Narcotic (1933) 1080p Pre-Code Dwain Esper Exploitation

Drama | Pre-Code | Exploitation | USA | B&W | 61min | Directors: Dwain Esper, Vival Sodar't Cast: Harry Cording, Joan Dix, Patricia Farley, Jean Lacy, Miami Alvarez As the opening scroll explains, "Narcotic" was "presented in the hope that the public may become aware of the terrific struggle to rid the world of drug addiction." The movie itself is a salacious plunge into a world of sordid pleasures. It tells the story of Dr. William G. Davies, an infamous snake-oil salesman who started his career as a promising medical student. But the allure of opium proves too strong for the doctor to resist. After a single night of relaxation in a Chinatown opium den, Davies becomes a slave to drugs. As his medical practice deteriorates, he shifts his attention to "selling medicine by demonstration." He tells his nurse/fiancee, "I can't see anything wrong if my preparation has merit." However, his "preparation" is one of the great quack cure-alls: "Tiger-Fat." Davies soon becomes one of the leading sideshow attractions for a carnival. His success as a carnival huckster initially allows him to run with a fast crowd. Written and produced by director Dwain Esper's wife Hildegarde Stadie, the Tiger Fat Elixir Carny sideshow storyline came from Stadie's own childhood, when she travelled with her snake oil salesman uncle, who really did sell a cure-all elixir called Tiger Fat. The film includes an appearance of Elmer McCurdy, an Oklahoma would-be bank robber who was killed in 1911, and whose embalmed body circulated through various sideshows, fun houses and amusement parks for over 60 years. McCurdy's body was not only used as that of a "drug addict" in the film but was put on display by Dwain Esper at screenings of the movie. McCurdy was eventually discovered in a Long Beach (CA) funhouse in 1977 by a film crew for the TV series The Six Million Dollar Man and he was returned to Oklahoma for proper burial.