Crime and Punishment (1935)

Director: Josef von Sternberg
Starring: Peter Lorre, Edward Arnold, Marian Marsh

Synopsis:
A talented but cash-strapped criminologist murders a pawnbroker but wavers between guilt and newfound audacity.

Impressions:
Not having read the original novel, I can't speak of the quality of this film as an adaptation (though I've been led to understand that you shouldn't hope for much on that account), but as a fan of Peter Lorre, I liked it well enough. There's an interesting range to the character of Roderick Roskolnikov, which you can see bits and pieces in other roles Lorre has played. Part of me was hoping for his budding confidence to push him into full Light Yagami territory, but perhaps that was hoping for too much. (Though when it looked like he was going to be brought in to assist with the investigation, you can forgive me for thinking that was where the story would be heading.) Edward Arnold provides the counterbalance as the somewhat amoral Inspector Porfiry. If you're a fan of Peter Lorre, it's well worth watching, but Dostoyevsky purists may want to look elsewhere.

Rating:
Watch It