This review is for the darkly clever little British noir called Dear Murderer (1947)
What’s going down?
Successful businessman Lee Warren has it all, including a beautiful trophy wife. Life would be perfect if it wasn’t for his intense, jealous paranoia. Well to be fair he had good reason for it. You see, his wife Vivien is shockingly stunning but also a devious, cheating little floozy. She can’t help herself. She’ll happily lie about her devout love for her husband whilst entertaining the company of another man behind his back. To make matter worse for Lee is work commitments send him on a lengthily business trip to New York. Beside himself he asks his loving wife to send him a letter each day to keep his spirits up. She agrees. Well for a few days at least. Then the letters stop…. She’s been unfaithful before.
Driven mad by the thoughts of her having an affair he’s left with his mind dreaming up ways to get even with what ever suitor is messing with his Vivien. He comes up with the perfect plan. To murder his wife’s lover in a way that no one would suspect foul play. You know, a perfect murder….. Enter Inspector Pembury.
“It’s all too neat and tidy! It all adds up to perfectly?“

The main players
Eric Portman is Lee Warren
Greta Gynt is Vivien Warren
Dennis Price is Richard Fenton
Maxwell Reed is Jimmy Martin
Jack Warner is Insp. Pembury
Hazel Court is Avis Fenton
Sure I’ve seen them in something?
Eric Portman is superb as the scorned husband with murder on his mind. He had unexpectedly been in two films that I’d watched over the last year and didn’t recognise until I looked through his filmography. He played German U-boat Lieutenant Ernst Hirth in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger WW2 drama 49th Parallel (1941). And a film I did a review on called The Whisperers (1967) with the excellent Edith Evans.

Norwegian born actress Greta Gynt stand outs with her glamorous beauty and she’s a wonder to watch as you wait to see how far she can twist a dagger in. She plays the part well as the conniving, compulsive, cheater. I hadn’t seen or heard of her before. I’ve clocked Take My Life (1947) which sounds like a good thriller. Any others?
Now I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know Hazel Court from watching the film and when I looked through the cast I could only do a face plant with the palm of my hand. She’s only one of the original Queen’s of Scream. Playing alongside the legends of horror like Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in films like The Masque of the Red Death (1964), The Raven (1963) and The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). To be fair she does only have a small part in Dear Murderer so I will forgive myself!!!
Jack Warner is ace as always. Of course known to just about everybody as PC George Dixon from a million and one episodes of Dixon Of Dock Green. But before that he was in films from the like of The Blue Lamp (1950) which was like an origin story for Dixon. He’s was in the classic A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim. Got caught up with sci-fi horror The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) and the one on my to watch list I’ve been meaning to see to soon, It Always Rains on Sunday (1947). And if you can, check Jigsaw (1962), which I did a review of, it’s very recommended.

Notes on production?
Dear Murderer is directed by Arthur Crabtree from a screenplay adapted from a West End play written by St John Legh Clowes.
The great information I learnt doing this post was about the Box Family. Dear Murderer screenplay is written by writer and director Muriel Box and her husband Sydney Box who ran the British film studio, Gainsborough Pictures. Sydney’s sister was in on the act too, as Betty Box was also the producer of this film and many others. There’s a superb article about them here on The British Film Institute website.

Hits like a sledge hammer
The actual murder plan is coldly executed. Made worse by the fact that he calmly tell’s his victim of how exactly he is going to perform his demise. A crime so perfectly meticulously played out. A murder so perfect that nobody would even expect foul play.
“Don’t be such a fool! You can’t get away with murder, nobody can!“
“I’m gonna commit the perfect murder“
“There’s no such thing?“
“Oh yes there is. The perfect murder is the one nobody ever hears about. Because no one thinks it is murder“

Cutting remarks
“You don’t understand. I loath you. You desecrated the only precious thing I ever had!“
“You’ll be more scared later. You’re gonna to die and you’re not gonna like it one little bit!“
Hang on a minute
Dear Murderer would make a fantastic double bill with equally brilliant dark and twisted Obsession (1949)
Verdict
For a film of this age it has a ridiculous dark edge to it. Definitely made worse by the fact that everyone speaks in such posh English accents. The way he calmly tells his victim how he’s gonna kill him. The way he’s planned it and the way he sets his dastardly plan into motion. The undercurrent of the movie is so cold and calculated. The constant dialogue keeps things ticking along as you wonder how or if he will be caught. As Inspector Pembury is a few steps behind quietly trying to figure out the mystery. I thought this movie was fantastic. With so many great lines….
“You can’t kill them all you fool!“

