Just Another Murder: A hotel clerk who just won't listen

Is it worth your time?

If you like short, old-school comedies that don't care about making much sense, sure, give it a go. It’s essentially one long mistake. If you’re looking for high-stakes mystery, you’ll probably find this thing annoying or just plain flat.

The whole thing hinges on a hotel clerk who is told specifically to leave Mrs. Fish alone. Naturally, he does the exact opposite. It’s that kind of movie where you just want to yell at the screen for thirty seconds before realizing the character isn't going to listen to you anyway.

Vince Barnett plays that nervous, jittery type of guy you see in a lot of these older shorts. He’s got this way of twitching that makes you feel like the walls are closing in on him. It’s not subtle, but it works for the tone.

Small details that stick

There’s a moment in the lobby where the lighting seems to just… shift for no reason. It’s like the camera crew decided to move a lamp mid-shot and hoped we wouldn't notice. I watched it three times and I still don't get why it happened. Maybe it’s just the film stock showing its age, but it’s a weirdly charming mistake.

Watching this reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Police Court, though this one feels a lot more confined. It’s like everyone is trapped in this hotel and nobody really wants to be there. The script is basically a series of doors opening and closing with people looking confused inside.

Mrs. Fish is exactly the character you expect her to be. She’s loud. She’s demanding. She’s the kind of guest who makes you want to quit your job on the spot. I’ve worked front desk before, so I felt the clerk’s pain—right up until he started making his life worse on purpose.

• The dialogue is fast, almost too fast sometimes.
• Some of the reactions feel like they were filmed in a completely different room.
• The ending just sort of happens. It doesn't really resolve, it just stops.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a weird little artifact from a time when movies were about throwing people into rooms and seeing how much chaos they could cause before the reel ran out. It’s imperfect, kind of messy, and honestly? That’s why it’s actually fun to watch. It feels like a real human blunder captured on film. 🏨