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Death at Broadcasting House
Death at a Broadcast
UK 1934
produced by Hugh Perceval for Phoenix Films
directed by Reginald Denham
starring Ian Hunter, Austin Trevor, Lilian Oldland (as Mary Newland), Henry Kendall, Val Gielgud, Peter Haddon, Betty Ann Davies, Jack Hawkins, Donald Wolfit, Robert Rendel, Bruce Lester, Gordon McLeod, Hannen Swaffer, Vernon Bartlett, Eric Dunstan, Gillie Potter, Elisabeth Welch, Eve Becke, Gershom Parkington, Percival Mackey, Ord Hamilton, Ivor Barnard, Howard Douglas, Percy Rhodes, Vincent Holman
screenplay by Holt Marvell (= Eric Maschwitz), Basil Mason, based on the novel by Val Gielgud, music by Ord Hamilton
review by Mike Haberfelner
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During the live broadcast of a radioplay, actor Parsons (Donald Wolfit)
is strangled to death - while playing a man being strangled to death in a
studio separate from the main cast of the show. Police inspector Gregory
(Ian Hunter) soon finds himself confronted with a whole host of suspects
who could have done it, including the show's director Caird (Val Gielgud),
who has left the main studio during the murder, technician Evans (Jack
Hawkins), who was at the place suspiciously late and fails to come up with
proper explanations for many details, clueless drunk Bannister (Peter
Haddon), who acts a little too clueless to be wholly believable, and even
floor watchman Higgins (Ivor Barnard), who has left his post at the time
of the murder - and might just as well have snuck into Parsons' studio.
However, Gregory's superior (Gordon McLeod) urges him to arrest arrogant
actor Dryden (Austin Trevor), who has left the main studio during the time
of the crime as well and would have had plenty of opportunity and also a
motive to kill Parsons - Parsons apparently once had an affair with
Dryden's wife Joan (Mary Newland). However, for Gregory all the
circumstancial evidence pointing in one and the same direction falls
together a bit too perfectly, so he looks for alternative clues, including
the ticking of a watch that belongs to a killer that can be found on the
tape depicting the murder. And while he makes everyone believe the watch
is the main clue, he has long found out about Joan's background and her
affair with the unconspicuous writer of the show, who has once been Joan's
lover, and who has been blackmailed by Parsons, to the point where Parsons
had to go ... An enjoyably light-footed little thriller that
uses its backdrop, the radio studio, to full effect, as it not only adds
colour to the proceedings but is well-integrated into the plot as such,
introducing the world of broadcasting to the audience in a very enjoyable
way. Add to this a very decent pace, a subtle directorial effort, and a
first rate ensemble cast, and you come up with ... well, maybe no classic,
but a nice whodunnit that will in all probability entertain you
throughout.
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