The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

[Phil C]

This was a short made in 1941 that is based on Edgar Allen Poe's short story even though it is not a complete duplicate. In the movie industry these type of shorts were generally 15 to 20 minutes long. This was a serious one but many were funny such as the Three Stoogies shorts and some documentary. They were done to add to the time when families would be at the movies. Usually they were shown with single features that we maybe an hour and a half long or so. For example if a movie was and hour and a half long and started at 7 P.M. then if it ended at 8:30 P.M. and the customer got home well before nine he might think he had not spend much time at the movies. But you add this short plus a cartoon and some ads and previews of coming movies along with a 5 minute newsreel sometimes that would add 30 or 40 minutes and then make them get home at closer to 9:30 P.M. making the customers feel they spent some time at the movies. Also shorts were done in about 3 days filming and also helped younger stars get discovered plus provide work and a few days' pay for older although not big stars yet. But the main purpose was to extend time at the movies. This was done mainly during the 30s, 40s and 50s.

Many of these shorts were made and generally fairly good even though cheaply and quickly made. But you make a 100 of these one of them is bound to be a real gem. This is one of them. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlTCXIJEj-c

[Scoop27]

I had to learn lines of this poem or story when I was in school way back when.