THE MURDER MAN
US, 1935, 69 minutes, Black and white
Spencer Tracy, Virginia Bruce, Lionel Atwill, Harvey Stephens, James Stewart, William Demarest.
Directed by Tim Whelan.
The Murder Man is one of many newspaper reporter films, so popular in the 1930s, from The Front Page to its remake, His Girl Friday in 1941. They tend to be fast-paced, quick-speaking journalists, brief action, social concerns?
Spencer Tracy portrays an alcoholic reporter who is an expert in getting his stories about murders on the front page before any other newspaper. He becomes involved in an investigation – with a huge twist at the end, involving him. Virginia Bruce is a secretary who is devoted to him. Lionel Atwill is a sympathetic police captain.
A man is murdered, and he is revealed to have been a swindler as well as a womaniser. His partner, also in on deals, is framed for the murder, found guilty and sentenced to execution.
At the last minute, Spencer Tracy is invited to interview him before he dies – and brings about the twist in who did the murder. In the supporting cast is James Stewart, in a characteristic genial role as a journalist as well as William Demarest.
Brief running time, but a very effective 30s entertainment.
1. The films from the 1930s: brief, brisk, murder stories, detection and investigations, newspapers and reporters? Capital punishment?
2. Black and white photography, the city, offices, the streets? Realistic? The score?
3. The title, Steve Grey and his reputation? The audience not seeing him until after his character is established? The search, the presumptions about his alcoholism, his being away? His reputation as a journalist? The interactions with the impatient editor? Mary and her devotion? Working with the staff, the various journalists, his dictating his stories, seeing him in action? The interview with Mander, his predicting what would happen, the front pages? The reaction of the other journalists? Shorty and his support? In court, the testimony, the guilty verdict? Grey and his working, drinking? The background story of Dorothy, her involvement with the swindler? Her death and its being visualised? The articles? His plans, talking with his father, his father being defrauded? His plan to go on a holiday? The final challenge, going to interview Mander, listening to him, his plea, change of heart, dictating the story, throwing it away? The truth? Mary hearing it? The captain and his friendship, Grey confessing? Mary and the intervention? The details of the back-story, the explanation of how he did the murder, the visualising it during his investigation? The arrest? The last line – as something of a copout?
4. The businessman, the phone call, breaking with the girl, his callous attitude? The chauffeur, the discussions with his partner? His not knowing of the girl’s death? The shooting? The role of Mander, at the shooting gallery, wanting the message, the truth, Steve and the rehearsal of how the murder could be done? The guilt, Steve and his father? Dorothy and the man deserving to die?
5. Mary, her character, work in the office, support, destroying the article, going to the police?
6. The captain, the investigations, the rehearsals, the shooting gallery, the interviews, the speculations?
7. Steve and his going to talk with Mander, framing Mander, the twist and its effect?
