'Murder!' is much thrilling and better movie than its current (2018) score might imply, although bit meandering and uneven in pacing the story is still interesting and well though out. The opening scene where camera movies along the street and people open their windows to the noise is pure example of genius director at work. The courtroom scene and the one after that where the jury argues over the verdict is wonderfully suspenseful. With the jury scene Hitchcock also plays wonderful trick how people with different opinions and understandings are sometimes simply bullied to agree with the great majority without even listening their arguments. The middle part of the film where the main character tries to solve the murder, although offering some humorous moments might seem bit dull to some, but shortly before the great reveal, the film picks up the pace and thrills when the main character starts his cat and mouse game with the supposed killer. And then the thrilling ending.Definitely worthwhile early Hitchcock picture.

On a noisy evening, beautiful British stage player Norah Baring (as Diana Baring) is found with the bludgeoned body of a rival actress and a bloody fireplace poker. After a short investigation, Ms. Baring is charged with murdering the other woman. However, the accused can't recall a thing she did, and nearly admits guilt on the witness stand. Actor, playwright, producer and juror Herbert Marshall (as John Menier) thinks Baring may not have committed the crime. Calling the defendant "pretty," Mr. Marshall sets out to prove the attractive young woman did not commit "Murder!" Obviously very well-versed, Marshall mentions Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" and quotes Shakespeare. "The play's the thing" (from "Hamlet"), he believes will help identify the real killer. Marshall decides to write a story about the murderer and engage suspects in the role...This early "talkie" is most notable for being directed by Alfred Hitchcock, eventually acclaimed as one of the 20th century's greatest filmmakers. After a nice (tracking) opening, Mr. Hitchcock gets a little cluttered and almost loses the fact that there is a murder victim somewhere near the bottom of the screen. However, this being Hitchcock, we do get a good look at tea and women's underwear. There is more experimentation here than in some of the master's other early films – which should interest the academic viewer. It's fun to see him developing skills. In one of the supporting roles, Esme Percy (as Handel Fane) stands out. He plays an actor who assumes both masculine and feminine roles into adulthood, due to a high-pitched voice. He's also seen on the flying trapeze in a circus act. Moreover, the character is apparently bisexual. That's versatility! ***** Murder! (7/31/30) Alfred Hitchcock ~ Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring, Esme Percy, Edward Chapman

A jury finds an actress guilty of murder. Afterward, one of the jurors (Herbert Marshall) has second thoughts about their verdict. So he decides to conduct his own investigation into the crime. Early talkie from Alfred Hitchcock is notable for featuring the first voice-over in film history. Obviously the film shows the limitations of the medium in 1930. Given those limitations, Hitch's direction is all the more impressive. You can see some of the master's burgeoning greatness in some of the techniques he uses and the little bits of humor sprinkled throughout. It's still a slow-moving and often creaky relic of early sound filmmaking, but it managed to keep my interest. Nice ending, too.

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.