The King Murder: A Dusty Old Whodunnit

Is this thing worth your time?

If you like movies that feel like they were pulled out of a time capsule from the early 1930s, sure. If you need pacing that doesn't drag or dialogue that doesn't sound like a radio play, stay away. This is for the folks who enjoy trying to guess the culprit while staring at grainy, black-and-white sets.

The whole vibe is very stage-y. You can almost hear the floorboards creaking under the actors' feet.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The King Murder (1932) through its definitive frames.

Notes from the couch

Our victim is this blonde woman who makes a living off blackmail. Honestly, she’s the most interesting person in the movie, which is a problem because she dies pretty fast. After that, we’re left with a bunch of nervous rich guys in suits. Some of them act so suspicious I thought they were going to confess to the crime before the opening credits even finished.

There is a scene in a library—because of course it's a library—that goes on for a lifetime. The way the shadows fall on the velvet curtains is nice, but nobody moves for what feels like ten minutes. It’s the kind of pacing that makes you check your phone, but then you look up and realize you missed a crucial look between two characters. Oops.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The King Murder (1932) through its definitive frames.

The dialogue is thick with that old-fashioned, clipped way of talking. It reminded me a bit of the stuffy atmosphere in The Knocking on the Door, where everything feels just a little too deliberate. Every line is delivered like it’s being read off a cue card held six inches from the camera lens.

Odd little details

• The lighting in the study is weirdly bright in one corner and pitch black in another.
• I swear the same vase appears in three different rooms.
• The detective’s hat never seems to leave his head, even when he’s interrogating someone in their own bedroom.

It’s not a masterpiece, but it doesn't try to be. It’s just a puzzle. A bit clunky, sure. But there’s something oddly satisfying about how it doesn't care if you think it's clever. It just wants to tell you who did it and get everyone home before dinner. If you want something that feels more energetic, you’d probably be better off watching Fly Hi instead, but if you’re in the mood for a rainy afternoon mystery, this fits the bill.

I stopped caring about the 'why' about halfway through. I just wanted to see if the guy in the bowtie was actually the killer. Spoiler: I was wrong.