We Who Are About to Die

We Who Are About to Die is a 1937 American crime drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Preston Foster, Ann Dvorak, and John Beal. It was based on a book,^[1] published while on death row,^[2] by David Lamson, who was tried four times for murdering his wife before being set free.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}

We Who Are About to Die
Lobby card
Directed by	Christy Cabanne James Anderson (assistant)
Written by	John Twist
Based on	We Who Are About to Die 1936 book by David Lamson[1]
Produced by	Edward Small
Starring	Preston Foster Ann Dvorak John Beal
Cinematography	Robert Planck
Edited by	Arthur Roberts
Production company	RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	January 8, 1937 (1937-01-08)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

A man is kidnapped by mobsters after quitting his job, then wrongly arrested, tried, and sentenced to death for murders they committed. A suspicious detective thinks he is innocent and works to save his life.

Cast

• Preston Foster as Steven Mathews
• Ann Dvorak as Miss Connie Stewart
• John Beal as John E. 'Johnny' Thompson
• Ray Mayer as Bright Boy Schultz
• Gordon Jones as Slim Tolliver
• Russell Hopton as 'Mac' MacAndrews
• J. Carrol Naish as Nick Trotti
• Paul Hurst as Tip Fuller
• Frank Jenks as Clyde Beasley
• John Wray as Jerry Daley
• Frank M. Thomas as M.L. Carter
• Barnett Parker as John Barkley
• Willie Fung as Kwong
• John Carroll as Joe Donahue
• DeWitt Jennings as Mike Brannigan
• Landers Stevens as Warden Lawton
• John 'Skins' Miller as Macy
• Howard Hickman as Prison Chaplain
• Robert Emmett O'Connor as Detective Mitchell

Production

Lamson was hired by producer Edward Small to work on the script.^[15]