Klein Dorrit (1935)

Run Time - 71 min.  |   Countries - Germany  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

This German period piece is a relatively faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel Little Dorrit. The title character, a seamstress named Amy Dorrit, is played by former Hitchcock leading lady Anny Ondra then better-known as the wife of heavyweight boxing champion Max Schmeling. Loyally living with her father (Gustav Waldau) in debtor's prison, Amy falls in love with wealthy Arthur Clennam (Mathias Wiemann). Alas, Arthur's parents have forbidden the romance, and the poor boob is too ineffectual to do something about it. The plot is resolved by Amy' father, who turns out not to be as helpless as he seems. Klein Dorrit manages to tell its story in 71 minutes; the 1988 British remake covered the same ground in six hours.