Expert: Mel - 9/7/2011

Question
Mel, another one, obscure ofcourse. My mother is 82. She saw a film in her youth between, say, 1940 - 1946 - war time. Charles Laughton played a despicable character who treated his wife badly. He found out that she had an interest in another man, possibly an affair, and there was a scene where he violently beat this poor fellow to a pulp. It has been suggested that this film may have been 'The Devil and the Deep, 1932.' The character is right as I have viewed the film on the net, but the fight scene is not in it so I think it may be another of his films. She is unable to recall more detail. I've searched and I'm stuck. Any ideas? With thanks again.

Answer
Hello again Emin,

I've spent a lot of time today researching this one, but I'm afraid to say that I can't really add anything to what you already know.

However, I do have a theory which might be an answer. The film "Devil And The Deep" was one of several hundred films that Paramount sold to Universal for their TV division in the late 1950's.
Many of these films were edited for content (sex and violence being taboo on TV back then), and also for length.

Now, it's quite possible that when your Mother saw this film, there was a scene of a violent beating in it. It fits the storyline and the character portrayed by Laughton. It's also quite probable that the version you saw on the net was a TV version that had been edited down (that is: minus the beating scene).

That's my best effort, Emin. Hope that's of some help.

Cheers..........Mel.