Murder!
Murder! is a 1930 British mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, adapted from the novel Enter Sir John by Clemence Dane and Helen Simpson, and starring Herbert Marshall as Sir John Menier and Norah Baring as Diana Baring.[1] The story centers on a theater actress convicted of murdering a colleague, only for a juror—played by Marshall—to question her guilt and launch a personal investigation to uncover the true killer.[1] Produced by British International Pictures, the film was Hitchcock's third sound feature, following Blackmail (1929) and Juno and the Paycock (1930), and marked the first time he employed voice-over narration to convey a character's interior monologue, a technique used during a scene where Sir John reflects on the case while shaving.[1][2] The screenplay was written by Alfred Hitchcock and Walter C. Mycroft, with adaptation by his wife Alma Reville,[3] cinematography by Jack Cox, and it also features a supporting cast including Phyllis Konstam, Edward Chapman, and Miles Mander.[1] Shot at Elstree Studios, Murder! incorporates Hitchcock's signature themes of wrongful accusation and theatricality, set against the backdrop of a touring theater company, and includes innovative elements like a comedic farce sequence within the narrative.[1][4] The film's plot unfolds in the world of London theater, where the murder of actress Edna Druce leads to the arrest of Diana Baring, found dazed at the scene with the weapon in hand; despite her conviction, Sir John Menier, a respected actor on the jury, experiences doubts during deliberations and begins probing the evidence, suspects, and motives of the troupe's members, including the mixed-race actor Handel Fane (Esmé Percy), whose hidden personal turmoil drives the crime.[1] Murder! subtly explores social issues such as prejudice and identity, with hints at Fane's homosexuality adding layers to the whodunit structure, though the resolution emphasizes justice over suspense.[1] Released on 31 July 1930 in the UK,[5] it received mixed contemporary reviews for its dialogue-heavy style but has since been recognized as an important early example of Hitchcock's mastery of sound cinema and his recurring motif of the innocent under suspicion.[6][1]Synopsis and characters
Plot
The film opens shortly after a performance at a London theater, where Edna Druce, a member of a touring acting company, is bludgeoned to death in her dressing room with a poker.[7] Diana Baring, another actress in the company and the only witness, is discovered in a dazed, trance-like state beside the body, clutching the bloodied weapon, with no recollection of the events.[7] The police investigation quickly focuses on Diana, leading to her arrest and a swift trial for murder.[1] At the trial, the evidence overwhelmingly points to Diana's guilt, and the jury, after heated deliberations led by the esteemed actor Sir John Menier, votes unanimously to convict her, though Sir John expresses private reservations before reluctantly concurring.[7] Tormented by doubts and a sense of personal responsibility—having once rejected Diana for a role—Sir John launches a private investigation into the crime.[7] He enlists the aid of Ted Markham, Diana's fiancé and the stage manager of the company, and his wife Doucie, beginning by revisiting the crime scene and interrogating company members about the night of the murder.[7] Sir John's inquiries uncover suspicious clues, such as a bloodstained cigarette case and reports of a mysterious figure disguised as a policeman.[7] Visiting Diana in prison, he learns she is withholding information about a secret the victim knew but insists on her innocence, deepening his resolve.[7] The investigation narrows to Handel Fane, a fellow actor in the troupe whose love for Diana—jealousy over her engagement to Ted—combined with his hidden mixed-race heritage that Edna threatened to expose, provides a clear motive for the crime. To elicit a confession, Sir John orchestrates a mock audition for a play reenacting the murder, subtly confronting Fane with the evidence during the performance.[7] Shaken by the reenactment, Fane later commits suicide by hanging himself from a trapeze during a circus performance, leaving a confession admitting his guilt and motives. With the true killer unmasked, Diana is exonerated and released from prison, reuniting with Ted Markham as Sir John watches approvingly.[7] Hitchcock makes a brief cameo appearance as a passerby walking near the building where the body is discovered.[1]Cast
The cast of Murder! (1930) comprises a diverse ensemble of British performers, many of whom embody the film's dual worlds of theater and justice, with actors portraying fellow thespians, jurors, and courtroom figures to underscore the interplay between performance and reality.[8] The principal roles highlight the central conflict, led by Herbert Marshall as Sir John Menier, a prominent stage actor serving as a juror who transitions into an amateur investigator driven by doubt over the verdict. Norah Baring portrays Diana Baring, the young actress accused of the crime, whose vulnerability and profession tie into the troupe's dynamics.[8][9] Supporting characters flesh out the theatrical company and personal stakes, including Edward Chapman as Ted Markham, Diana's supportive fiancé and the stage manager of the company; Miles Mander as Gordon Druce, the troupe's authoritative manager; Esme Percy as Handel Fane, a complex performer harboring dark secrets; Phyllis Konstam as Doucie Markham, Ted's wife and a fellow actress; and Donald Calthrop as Ion Stewart, another troupe member involved in the unfolding drama.[8][10] The courtroom scenes feature an array of character actors as jury members, contributing to the film's emphasis on collective judgment, with R.E. Jeffrey as the jury foreman, alongside performers such as Violet Farebrother, Clare Greet, and Drusilla Wills in unspecified juror roles. Other notable contributions include Joynson Powell as the judge overseeing the trial and Amy Brandon Thomas as Miss Mitcham, Sir John's housekeeper providing domestic perspective.[9]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Herbert Marshall | Sir John Menier | Doubting juror and stage actor turned investigator |
| Norah Baring | Diana Baring | Accused actress from the theater troupe |
| Edward Chapman | Ted Markham | Diana's fiancé and stage manager |
| Miles Mander | Gordon Druce | Theater manager of the acting company |
| Esme Percy | Handel Fane | Troupe actor and the true culprit |
| Phyllis Konstam | Doucie Markham | Ted's wife and supporting actress |
| Donald Calthrop | Ion Stewart | Ensemble actor in the troupe |
| Joynson Powell | Judge | Presiding over Diana's trial |
| Amy Brandon Thomas | Miss Mitcham | Sir John's housekeeper |