Murder!

This article is about 1930 British film. For the novel in A Series of Unfortunate Events, see The Reptile Room. For other uses, see Murder (disambiguation).

Murder!
Theatrical Poster
Directed by	Alfred Hitchcock
Produced by	John Maxwell
Written by	Alfred Hitchcock Walter C. Mycroft
Starring	Herbert Marshall Norah Baring
Music by	John Reynders
Cinematography	Jack E. Cox
Editing by	Rene Marrison
Distributed by	British International Pictures Inc. Wardour Films
Release date(s)	July 31, 1930
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Murder! is a 1930 British drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring and Edward Chapman. It is based on a novel and play called Enter Sir John by Clemence Dane and Helen Simpson. It was Hitchcock's third all-talkie film, after Blackmail and Juno and the Paycock.

After being thought in the public domain for decades, the film's rights were obtained by French media company Canal+ in 2005.^{[citation needed]} A restored and remastered print of the film was released on DVD by Lionsgate Home Entertainment in 2007.

Plot synopsis

Diana Baring, an actress in a traveling theatre troupe, is found standing over the body of a murdered colleague, and has no memory of what happened. The women were known to have been enemies, and the police arrest Diana. 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, a celebrated actor-manager, is not convinced and, using skills he has learned from the theatre, investigates the circumstances of the case. He enlists the help of Ted Markham and his wife and they re-examine the crime scene.

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.

Production

The film was made by British International Pictures. It was originally to be released under the same title as the novel Enter Sir John but this was changed to the simpler Murder! during shooting.^[1] A number of changes were made from the book including the alteration of the names of the two principal characters. The portrayal of the character Sir John Mernier was loosely based on that of the actor Gerald du Maurier who was a friend of Hitchcock.^[2] Hitchcock makes his cameo appearance in the film as a man walking past the murder victim's house.^[3]

Cast

• Herbert Marshall as Sir John Menier
• Norah Baring as Diana Baring
• Phyllis Konstam as Doucie Markham
• Edward Chapman as Ted Markham
• Miles Mander as Gordon Druce
• Esme Percy as Handel Fane
• Donald Calthrop as Ion Stewart
• Esme V. Chaplin as Prosecuting Counsel
• Amy Brandon Thomas as Defending Counsel
• Joynson Powell as Judge
• S.J. Warmington as Bennett
• Marie Wright as Miss Mitcham
• Hannah Jones as Mrs Didsome
• Una O'Connor as Mrs Grogram
• R.E. Jeffrey as Foreman of the Jury
• Alan Stainer as Jury Member
• Kenneth Kove as Mr. Mathews, Jury Member
• Guy Pelham Boulton as Jury Member
• Violet Farebrother as Mrs. Ward, Jury Member
• Clare Greet as Jury Member
• Drusilla Wills as Jury Member
• Robert Easton as Jury Member
• William Fazan as Jury Member
• George Smythson as Jury Member
• Ross Jefferson as Jury Member
• Picton Roxborough as Jury Member
• Alfred Hitchcock as Man on Street (uncredited)
• Gus McNaughton as Tom Trewitt (uncredited)

References

1. ^ Yacowar p.240
2. ^ Chandler p.80
3. ^ Chandler p.80

Bibliography

• Chandler, Charlotte. It's only a movie: Alfred Hitchcock : a personal biography. First Applause, 2006.
• Yacowar, Maurice. Hitchcock's British Films. Wayne State University Press, 2010.

External links

• Murder! at the Internet Movie Database
• Murder! at AllRovi
• Murder! Eyegate Gallery