''Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn'' (shortened to ''Murder in the Red Barn'') is a 1935 British film

melodrama A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...

film directed by

Milton Rosmer Milton Rosmer (4 November 1881 – 7 December 1971) was a British actor, film director and screenwriter. He made his screen debut in ''The Mystery of a Hansom Cab'' (1915) and continued to act in theatre, film and television until 1956. In ...

and starring

Tod Slaughter Norman Carter Slaughter (19 March 1885 – 19 February 1956), also known as Tod Slaughter, was an English actor, best known for playing over-the-top maniacs in macabre film adaptations of Victorian melodramas. Early life Slaughter was born o ...

and

Eric Portman Eric Harold Portman (13 July 1901 – 7 December 1969) was an English stage and film actor. He is probably best remembered for his roles in three films for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger during the 1940s. Early life Born in Halifax, ...

. It is based on the true story of the 1827

Red Barn Murder The Red Barn Murder was an 1827 murder in Polstead, Suffolk, England. A young woman, Maria Marten, was shot dead by her lover William Corder at the Red Barn, a local landmark. The two had arranged to meet before eloping to Ipswich. Corder se ...

, in which a 25-year-old woman was killed by her lover and her stepmother claimed to have dreamt of the murder the night of the event.

Plot

William Corder murders country maiden Maria Marten, who is pregnant with his child, in a red barn before burying her body beneath the barn floor. Maria's gypsy lover Carlos is pursued as a suspect, but he brings Corder to justice.

Cast

as Squire William Corder *

Sophie Stewart Sophie Stewart (5 March 1908 – 6 June 1977) was a British actress of stage and screen. Biography She was born as Sophia Lyal Drummond Stewart in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland in March 1908 and died in June 1977 at the age of 69, in Cupar, F ...

as Maria Marten * D. J. Williams as Farmer Thomas Marten *

as Carlos, the Gypsy *

Clare Greet Clare Greet (14 June 1871 – 14 February 1939) was an English stage and film actress. She began on stage in Shakespeare with the Ben Greet Company. She appeared in 26 films between 1921 and 1939, including seven films directed by (and one ...

as Mrs. Marten *Gerard Tyrell as Timothy Winterbottom *

Ann Trevor Ann Trevor (1899–1970) was a British actress. Her stage work included the original production of Noël Coward's ''Hay Fever'' at London's Ambassadors Theatre, in 1925. Selected filmography * ''Wuthering Heights'' (1920) * '' Build Thy House'' ...

as Nan, the Maid * Stella Rho as Gypsey Crone *

Dennis Hoey Dennis Hoey (born Samuel David Hyams, 30 March 1893 – 25 July 1960) was a British film and stage actor, best remembered for playing Inspector Lestrade in six films of Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. Early life Hoey was born Samuel ...

as Gambling Winner *Quentin McPhearson as Matthew Sennett *

Antonia Brough Antonia Brough (18 May 1897 – 4 November 1937) British actress born in Chelsea, London, England; Died in Kensington, England. Selected filmography * ''The Farmer's Wife'' (1928) * ''Under the Greenwood Tree ''Under the Greenwood Tree: A R ...

as Maud Sennett *Noel Dainton as Officer Steele of the Bow Street Runners

External links

* 1936 films British crime thriller films 1936 crime drama films British black-and-white films Films directed by Milton Rosmer British crime drama films 1930s melodrama films 1930s English-language films 1930s British films English-language crime drama films {{crime-thriller-film-stub