It was made at a film when Hollywood was churning out loads of adaptations of literary classics despite the heavy censorship of the time often requiring extensive alterations. I had no idea that the mystery Arrow release our webmistress Bat had sent me was going to be a Blu-ray of an early film version, but quickly changed my mind and became enthusiastic about giving it a go. The screenwriters would have to remove this aspect unless they relied on a voice-over. Much of the book consists of the main protagonist’s thoughts, and this just wouldn’t translate to a film. This was because the study of the moral dilemma and mental anguish of a killer was so “internal” that I failed to see how any adaptation for a very different medium would do it justice. However, I didn’t subsequently go and check out some of the movie versions which is what I normally do. Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime And Punishment was certainly one of the ones that made the greatest impression on me. I made myself read a ‘classic’ book once a year until recently when I’ve slipped somewhat. Porfiry, who has solved all crimes assigned to him, confides to Roderick that he is willing to send an innocent man to prison in order to maintain his record.…

Inspector Porfiry has Roderick observe the interrogation of an innocent prisoner suspected of the pawnbroker’s murder. The next day, Roderick is arrested, not for the pawnbroker’s murder but for overdue rent.

When several circumstances make his financial situation even worse, he murders a cruel pawnbroker and takes her valuables. University student Roderick Raskolnikov graduates with honours, but, even though he becomes an authority on crime, he lives in poverty. REVIEWED BY: Dr Lenera, Official HCF Critic

Starring: Edward Arnold, Marian Marsh, Peter Lorre, Tala BirellĪVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY: 29th JULY 2019, from ARROW ACADEMY Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Joseph Anthony, S.K.

Watch shadow of doubt 1935