Murder!

1930 "Who killed Edna Druce?"
6.3| 1h42m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 24 November 1930 Released
Producted By: British International Pictures
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

When a woman is convicted of murder, one of the jurors selected to serve on the murder-trial jury believes the accused, an aspiring actress, is innocent of the crime and takes it upon himself to apprehend the real killer.

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Reviews

Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike
RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
clanciai This early Hitchcock feature is full of innovations typical of Hitchcock in his early days of the talkies, which were sometimes wildly experimental, like here. At the same time it's his slowest film, you have to be patient with some trying scenes, but the main asset of the film is the very shrewd story. Two actresses, who have been quarrelling rivals, meet to make peace, which meeting ends with one of them being found dead, battered to death by a poker lying beside her, while the other actress sits paralysed and can't remember anything. She is brought to trial, of course, and the jury seems to take it for granted that she must be guilty, there is no other explanation, while Herbert Marshall is the last jury member to be persuaded to agree on the verdict, which he afterwards regrets, he continues brooding on the issue, and then comes the great shaving scene, which is central in the film. He shaves while there is his monologue, and as the radio playing Wagner's Tristan overture reaches an emotional peak, the clue to the mystery dawns upon him, and he starts his own investigation together with another actor of the theatre.There are many interesting scenes, for instance when the police question the actors during am om-going theatre performance, the famous jury session, striking details such as the loose teeth, and the famous climax, where Hitchcock proves himself fully fledged.The music plays an important part here, especially the circus orchestra sharpens your attention, but the ingenious plot is the main thing. Pardon the slow motion, but it's still definitely Hitchcock.
blanche-2 Two things make Murder! interesting before one even sees it - it's early Hitchcock and the film is 87 years old!It's not your typical Hitchcock story. A famous actor (Herbert Marshall) sits on a jury that convicts a young actress, Diana (Norah Baring) of murder, but he's haunted by the verdict. He had an encounter with this woman some time before and suggested she gain experience by "working in the provinces." He now feels slightly responsible, as she is accused of murdering a young female costar.Enlisting the help of a married couple in the company, he sets out to find out what really happened.Marshall is young and attractive, and Esme Percy as Handel Fane is very memorable. A distinguished stage actor, he actually studied with Sarah Bernhardt, and roles were written for him by Bernard Shaw. His style and look are unusual.This was filmed in a precise manner - the camera focusing on doorways, going along the floor where the murder took place and showing the bloody poker.The climax of the film is pure Hitchcock and astounding. Well worth sitting through this early movie. Hitchcock always is.
wes-connors On a noisy evening, beautiful British stage player Norah Baring (as Diana Baring) is found with the bludgeoned body of a rival actress and a bloody fireplace poker. After a short investigation, Ms. Baring is charged with murdering the other woman. However, the accused can't recall a thing she did, and nearly admits guilt on the witness stand. Actor, playwright, producer and juror Herbert Marshall (as John Menier) thinks Baring may not have committed the crime. Calling the defendant "pretty," Mr. Marshall sets out to prove the attractive young woman did not commit "Murder!" Obviously very well-versed, Marshall mentions Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" and quotes Shakespeare. "The play's the thing" (from "Hamlet"), he believes will help identify the real killer. Marshall decides to write a story about the murderer and engage suspects in the role...This early "talkie" is most notable for being directed by Alfred Hitchcock, eventually acclaimed as one of the 20th century's greatest filmmakers. After a nice (tracking) opening, Mr. Hitchcock gets a little cluttered and almost loses the fact that there is a murder victim somewhere near the bottom of the screen. However, this being Hitchcock, we do get a good look at tea and women's underwear. There is more experimentation here than in some of the master's other early films – which should interest the academic viewer. It's fun to see him developing skills. In one of the supporting roles, Esme Percy (as Handel Fane) stands out. He plays an actor who assumes both masculine and feminine roles into adulthood, due to a high-pitched voice. He's also seen on the flying trapeze in a circus act. Moreover, the character is apparently bisexual. That's versatility! ***** Murder! (7/31/30) Alfred Hitchcock ~ Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring, Esme Percy, Edward Chapman
Martin Teller A mundane and predictable whodunit by Hitchcock, but not entirely without merit. As an early sound picture, there are a number of audio issues. Some of this might be due to a somewhat sloppy print, but the mixing is quite poor and the dialogue is occasionally incomprehensible. More troublesome is the way the actors pause far too long between lines. It completely throws the pacing off and often makes the film an exasperating trial of patience. However, Hitch is having a lot of fun experimenting with the form. Some very inventive use of editing, camera movement and transitions. Also some wonderful shots... the shadow of the gallows creeping up the wall of the cell, just to name one, not to mention the stunning climax. There's some good bits of comedy as well, like the scene where the landlady makes tea and Doucie follows her back and forth between rooms, taking a seat and getting up every time. It could have been a pretty good movie with little more rehearsal to tighten up the pacing, and a slightly more interesting script. As it is, it's not bad, but mostly just baby steps of the development of a great director.