Murder, He Says **** (1945, Fred MacMurray, Helen Walker, Marjorie Main) – Classic Movie Review 11,113

‘IT’LL KILL YOU… WITH LAUGHTER!’

Director George Marshall’s 1945 Paramount Pictures black and white comedy thriller Murder, He Says is a twisted and hilarious combination of high camp and extremely black humour that is funnier than most of the many later films to attempt this kind of mix.

Giving a first-class comedy turn, Fred MacMurray heads an ideal cast of players who are up to the challenge.

While out gathering statistics to analyse, an insurance salesman pollster called Pete Marshall (MacMurray) chances upon a hillbilly family of bank robbers and homicidal maniacs and joins in their search for hidden treasure. Ma Johnson (Marjorie Main) wants the family to find cousin Bonnie Fleagle (Barbara Pepper)’s $70,000 bank job stash, somewhere in the rickety large old house.

A popular hit when released, Murder, He Says has stood the test of time.

Also in the cast are Marjorie Main, Helen Walker, Peter Whitney, Jean Heather, Porter Hall, Mabel Paige, Barbara Pepper, Walter Baldwin, James Flavin, Francis Ford, Si Jenks, Milton Parsons, Syd Saylor, Ralph Peters, Tom Fadden, George McKay and Joel Friedkin.

Writers: Lou Breslow (screenplay), Jack Moffitt (story).

Murder, He Says is directed by  George Marshall, runs 91 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Lou Breslow, is shot in black and white by Theodor Sparkuhl, is produced by E D Leshin, is scored by Robert Emmett Dolan and designed by Hans Dreier.

It is shot in Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,113

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