James Houghland, inventor of a new method by which television signals
can be instantaneously sent anywhere in the world, refuses to sell the
process to television companies, who then send agents to acquire the
invention any way they can. On the night of his initial broadcast
Houghland is mysteriously murdered in the middle of his demonstration
and it falls to Police Chief Nelson to determine who the murderer is
from the many suspects present.
Murder by Television (1935) is an American mystery film starring Bela Lugosi, June Collyer, and Huntley Gordon. The film is also known as The Houghland Murder Case. The cast also includes Hattie McDaniel.
If they could put this film in a bottle insomnia would be wiped out forever. Professor James Houghland, after years of research, has perfected
revolutionary improvements in television, but he refuses all offers from
companies that want to buy his inventions, and several unscrupulous
promoters plan to get them by other means. On the night of the first
public demonstration of his inventions, several well-known television
experts are at Houghland's home. The first broadcast is an unqualified
success. As the second broadcast is about to begin Houghland falls dead,
and the police headed by Chief Nelson arrive, and no one is permitted
to leave the house. Several of the guests are suspected: Arthur Perry,
Hougland's assistant, because he was out of the room when the lights
were turned on after the murder; Donald Jordan, because he tried to
bribe Perry to steal the secret; Richard Grayson, an ambitious, young
television engineer, because he had promised to secure the secret for
his company, and Dr. Henry Scofield, because he refuses to explain a
mysterious telephone call that he made shortly before the murder.
 |
| A STORY OF A PERFECT CRIME |
This movie is just bad beyond belief. The acting is horrid, while the
cast is simply reciting lines with little feeling. Lugosi adds presence to any role, and his is easily the most
interesting of the characters for that reason, but he is still limited
by the material. Besides Lugosi, the most talented performer in the
cast is Hattie McDaniel, and she also is severely limited by her
character, who is there only to provide some slight comic relief, which
comes at the unfortunate character's expense. Running around
yelling "Lordy, Lordy" doesn't showcase her future greatness very
well.
We're stuck watching a bunch of people standing around
talking for an hour about some sort of "death ray" emitted by a new
contraption called a television set. Not much happens here, it's just a
lot of talk and standing around, and more standing around and more
talking. Unbeliveably boring film. Murder by boredom.
 |
| Who in the blue Hell advised me to take this role? |
Trivia:
For the scenes showing television equipment, the filmmakers borrowed it
from L.A.-area researchers who were working on experimental TV. The
equipment they borrowed was worth $75,000 - over twice the $35,000
production budget for the film.
Quotes:
Ah Ling - the Houseboy:
[while being questioned about the murder]
"Mr. Perry very good friend. Chinese do not repay friendship with death"
Dinner guest:
"Clever, these Chinese"
Arthur Perry:
[explaining the mechanism of Dr. Houghland's death]
"They created the interstellar frequency, which is the death ray"
