On M List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)

---

Murder! (1930)

Rate: 1
Viewed: 7/24

7/24: I'll like to say that Murder! is the worst movie Alfred Hitchcock had ever directed, but my vote still goes to The Trouble with Harry.

The case was over after the jury rendered its verdict. There's nothing else to talk about. Yet this moron by the name of "Sir" John decides to pursue the matter even further. That's what the jury is for! There's no rule they have to decide in an hour or less. Take their time...days, weeks, months...however long. They also have the power to visit the murder scene and explore anything that's on their minds. At the end, the murderer comes freely out of his own volition and subtly acknowledges that he did it. Yeah, sure.

But really, the movie is ruined by the lack of explanation about what happened. As a result, I got lost from start to finish on top of the poor script. Instead, I'm treated to a lot of pauses by Herbert Marshall, slowing the film down a great deal, because he thinks that's what constitutes "acting." No, it isn't...he's just wasting my time while boring the heck out of me! Alfred Hitchcock is also interested in different technical aspects such as following two women as they walk between two rooms, but they're so distracting and unnecessary.

All in all, Alfred Hitchcock was most certainly a bad director during the early period of his career until The 39 Steps came along.

---