Mary (1931) review - Hitchcock's German mystery is a bit clunky but cool

If you like watching old movies where people talk very slowly and look very serious in suits, you'll probably enjoy this. It is basically a direct remake of a British movie called Murder!, but everyone is speaking German. 🎙️

It’s a great pick for someone who likes detective stories but doesn't mind if the pacing feels a bit like a turtle walking through mud. If you need explosions or fast talking, you will probably hate this one within ten minutes.

Alfred Abel plays the main guy, a juror named Sir John. He has this very intense way of staring at things that makes you think he’s either solving a crime or forgot where he put his keys.

The movie starts in a jury room which is just a bunch of guys arguing. It feels very loud and crowded, and honestly, it goes on a bit too long.

You can tell the director was really excited about having sound in a movie. There is a famous scene where a character is shaving and listening to music on the radio.

The music is actually being played by a live orchestra behind the set while they filmed. It’s such a weird, extra detail that makes the scene feel special even if the plot isn't moving much.

The actress playing Mary mostly just has to look sad behind bars. She does a good job of looking like she’s about to cry for an hour straight.

I found myself looking at the sets a lot. Everything looks like a stage play, with very high ceilings and doors that look like they are made of cardboard.

It’s not quite as energetic as something like Oh What a Knight, but the mystery is actually decent. You really want to know who did it, even if the investigation involves a lot of walking around rooms slowly.

There is a scene in a bedroom where the wallpaper is so busy it almost gave me a headache. 😵‍💫 I think they wanted it to look fancy, but it just looks like a lot of squiggles.

The movie gets much better when Sir John actually leaves the jury room. He starts acting like a private eye, which is funny because he’s just a guy who was on a jury.

Some of the dialogue feels a bit stiff. It’s like the actors were afraid if they moved too fast, the microphones wouldn't catch them.

It reminds me a little of the stiff drama in The Leavenworth Case, where everything feels very formal. But there is a certain charm to how clunky it feels.

The ending happens so fast it’s almost funny. One minute they are investigating, and the next minute, everything is solved and the movie is over.

I wish we got to see more of the side characters. Most of them just show up, say one line, and disappear forever.

Overall, it's a moody little film. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got that heavy European atmosphere that makes you want to drink a coffee and wear a trench coat.

If you're looking for a quiet night and want to see how movies looked when sound was still a new toy, give it a go. Just don't expect a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time.