Main Cast: Fred MacMurray, Helen Walker, Marjorie Main, Porter Hall, Jean Heather
Release Year: 1945
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
Plot
Though it comes on much too strong at times, Murder, He Says fully justifies its present "cult" status. Professional pollster Pete Marshall (Fred MacMurray) gets more than he bargained for when he heads to hillbilly country to investigate the disappearances of several of his colleagues. Poor Pete stumbles across the Fleagle family, who have a quaint habit of murdering anyone they consider to be a nuisance. Whip-wielding Mamie (Marjorie Main), her deceptively meek husband Mr. Johnson (Porter Hall) and her hulking, lamebrained twin sons (both played by Peter Whitney) are searching for $70,000 hidden by Bonnie Parker-like desperado Bonnie Fleagle, and they don't intend to be disturbed by any outsiders like Pete. Having previously poisoned their troublesome grandma (Mabel Paige) with a curious substance that causes its victims to glow in the dark, Mamie and her brood try to dispatch Pete in the same manner, leading to an uproarious slapstick setpiece involving an elaborate "Lazy Susan" table. Complicating matters is the arrival of two different women (Helen Walker, Barbara Pepper) claiming to be the long-lost Bonnie Fleagle. Jean Heather costars as Elany Fleegle, the only sympathetic (but no less crack-brained) member of the killer brood. Its comedy content aside, Murder, He Says would be memorable for its eye-popping split-screen photography, thoroughly convincing the audience that Peter Whitney is indeed two different people. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Murder, He Says seems to divide audiences, with naysayers finding it either entirely too silly or else too cavalier in its comic treatment of murder. But for those who get "tuned into it," Murder is a rollicking little farce whose dark edges give it a very special tang. Certainly it's unusual to find a film, especially from this period, that takes such delight in a bunch of characters who are cold blooded killers. But it's also hard to keep from getting interested in this peculiar pack of ruthless schemers. As the whip-wielding Mamie, Marjorie Main is a hoot, and Peter Whitney makes inanity almost inspired as the twins. But it's the deft comic performance of Fred MacMurray that carries the film; his timing, whether he's acting as straight man or comic, is perfect, and his ability to be a sane voice in a world of insanity anchors what could be an unwieldy film. Helen Walker does quite well as his eventual love interest, and the entire cast is good. The script does go off on some tangents, but most of them are funny, and a number of set pieces -- such as the rotating table -- are first rate. George Marshall's direction deserves plaudits for keeping things not only moving but moving forward. As stated, some viewers won't find Murder to their taste at all, but those that do will relish it. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
E.D. Leshin - Associate Producer, Arthur S. Black, Jr. - First Assistant Director, George Marshall - Director, LeRoy Stone - Editor, Robert Emmett Dolan - Composer (Music Score), Hans Dreier - Production Designer, William Flannery - Production Designer, Theodor Sparkuhl - Cinematographer, George Sawley - Set Designer, Gordon Jennings - Special Effects, Paul K. Lerpae - Special Effects, Gene Merritt - Sound/Sound Designer, Jack Moffitt - Screen Story, Lou Breslow - Screenwriter
