The Yellow Ticket (1931)

This was the third film in which Lionel Barrymore and Karloff met. This was a big step for Karloff to be appearing with Barrymore, who was a super star in those days along with Laurence Olivier. This film takes place in Russia, in the year 1913, Mary Kalish(Elissa Landi) is a Jewish girl, and finds out that her father is dying in a St. Petersburg prison. During this period, Jews were not able to travel without passports and she has to get a "yellow ticket", which is given to prostitutes. Having arrived at the prison, she learns her father has already passed away. She meets and falls in love with Julian Rolfe (Laurence Olivier), a British newspaperman. Karloff played the role of an alcholic orderly for Lionel Barrymore who attempts to molest Landi in a park. This film story line resembles the Opera "Tosca". This was a good start for Karloff's great career in films.