Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Murder! Blu-ray Movie Review

Darkness... into the pitch-black of night.

A classic whodunit from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, 1930's Murder is one of the auteur filmmaker's earliest efforts in the genre. Produced by John Maxwell (Letting in the Sunshine, East of Shanghai) and based on the novel Enter Sir John by Clemence Dane and Helen Simpson, the stylistic flourishes of Hitchcock are on full display while playing with the expectations of audiences. Hitchcock takes a detour and brings viewers up to speed.

The mystery is explored with a quiet sense of contemplation which only a master director like Alfred Hitchcock could harness. Diana Baring (Norah Baring) is a beautiful young woman who is found next to a dead body at a scene which points in her direction as the murderer at large. Becoming a suspected murderer in the blink of an eye, the quiet-minded Diana is brought into custody and is swiftly put on trial for the murder of the recently deceased. Juror Sir John Menier (Herbert Marshall) decides to investigate the mystery of the murder and seeks help with theater stage manager Ted Markham (Edward Chapman). A stirring who-dun-it continues to unfold.

The production is well-mounted with a number of impressive filmmaking elements at play. The end result is a film which features some pitch-perfect components. The gorgeously complex black and white cinematography by Jack E. Cox (Mary, The Lady Vanishes) brings a noir-style aspect to the production which is pitch-black and remarkably compelling.

Murder, Hitchcock style.

Edited by Rene Marrison (The Skin Game, East of Shanghai), Hitchcock lets the storytelling flow leisurely with a sense of rhythm which is focused on characters and quiet moments throughout the editing process. The tempo of the classical filmmaking is fascinating. As water flows, the creativity of the editing makes a smooth impression.

The screenplay by Alfred Hitchcock (director of North by Northwest, Psycho, and other classics) and co-screenwriters Walter C. Mycroft (Footsteps in the Sand), and Alma Reville (Shadow of a Doubt) crafts a compelling yarn that will ultimately have audiences wondering what will happen next as the storyline unfolds with heightened drama at every turn in the mystery. The element of suspense is something Hitchcock was only just beginning to learn how to master. Watching it unfold is worth admission.

This early production is a solid example of Hitchcock's continual development as an auteur director with a complete understanding of his craft. While not necessarily an outright classic as impressive as efforts like Rear Window, Rope, and Dial M for Murder, the filmmaking of Murder is nonetheless impressive and the performances are palpable. Hitchcock enthusiasts should check it out.

Murder! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber, Murder features a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. Hitchcock fans should certainly take note of this impressive presentation: the print quality is largely exceptional. Though there are occasional specks of dirt on the print and slight scratches, the picture-quality is fantastic for the most part.

The print is in surprisingly good shape given the age of the film. Of particular note, black levels are especially impressive and are more robust than expected. The image has exceptional clarity and viewers will find it easy to become absorbed by the filmmaking with the crisp black-and-white photography. The style of Hitchcock can be easily felt with this presentation. A worthy release.

Murder! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release is presented with a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio mono audio soundtrack. Much to my surprise, the audio quality on the release was not as strong as I expected to find. In fact, the presentation is decidedly average sounding. The volume of the audio track is certainly on the low side and most viewers will need to turn the volume up on their remote controls. Dialogue is never as crystal clear or dynamic as desirable. There are moments where the softness seems to be underwhelming and the track could have used a more thorough remastering.

Ultimately, the audio track on the release is average at best and has noticeable signs of age. The dynamics sound a bit thin and underwhelming. Though there are no egregious issues with hiss, warps, pops, or clicks, the audio track simply never shines as much as one hopes. Far from a perfect audio presentation but a lossless track which ultimately offers a decent-enough level of clarity (even if it never is equal to matching the video-transfer). Optional English subtitles are provided.

Murder! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Critic Nick Pinkerton

Mary (SD, Upscale, 1:22:07) is the 1931 German version of Murder (which was also directed by Hitchcock) with slight alterations to the production. For those interested in comparing the two productions and their differences, Kino has done well to include the German version.

Hitchcock/Truffaut Interview (Audio Only, 14:19) is an archival interview between the two auteur filmmakers set against a backdrop of still photography. It's a great listen for fans of the filmmakers. Listening to the pair of auteur directors should be considered a necessity for cinema enthusiasts.

Introduction by Noël Simsolo (SD, 5:12) features some fascinating tidbits about Murder which make it a complimentary component to a viewing of the film.

Alternate Ending (HD, 10:06)

Murder Trailer (HD, 1:12)

Lastly, the release includes a selection of trailers for other Alfred Hitchcock films available on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber: Blackmail (HD, 1:15), The Paradine Case (SD, 1:43), Under Capricorn (SD, 2:04), and Lifeboat (HD, 1:28).

Murder! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock will want to see this early suspense film (one of the first to truly delve into showcasing the darker side of the master filmmaker as he developed his iconic filmmaking style). Murder might not stand as one of Hitchcock's masterpieces but it's still an entertaining classic that is worthy of exploration and discussion. Kino has presented with the film with an impressive transfer and some absorbing supplements to round out the package. Hitchcock enthusiasts will certainly want to add the release to their collection. The release comes recommended.