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

A murderous rural family, a hapless pollster and a hunt for a cache of money. Fred MacMurray gives a first-class comedy turn in the funny 1945 black and white comedy thriller Murder, He Says.

‘IT’LL KILL YOU… WITH LAUGHTER!’

Director George Marshall’s 1945 Paramount Pictures American 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. It also stars Helen Walker and Marjorie Main.

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 murderous rural family, a hapless pollster and a hunt for a cache of money: it is a grand mix for a black comedy thriller film. What more do you need? A witty screenplay like this one by Lou Breslow and a cast like this one to perform it. A much deserved popular hit when released, Murder, He Says has happily 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 94 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 is designed by Hans Dreier.

It was filmed in spring 1944 but Paramount delayed the release date to prioritise war-related films.

Release date: June 23, 1945.

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

The cast

The cast are Fred MacMurray as Pete Marshall, Helen Walker as Claire Matthews, Marjorie Main as Mamie Fleagle Smithers Johnson, Peter Whitney as both Mert and Bert Fleagle, Jean Heather, Porter Hall as Mr Johnson, Mabel Paige as Grandma Fleagle, Barbara Pepper as Bonnie Fleagle, Walter Baldwin, James Flavin, Francis Ford, Si Jenks, Milton Parsons, Syd Saylor, Ralph Peters, Tom Fadden, George McKay and Joel Friedkin.

Marjorie Main (February 24, 1890 – April 10, 1975)

Marjorie Main (born Mary Tomlinson) had a long-term relationship with the actress Spring Byington.

She played Ma Kettle in 10 Ma and Pa Kettle movies and appeared in film classics Dead End (1937), The Women (1939), Dark Command (1940), The Shepherd of the Hills (1941), Meet Me in St Louis (1944), and Friendly Persuasion (1956). 

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,113

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