Murder at Covent Garden: A Dusty Old Whodunnit

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a serious itch for black-and-white British mysteries from the thirties. If you prefer your pacing to be anything faster than a slow walk through a library, you’re going to hate this.

It’s the kind of movie that feels like it was filmed in a shoebox. Everything happens in dimly lit offices or stage wings where people whisper important plot points way too loudly.

The Vibe

There’s a scene about midway through where a character spends way too long looking at a prop vase. It wasn't a clue, or at least it didn't seem to be, but the camera just sat there. I think the editor might have fallen asleep.

It reminded me a bit of the awkward stillness in Shadows, though without the same level of charm. The whole thing feels slightly dusty, like someone pulled it off a shelf that hasn't been touched since the war.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Murder at Covent Garden (1932) through its definitive frames.

Observations from the cheap seats

• The lighting in the backstage scenes is hilariously bad. You can see the shadows of the boom mics on the back walls in at least three different shots.
• Binnie Barnes is trying her best to carry the whole thing on her back. She’s the only one who seems to know what movie she’s in.
• Everyone wears hats. Even when they’re indoors. It’s very distracting.
• The dialogue sounds like it was written by someone who had only ever heard people talk in stage plays, never in real life.

I found myself thinking about The Silent Witness while watching this. That one at least had a sense of urgency. Here? It’s just people walking into rooms, looking confused, and then walking out.

There’s a moment where a character is meant to be shocked by a revelation, but they just sort of stand there blinking. Classic.

Final thoughts

It isn't a disaster, but it’s thin. Like, paper-thin. You can see the strings pulling the actors around, and the plot holes are big enough to drive a double-decker bus through. Still, there’s a certain comfort in how predictable it is. You know exactly when the 'big reveal' is coming because the music swells in that really cheesy, obvious way.

Not something I’d watch twice. But if you’re bored on a rainy Tuesday, it’s a way to kill an hour without having to think too hard about anything at all. 🕵️‍♂️