Shot in the Dark (1933) User Reviews

Fun genre spoof

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 28 May 2016]

A SHOT IN THE DARK is a riotous spoof of the classic 'old dark house' murder mysteries. It features exaggerated situations, larger-than-life characters, and amusing dialogue as it sends up the genre while providing fitful mystery antics for viewers of the era. I could almost imagine Columbo himself sitting back and getting a laugh out of this one!

The plot involves a miserly old man who is shot to death in his own bed one night during a storm. One of his assembled associates and family members did it, but which? A record gives away the identity of the murderer, but it is stolen before the name can be listened to. It takes an old reverend who's a friend of the family to get to the bottom of the mystery.

I thought A SHOT OF THE DARK provided a workable enough comedy given the low budget nature of the film. I like the unusual protagonist, the kindly reverend who knows more than he lets on. The supporting cast is full of clichéd characters: the young, star-crossed lovers (incuding a youthful Jack Hawkins), the comedian, the curmudgeonly elder, the waspish aunt. The way each of their stories is processed in turn is well staged and there's a hilarious action scene right at the climax if you've stayed with it that long.

An amusing mystery.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 14 October 2021]

A bed ridden, wealthy elderly man lives in fear of being murdered, when is death finally arrives, he leaves a message, in the form of a record.

It's a good, enjoyable, movie, with a pleasing enough mystery. Vibes of And then there were none, vibes of The Cat and The Canary, though this isn't in the same league as either.

The success comes from the humour, there are some big characters here, all of whom have a motive, and seem to be hiding something. Plenty of humour throughout, but it's not overdone, it gives it a stage play vibe.

The acting varies, some is very good, some is a little patchy let's say. Being made in 1933 however, I can forgive it anything, it's better acted than many similar films I've seen that were made years later.

It's the stereotypical mystery, a rich relative killed, the suspects are all assembled, a member of the clergy investigates.

Good fun, 6/10.

A sleuthing vicar

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 26 August 2016]

A 23 year old Jack Hawkins is the only name that Americans will recognize from Shot In The Dark. This is not by the way a prequel to the Pink Panther classic.

It is one of those old English murder mysteries with a little spoofing on the side. An elderly old miser who was no doubt a miserable creature his whole life does a will on phonograph where he says he will be murdered by one of his greedy grasping relatives. Guess what, he is done in, but by whom?

Lots of suspects including Hawkins boyfriend of the deceased's niece. A sleuthing vicar happens by and solves all.

We called these B pictures, over across the pond they were quota quickies. It's got everything an English murder mystery requires including secret passages.

They've done worse. Average for its type of film.

For lovers of the truly awful

[hamilton65 · 6 January 2002]

Possible spoiler ahead

This hilarious quota quickie is a prime contender for the British Golden Turkey award. Taken straight it's pretty typical of it's time, a well photographed thriller in which the relatives of a murdered millionaire, (smarmy guy, drippy young hero and heroine, snooty dowager, various pompous and/or inscrutable types) gather at his creepy house and search for his will (recorded on a record). But one of them is guilty of the murder and will stop at nothing to gain the inheritance. (flash of lightening... cackle cackle.) Eventually the mystery is solved by an outsider, in this case a local vicar (and amateur detective).

That's the plot more or less and while everyone (well... most everyone) tries, it's when things go wrong that this movie comes uniquely to life.

For example in the midst of a heated row over the whereabouts of the record, Reverend John Malcolm makes his first appearance, strolling in from the garden in search of a lost golf ball. O.B. Clarence plays this character with such dithering languidity it's hard to believe he could find his way to the bathroom let alone solve the mystery. But he's more resourceful (or downright nosey) than he seems and in an series of increasingly amusing face-offs reveals that everyone there had a motive and opportunity to knock the old boy off.

All the performances are bad, whether it's the ever so English heroine, the smarmy fellow (who gives roughly the same performance in other quickies of this period) or the typically flailing fist fights that occur towards the end of the movie.

But by far the most ridiculous performance comes from A. Bromley Davenport as the guarded Peter Browne. The scene in which the Reverend questions Browne and breaks down his resistance is a classic of bad acting, whether shrieking "What the hell are you trying to do to me" in an incredible falsetto, or, with an evil smile, confessing his secret addiction to "drrrugs".

While nothing else quite compares to this moment, the various absurd plot twists mean it's never dull. Also it's interesting to see a 23 year old Jack Hawkins a long way removed from the type of character he's remembered for.

Highly recommended.

Calm down - it's being played for comic effect. The ending - Shocking!

[trimmerb1234 · 7/10 · 24 February 2016]

It's not immediately obvious but, rather like its Twickenham stable-mate, "The Case of the Frightened Lady", the film mixes a subtle droll comedy with its main suspense-murder story such that some reviewers are unaware. The comedy is almost like an "in joke". The film is a tongue-in-cheek murder-mystery being played for humorous effect.

I began to notice this when the priest is interrogating one of the (murder) suspects, an older aunt, and momentarily plays with a key-chain. "Oh Don't do that!" she says with an exaggerated petulant hand gesture "It gets on my nerves!".

Everybody but the priest, who remains calm and reasoned throughout, is over-playing. The convoluted plot gives multiple opportunities for shock revelations and curious happenings to which the cast members can react extravagantly. It's Agatha Christie with a sense of humour. Something of the tone of "Arsenic and Old Lace" but not as black.

Some other lines confirm the tone: "How about auntie Kate as Widow Twanky?" "Elementary my dear Watson!" spoken by the silly-ass character with the glasses. The priest takes his shoes off to walk quietly. A violent struggle between two men breaks out right in front of him. Now what would his primary concern be? It really made me LOL.

Seen and enjoyed on Talking Pictures, Freeview and Freesat