Hi,
Tod Slaughter (1885-1956) was a British stage actor, who made his film debut at 50 in Maria Marten, or Murder in the Red Barn (1935). He soon became noted for his wonderful, over-the-top roles in a series of Victorian melodramas and horror films.
His name really was Slaughter. His film career lasted from the 1930s until the 1950s, but with a couple of large gaps.
My Dark Corner Of This Sick World has done a half-hour video on his films and career. Blood and Thunder – The Murderous World of Tod Slaughter looks at both his stage and film roles.
At one point he was murdering 15 people a day on stage, for several weeks, as two different characters ! His films are certainly worth watching.
Tod Slaughter seems to be largely forgotten today, which is surprising. I certainly had not heard of him until I got some large DVD sets from the American Mill Creek company, which included several of his films.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Tod Slaughter was indeed an important, and largely forgotten, horror icon. He did a wonderful version of The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, one of my favorites. SFZ
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