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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Murder in the Fleet remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you enjoy 1930s snappy dialogue and watching people in stiff uniforms pace around a ship, you’ll probably have a decent time. If you need your mysteries to actually keep you on the edge of your seat, you might want to skip this one. It’s definitely not for anyone who hates claustrophobic sets.
It feels a lot like Tell It to the Marines but with a body dropped in the middle of the hallway. The whole thing is basically a bunch of guys yelling at each other in tight corridors while pretending they aren't terrified.
There’s this one sequence where the tension is supposed to be sky-high, but the camera lingers on a guy’s nervous tic for so long it becomes genuinely funny. You can almost see the director yelling, "Look concerned! Now look more concerned!"
The dialogue is fast. Like, really fast. It’s all "Yes sir" and "Listen here, pal" and honestly, half the time I wasn't sure who was accusing who of what. It doesn't really matter though. You’re just here for the vibe of a ship that clearly isn't actually on the water.
There’s a weird lack of stakes for a story about a dead body and stolen tech. You never really feel like the secrets are *that* secret, or that the killer is *that* dangerous. It’s just people talking in rooms. Sometimes that’s enough. Sometimes it’s just a nap in film form.
It’s not as chaotic as Entr'acte, obviously, but it shares that strange feeling of being a bit disconnected from reality. It’s a B-movie through and through, and it doesn't try to be anything else. Maybe that’s why it’s kind of charming in a weird, dusty way.
Don't look for a grand message here. There isn't one. Just enjoy the uniforms and the weirdly specific naval jargon that probably isn't even real. 🚢
