Murder! (1930)

Best movie ever!

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Some critics think that Hitchcock was at his best in the early days of his career. If true, this film is certainly an example of it. Compared to other films by other directors of the period, this is 'chock-a-block' with all the delicious touches that his fans love. An uninterrupted parade of the most eccentric and deliciously comic characters pervades the film. Then there's the highly original and innovative cinematography and directing. One example is when Sir John summons some 'lower class' person to his office who, upon arriving, gapes at the elaborate décor before walking across a thick, luscious carpet that actually flexes and bends like water to indicate the perceived extent of its plushness . Typical of the best of Hitchcock, every scene merits close attention and typically rewards the viewer with something highly original and artistic. Worth every second of watching.

A recurring theme in Hitchcock's movies was the innocent accused who can't defend him or herself. In this case it's a young actress who is found, standing over the victim of a brutal murder, bloodied, with a fireplace poker at her feet. She has no recollection of the murder and is brought to court where she is convicted and sentenced to be hanged. But someone just doesn't believe she could have done this and begins to sort out evidence. All I can say is that there is so much promise in these early Hitchcock movies that pushes us forward to his more mature works. "Murder!" and "Blackmail" remain two of my favorite Hitchcock movies.

Very early Hitchcock is very interesting with its display of some Human Oddities like Homosexuality and Race Mixing. The Director interweaves these Fringe elements disdained and Hush-Hush in Polite Society and puts them in front of a backdrop of the British Caste System where everyone grovels at the feet of a "Sir".There are many Flamboyant touches that help propel this along with enough Showcasing to exploit its mixed Theme of Theatre Folk, Circus Performers, Stuffy Aristocrats, and the Criminal Justice System. It weaves Hamlet and Vagner with Vaudeville and the Big Top. The Director's Heavy Visual Hand is not as evident here, it seems more restrained and subtle, although they are at work nonetheless. Not the best of Hitchcock, even His two preceding Films, one Silent and one a Silent/Sound Hybrid were better. But even Midland Hitch is always a bit different and intriguing than the Midland of His Contemporaries.

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.