Murder in Soho

1939 British film

Murder in Soho

Directed by| Norman Lee
Screenplay by| F. McGrew Willis
Produced by| Walter C. Mycroft
Starring|

* Jack La Rue
* Sandra Storme
* Googie Withers
* Bernard Lee

Cinematography| Claude Friese-Greene
Edited by| Edward B. Jarvis
Music by|

* Harry Acres
* Kenneth Leslie-Smith

Production
company

Associated British Picture Corporation

Distributed by| Associated British Film Distributors (UK)

Release date

* February 1939 (1939-02) (UK)

Running time

| 70 minutes
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English
Budget| £25,577[1]

Murder in Soho (U.S. title: Murder in the Night.[2]) is a 1939 British crime film directed by Norman Lee and starring Jack La Rue, Sandra Storme, Googie Withers and Bernard Lee.[3][4] The screenplay was by F. McGrew Willis. It concerns a murder in the Central London district of Soho.

## Plot

[edit]

Club owner Steve Marco is a criminal club-owner with social aspirations. After a murder in his club he shoots an accomplice who tries to double-cross him. Inspector Hammond investigates and solves the case with the help of one of the club's hostesses.

## Cast

[edit]

* Jack La Rue as Steve Marco
* Sandra Storme as Ruby Lane
* Bernard Lee as Roy Barnes
* Martin Walker as Inspector Hammond
* James Hayter as Nick Green
* Googie Withers as Lola Matthews
* Drue Leyton as Myrtle
* Arthur O'Connell as Lefty
* Edmon Ryan as Spike
* Francis Lister as Joe
* Alf Goddard as Mike
* Robert Beatty as Jack
* Diana Beaumont as girl
* Renee Gadd as woman in police station
* Joss Ambler as drunk

## Reception

[edit]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A film which starts off with a certain amount of promise and speed but does not keep it up for long enough. The Inspector's interviews with the witnesses are incredibly incompetent, and as the identity of the murderer is known to the audience very carly in the film no mystery survives to sustain the interest. Jack La Rue and Sandra Storme are good to look upon, though the acting of the latter is sometimes wooden and unconvincing. Martin Walker introduces a certain amount of laconic humour as the Inspector."[5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Familiar 'quickie' nightclub thriller."[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Chapman, Llewella. "'The highest salary ever paid to a human being': Creating a Database of Film Costs from the Bank of England". Journal of British cinema and television, 2022-10. Vol. 19, no. 4\. Edinburgh University Press. p. 470–94 [480].
2. ^ "Murder in the Night (1939) – Norman Lee | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
3. ^ "Murder in Soho". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
4. ^ "Murder in Soho (1939)". BFI. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.
5. ^ "Murder in Soho". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 6 (61): 40. 1 January 1939. ProQuest 1305800182.
6. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 117\. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.

## External links

[edit]

* Murder in Soho at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Norman Lee

* The Streets of London (1929)
* The Lure of the Atlantic (1929)
* The Strangler (1932)
* Josser Joins the Navy (1932)
* Strip! Strip! Hooray!!! (1932)
* Josser on the River (1932)
* Josser in the Army (1932)
* Money Talks (1932)
* Lost Money (1933)
* The Pride of the Force (1933)
* A Political Party (1934)
* The Outcast (1934)
* Doctor's Orders (1934)
* Spring in the Air (1934)
* Royal Cavalcade (1935)
* Mother, Don't Rush Me (1936)
* Happy Days Are Here Again (1936)
* No Escape (1936)
* Kathleen Mavourneen (1937)
* Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1937)
* Knights for a Day (1937)
* French Leave (1937)
* Saturday Night Revue (1937)
* Mr. Reeder in Room 13 (1938)
* Almost a Honeymoon (1938)
* Save a Little Sunshine (1938)
* Luck of the Navy (1938)
* Murder in Soho (1939)
* Wanted by Scotland Yard (1939)
* Yes, Madam? (1939)
* The Door with Seven Locks (1940)
* The Farmer's Wife (1941)
* The Monkey's Paw (1948)
* The Case of Charles Peace (1949)
* The Girl Who Couldn't Quite (1950)

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