
Smart Money (1931) Warner Bros
Public Defender (1931) RKO
Five Star Final (1931) First National
Scarface (1932) Caddo Company

"Behind The Mask" is another crime film I only saw once years ago that I need to see again and record.

Luckily Behind the Mask is scheduled to air on TCM on Friday Oct 30 at 6 AM est.


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[> [> Re: Graft (1931) -- DAN, 17:20:26 11/19/09 Thu [1]

Well I finally got to see "Graft," and it's a neat little Newspaper/crime drama.

This is Boris Karloff's first Universal sound film, and he does an excellent job here, as he always does.


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