Les Miserables (1935, USA) – Coherent and well paced, this is how to film a big novel. Watched it all. IMDB reviewers warn that some details from the 1000+ page book are missing, as well as entire characters such as Tom Bombadil.

Mark of the Vampire (1935, USA) – Spends too much time on convincing the characters that they’re actually dealing with vampires. Yes yes, those mysterious marks on the neck are unexplainable by modern medicine – get on with it! The actual vampire scenes are enjoyable, but clichéd, with the usual wailing, spiders and mist. Or perhaps they hadn’t become cliches yet at this point? Watched: 20 minutes.

The Last Days of Pompeii (1935, USA) – To-ga, to-ga, to-ga! Featuring matte paintings and Romans who are inexplicably opposed to slavery. Watched: 11 minutes.

The Raven (1935, USA) – No, judge, I don’t think the doctor with the Hungarian accent who says his cellar full of Poe-inspired torture instruments is “more than a hobby” should be trusted near your daughter. Watched: 23 minutes.

Captain Blood (1935, USA) – I hate Errol Flynn and his movies. Perfect, smirking heroes fighting for Freedom and The Girl. Always the same plot, regardless of the “historical” setting. But, god damn it, this isn’t too bad. Flynn smirks less than usual. If I had to see one Flynn movie, I suppose this would be it. Watched: 42 minutes.