Volpone

Cinematic treatment of the classic play by Ben Jonson takes a satirical look at a greedy merchant who feigns illness in order to gain the attention (and money) of three would-be inheritors. These three are equally greedy as Volpone and will do anything to be named his heir, one going so far as to put his wife at Volpone's disposal. Though originally made in 1939, the film didn't make it to the States until after WW II, by which time several of the people involved in the production had died. Foremost among the missing was lead player Baur, who was superb in an uncharacteristic comic role. He died mysteriously in 1943, shortly after release from a period of incarcera...