A crippled man finds a boy and vows to make him a great dancer.A crippled man finds a boy and vows to make him a great dancer.A crippled man finds a boy and vows to make him a great dancer.
André Luguet
- Count Robert Renaud
- (as Andre Luguet)
Chester A. Bachman
- Poster Hanger
- (uncredited)
Charles Brinley
- Poster Hanger
- (uncredited)
Boris Karloff
- Fedor's Father
- (uncredited)
Mae Madison
- Olga Chekova
- (uncredited)
George Marion
- Old Soldier at Theatre Stage
- (uncredited)
Walter Miller
- Opera Spectator
- (uncredited)
Lee Moran
- Montmartre Cabaret Director
- (uncredited)
Charles Williams
- Stagehand
- (uncredited)
Harry Wilson
- Curtain Man
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMichael Curtiz hired Boris Karloff because he mistakenly thought he was Russian.
- GoofsA title card misspells Montmartre as "Montmarte."
- Quotes
Nana Carlova: [after Tsarakov has cunningly expelled her from the Ballet Russe] But, where will I go?
Vladimar Ivan Tsarakov: Well, I hate to advise people, my dear, but it seems to me that you have the best chance of success possibly by placing yourself somewhere where only youth and beauty are necessary.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are shown over a background of a figure dancing; a reference to the plot which involves a dancer.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Taxi (1931)
- SoundtracksDanse Russe Trépak
(uncredited)
from "Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a"
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Played during the opening puppet sequence
Featured review
Another bit of Hollywood history.
There is a story that has since become part of Hollywood folklore that Boris Karloff, still a relatively unknown supporting player, was summoned to the office of director Michael Curtiz. The Hungarian expatriate took one look at the slender, soft spoken Englishman and allegedly said "Good God, you're not Russian! I sent for you because your name is Karloff. It certainly sounds Russian! Oh well, now that you're here I guess I'll have to use you." It seems like a lot to go through for a role that lasts about 2 minutes onscreen and was probably completed in 1 day but Boris got the part anyway. In truth, Boris is so convincing hidden behind a beard and using a Russian accent that many people do not realise it is him! In those pre-FRANKENSTEIN days you could also spot Karloff in THE YELLOW TICKET in which he has no lines at all; or in THE PUBLIC DEFENDER where he is quite noticeable; or even CRACKED NUTS where he appeared opposite comedians Wheeler and Woolsey. It was not long after THE MAD GENIUS that director James Whale asked Karloff to test for, as he (Whale) put it, " . . .a damned awful monster." The rest, as they say, is history. Frankie Darro, whose role is almost as small as Boris', had already costared with Rin Tin Tin Sr in THE LIGHTNING WARRIOR (1930) and would meet up with Rinty Jr in THE WOLF DOG (1934).
helpful•106
- reptilicus
- Jun 12, 2003
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $441,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Color
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