Beggars in Ermine (DVD)

Crippled by a suspicious "accident," steel mill magnate John "Flint" Dawson (Lionel Atwill) loses both factory and family to his corrupt manager, James Marley. Destitute, the fallen man befriends a blind beggar who introduces him to a life of panhandling. During the next fifteen years, the once powerful industrialist builds another fortune by organizing a nationwide savings union for homeless men.

Finally the day arrives when John has enough money to take back his empire. Hiding his true identity, he launches a bidding war against Marley to gain a controlling interest in the mill. Marley stoops to robbing the pensions of his own workers to resist takeover, forcing John to the brink of defeat. Seizing a chance to rescue their beloved hero, the united band of wealthy "beggars" goes on a buying spree of the steel company's stock.

Originally a stage actor, Lionel Atwill is best known for playing villains and mad doctors. His title role in the horror classic, Doctor X (1932), began an incredible streak of successful horror and mystery films, including The Vampire Bat (1933), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), The Devil is a Woman (1935), Murder Man (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), Man Made Monster (1941), The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942), Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and many more.

• drama