Rains is a cathedral choirmaster and opium addict who falls in love with Angel, the fiancee of his nephew, Manners. During a raging storm on Christmas Eve, he strangles Manners and dumps his body in a quicklime pit in the crypt under the cathedral. He tries to pin the murder on Montgomery,
just back from Ceylon, but he is foiled. Eventually the crypt is opened and in the lime pit can be seen the impression left by Manners' body, with his engagement ring plainly visible where his hand used to be. As accusing eyes fall on Rains, he climbs to the top of the church tower and jumps to
his death. Charles Dickens died before completing the novel on which the film is based...
Released:
1935
Rated:
NR
Length:
85 mins