Whodunit thread November 2016
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MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(November 30, 2016 11:44 PM)
They Call it Murder
(1971):
It's been about 2 years since I've seen it. I thought that I'd give it another look.
This is the only Doug Selby mystery which has ever been filmed. This detective-D.A. was created by the Erle Stanley Gardner, who created Perry Mason. I would love to see all the Doug Selby mysteries in print again, and it would be nice if all of them could be filmed. I've only had the pleasure of reading a couple of the books which I was lucky enough to find.
This film is based on the novel
The D.A. Draws a Circle
(which I read once). It's a rather complicated story about multiple murders, characters involved in other shady deals, etc. Obviously I love Jim Hutton in the leading role, and I really liked Leslie Nielsen in a supporting role. He did a super job.
The film is a bit slow-moving at times, but still worth a look.Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(December 05, 2016 08:50 PM)
Currently watching the 1935 mystery-thriller
The Murder Man
, which revolves around the murder of a big-shot businessman and how a team of reporters handle reporting of the case, etc. Great cast, including Spencer Tracy, Virginia Bruce, James Stewart, and Robert Barrat.Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(December 06, 2016 04:20 PM)
All I can say about this film (besides the fact that it's fantastic) is that Spencer Tracy should have received acting noms, especially for his work in the final 15 minutes of the movie.
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(December 06, 2016 09:38 PM)
Four films based on
Edgar Wallace
novels:
First viewings:
The Human Monster
(1930s, also known as
The Dark Eyes of London
)
The Door With Seven Locks
(1940)
Multiple viewings:
The Terror
(1930s, already reviewed on this thread)
Before Dawn
(1933)Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(December 17, 2016 10:56 PM)
I keep forgetting to review
Before Dawn
on this thread. This one's highly recommended for those who like the following: isolated house, secret passage (and this one has something extra added to it), sinister characters, a lot of money stashed somewhere in the house, and fortune tellers. It should be obvious early on who the culprit is, but it's still a fun film to watch. Great to see Warner Oland play a character other than Charlie Chan!Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
Angel_Buffy — 9 years ago(December 29, 2016 07:11 PM)
The Ninth Guest is a great mystery. It's one of those great films with people stuck somewhere and slowly being killed off, and they have to ask themselves is one of them a murderer? Or are they not as alone as they thought?
It strongly reminds me of And Then There Were None, but really interestingly, pre-dates it. It even gets a little creepy at parts.
It's one film that I think is a real shame has been largely forgotten. -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(December 29, 2016 10:43 PM)
I'm completely convinced that Agatha Christie got ideas from this film for the novel
And Then There Were None
.
The Ninth Guest
, by the way, is based on a mystery novel, which I was lucky enough to find and read. The movie is quite faithful to the original source material. The story is extremely far-fetched, but that's what makes it all the more interesting.
I agree that
The Ninth Guest
is creepy at times. It's also well acted, especially by Donald Cook, whom I've seen in other mystery films and whom I like. (He also had a supporting role in the 1933 movie
Baby Face
.)
Honestly, I don't know why this film isn't better remembered. It's such a terrific mysteryfar more atmospheric and horrific than the 1940s version of
And Then There Were None
!Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
Angel_Buffy — 9 years ago(December 30, 2016 12:08 AM)
I just agreed to do a film exchange with a friend (we each watch movies that the other recommended) and I've given them The Ninth Guest just to start spreading the number of people who've seen it!
Interesting to know it's based on a bookneed to see if I can't find it myself. Would love to read that -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(January 02, 2017 09:26 PM)
The Murderer Lives at Number 21
.
my second or third viewing. Great whodunit-thriller. Only some of the humor during the first part of the film is a bit annoying. Otherwise, excellent story with a terrific ending.
http://www.imdb.com/board/10034478/?ref_=nv_sr_1Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(January 02, 2017 09:58 PM)
The Crime Nobody Saw
(1937).written by Ellery Queen, but this whodunit doesn't feature their most famous detective.
Great whodunit about several authors hired to write a play. They are struggling with this assignment in an apartment. Then, things start to happen with their neighbors.
http://www.imdb.com/board/10028748/?ref_=nv_sr_1Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 9 years ago(January 02, 2017 11:08 PM)
Grizzly's Millions
.a rich older relative is murdered, and his granddaughter becomes a suspect. I've seen this before. It's a good isolated house mystery, with a scary-looking deep plunge into a river (on the rich man's property), with only a very difficult way across it.
http://www.imdb.com/board/10037752/?ref_=nv_sr_1Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =