Murder!

Independent Films, Film Profiles

Murder! (1930) is a 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 third all-talkie film, after Juno and the Paycock and Blackmail.After being thought in the public domain for decades, the film's rights were obtained by French media company Canal+ in 2005. A restored and remastered print of the film was released on DVD by Lionsgate Home Entertainment in 2007.An actress is found standing over the body of a murdered colleague from her troupe, and has no memory of what happened. 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.