Murder!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Murder! a 1930 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on a novel and play called Enter Sir John by Clemence Dane and Helen Simpson. The film stars Herbert Marshall and Norah Baring. It was Hitchcock's second all-talkie film, after Juno and the Paycock.
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[edit] Plot synopsis
An actress is found over the body of a murdered actress from her acting troupe, and has no memory of what happens. The ladies were known to have been enemies. At her trial the jury decides that she is either guilty or has schizophrenia and should be hanged lest she strike again. One juror, Sir John Menier, is not convinced and, using skills he has learned from the theatre, investigates the circumstances of the case.
Sir John discovers who the real murderer is, and tries to lure a confession from him. The action comes to a thrilling climax at the circus.
[edit] Cast
- Herbert Marshall - Sir John Menier
- Norah Baring - Diana Baring
- Edward Chapman - Ted Markham
- Phyllis Konstam - Dulcie Markam
- R.E. Jeffrey - Foreman of the Jury
- Miles Mander - Gordon Druce
- Esme Percy - Handel Fane
- Una O'Connor - Mrs. Grogman
[edit] Trivia
- The character of Sir John Menier was based on George du Maurier.
- Murder! was the first ever film to have a character's thoughts on the soundtrack. The scene where this takes place appears early on in the film. Sir John is shaving in his bathroom and he asks his valet to bring in the radio so that he can hear about the accused Diana Baring's progress in the news. After the news, the overture from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde is broadcast. Sir John thinks to himself that he must solve the crime as he listens to the music, his thoughts becoming more passionate as the music does. Due to the limited technology of the day, a phonograph record of the monologue was played while a small orchestra played Wagner's music behind the set.
- Hitchcock directed a German version, titled Mary, was filmed simultaneously on the same sets. Alfred Abel played Sir John. Two actors from Murder!, Esme V. Chaplin and Miles Mander, acted in it. It is 78 minutes long, 28 minutes shorter than Murder!
- It has been erroneously stated that the character of Handel fane, a male actor who plays the parts of women, was played by an actress. Handel Fane was played by Esme Percy, but some think that he was a woman because of his first name. There is in fact, an actress called Esme V. Chaplin in this film (she plays the prosecuting counsel).
- Hitchcock has a cameo role near the midpoint of the film, as a passerby in front of the house where the murder took place.
- In the film, there is a character who is ostracised because he is of mixed race (a "half-caste", in the language of 1930). However, in the source novel, he was ostracised because he was homosexual.
[edit] External links
| Alfred Hitchcock's films |
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| 1920s: The Pleasure Garden • The Mountain Eagle • The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog • Downhill • Easy Virtue • The Ring • The Farmer's Wife • Champagne • The Manxman • Blackmail • 1930s: Juno and the Paycock • Murder! • Elstree Calling • The Skin Game • Mary • Number Seventeen • Rich and Strange • Waltzes from Vienna • The Man Who Knew Too Much • The 39 Steps • Secret Agent • Sabotage • Young and Innocent • The Lady Vanishes • Jamaica Inn • 1940s: Rebecca • Foreign Correspondent • Mr. & Mrs. Smith • Suspicion • Saboteur • Shadow of a Doubt • Lifeboat • Aventure Malgache • Bon Voyage • Spellbound • Notorious • The Paradine Case • Rope • Under Capricorn • 1950s: Stage Fright • Strangers on a Train • I Confess • Dial M for Murder • Rear Window • To Catch a Thief • The Trouble with Harry • The Man Who Knew Too Much • The Wrong Man • Vertigo • North by Northwest • 1960s: Psycho • The Birds • Marnie • Torn Curtain • Topaz • 1970s: Frenzy • Family Plot |
