Main Cast: Peggy Ann Garner, Randolph Scott, Lynn Bari, Dean Stockwell, James Gleason
Release Year: 1946
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
Plot
Based on a novel by Craig Rice, Home Sweet Homicide is a delightful blend of domestic comedy and murder mystery. Peggy Ann Garner, Dean Stockwell and Connie Marshall play Dinah, Archie and April Carstairs, the precocious offspring of widowed mystery writer Marian Carstairs (Lynn Bari). When a real-life murder occurs, the kids join forces to solve the crime over their mother's objections. It isn't that Dinah, Archie and April are all that interested in serving the cause of justice: it's simply that they want to play matchmaker for Marian and handsome homicide lieutenant Bill Smith (Randolph Scott). The revelation of the killer will come as no surprise to dyed-in-the-wool mystery movie fans, but this shouldn't spoil the fun. Incidentally, the actor billed as "John Shepard" is actually Shepperd Strudwick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Although Home Sweet Homicide is really no better than dozens of other standard-issue mystery flicks, it seems to strike a chord with many viewers, especially those who initially experience Homicide while they are in the same age group as the trio of children it has as its stars. Truth to tell, there's little to the script that's exceptional. Certainly the basic premise is a sound one, and it's executed in a perfectly acceptable way. At the same time, however, nothing really interesting or unusual occurs in the execution -- and portions of it are entirely predictable. Lloyd Bacon's direction is smooth but not terribly exciting. Still, Peggy Ann Garner, Dean Stockwell and Connie Marshall are all extremely winning, and Garner and Stockwell in particular perform with flair. Of the adults, James Gleason is his usual dependable self; Lynn Bari and Randolph Scott look good and do what is asked of them, but their work is adequate, no more. With nothing more going for it, Homicide should be instantly forgettable -- and yet it sticks in the head for days afterward, with bits of dialogue or remembrances of a moment from Garner or Stockwell bringing a pleasant smile to the lips. For all its flaws and commonplaces, Homicide has a small charm about it that lingers. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
FAMOUS QUOTE: "The Gat had Gittens". The meaning may be lost due to time, but a gun was known as a GAT. A Gat having Gittens (think cat having kittens) meant the gun had been shot a few times, the gat (gun) producing gittens (bullets). Other slang used for a gun was a heater, a rod and a piece.