Rating score
Wolfman’s rating 9/10 IMDB 6.9/10
Feel free to recommend me related movies and any other trivia if you wish. Keep having fun at the movies…. Mikey Wolf
PS You can stream Dear Murderer (1947) here on YouTube at time of writing.
Hazel Court is one of my vintage crushes, so I will have to watch this just because she has a small part in it.
Glad to see you back up and writing, how are you and yours hanging in?
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She’s a bit covered up in this one, hence why I probably didn’t notice her. No cleavage on show. “Hey come back, it’s still worth a watch” lol
Many thanks. We are doing fine thanks. Got into a good routine. Shame for the virus chaos, mayhem and death! otherwise it’s been nice family time. Hope all’s ok with you in NY!
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I love her in a winter coat or a bikini. I just think she’s a lovely lady. 🙂
Glad to hear you are doing well and found some order in this chaos.
We are fine here, and its shocking how polite and civilized everyone is being in these circumstances, by comparison to what am hearing from friends and family in more rural areas.
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Walking around is strange with everyone crossing streets etc. I try to give a little smile each time and say thank you or hello. It’s a bit 50/50 on politeness and some just look at the floor and probably think he’ll go away in a moment. With a bit of luck everyone will be so open to be civilized after it all goes from too much confinement that maybe things will be better! #takesofmyroundhippyglasses
Good to hear you are ok 🙂
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OK, I’m sold. This sounds really good!
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It’s really ace Jay. Hope you get to see it. It’s quite shocking for it’s age I thought and being so British. The dialogue is amazing. Hope you like it too if you get to see it. Hope you keeping alright buddy during these times!?
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Yes I’m OK, thanks. Hope you are too. Social distancing isn’t a problem for me, as I normally try and avoid people anyway! 🙂
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Haha me too tbh but I will miss our local pub on a Friday night. The wonderful thing with having hobbies you love, we can lose ourselves for hours. 🙂
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A 9 out of 10! Looks like I’ll have to download this one! And if I have any trouble with the accents, I’ll give you a call…
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By jove old bean it would of course be a spiffing jolly good show to help you. You are a good egg kind sir. Call me on the old blower. Toodle-ooh. Pip-pip
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There you go, speaking in tongues again, you ruddy git.
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In a slightly annoyed Dr Watson (Nigel Bruce) voice… “Well I never! Good day to you sir good day.”
LOL
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Pretty strong recommendation. Added to the list and I’ll be sure to check on that link to Betty Box. I see her name quite often but know little about her.
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It’s really very clever. The dialogue is so good. I’d never heard of either of the Box ladies. Fascinating to see them both give the men a run for their money. Love this hobby just keeps on giving 🙂
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I’ve come across her name a few times and always make mention of it because I find it so rare to see a woman producer during this era and I guess to this day. https://mikestakeonthemovies.com/2017/02/13/the-39-steps-1959/
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Wow, that guy really needs to take a chill pill, doesn’t he?
Clingy and possessive much? Maybe that’s what got her cheating, lol
I can’t believe the whole movie is sitting up there on YouTube. God, I should watch it before it disappears or something.
“You can’t kill them all, you fool!”
Jeez, what, is there a congo line into the bedroom? What a bitch!
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He certainly does. Though every time he turns his back she’s ready for some off side action.
It’s a great movie, well worth your time. Especially the whole “murder chat” section.
Haha that made me chuckle ” a congo line into the bedroom” LOL
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Yeah, it’s like, jeez, lady, you’re gonna break it. How much action do you NEED exactly?! Read a romance novel, for Chris’s sake ! ! !
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LOL you gonna break it hehe giggle 🙂
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All right Mikey, I’m a bit chafed with you. I haven’t heard from you in months. Crickets. So, if you don’t respond to this I’m going to take the hint…I haven’t seen this film but it sounds like something I might like. I know what you mean about the posh accents. The 40s–with the exception of the 70s–is my favorite film period, but everyone, it seems, that had a garage and a dining table spoke like they were royalty–and I’m talking about American films! Nice review, Mikey. “You can’t kill them all, you fool.” Ahh…Ha! Ha! Classic.
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Haha and there I was thinking you had gone AWOL again. Hi Pam, lovely to hear from you. I do hope all is fine around your hometown and you and hubby are safe and sound? Ooooops I thought “The Irishman” (I still not seen it) was your last post! Looks like I have catching up to do. Missed them in the WP feed! TBH it’s difficult to find a happy medium between commenting and writing a post nowadays. Bizarre even now I got more time than I could ever dream of and it’s still difficult. I’m such a slow reader and writer. Though I’ll take my slap on the wrist (they’re not tears) and be sure to catch up 🙂
Good to see you back/never went anywhere Pam hehe
All the best …………. Mikey
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Good! Great to hear from you. I thought you were mad at me, but I had no clue as to why you would be??…Glad it was just a glitch. You know I’m a big fan of yours.
By the way, I did bow out for awhile…My last 4 post are very recent.
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LOL mad you! DOH! Big lol 🙂
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Thanks. Definitely one for me to look out for.
Very much enjoy my visits here.
Stay well
Regards Thom
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[…] Dear Murderer (1947) – Wolfman Rating 9 – IMDB Rating 6.9 This was a random find on YT. “Why not give it a go Mikey? What’s the worst that could happen!” Well a perfect brilliant little thriller with a crazy dark theme. I did a write up review for it. Check it out if you wish here. Wolfies Murdering Film Review Here. […]
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