It is a fascinating endeavor to trace the early careers of some of the most acclaimed figures in cinema. Through this process, there is typically a gem or two that will arise that never would have gotten its due appreciation for one reason or another. The Golden Age of Hollywood has many of these discoveries, as even the most popular works from decades long ago are a mystery to all but the most ardent cinephiles. Before they set about creating some of the most seminal works in film history, a group of German artists came together to craft some impressive films in their homeland. Director Robert Siodmak (The Killers) and co-writers Billy Wilder (The Apartment, Double Indemnity) and Curt Siodmak (The Wolf Man) brought the dark comedy The Man In Search of His Murderer to the silver screen in their homeland in 1931 before they would flee a few years later in the wake of the nazi uprising. Even at this early stage in their career, the talent is evident with impeccable timing and cutting wit that keeps this one a fun time from beginning to end.
The film is an early starring vehicle for legendary German actor Heinz Rühmann, who plays the down on his luck Hans Herfort. When his apartment is broken into by an opportunistic burglar, Hans is threatened with death if he attempts to thwart the invasion. Much to the surprise of the burglar, Hans is okay with this. Not only is he okay with being threatened, he begs for the burglar to kill him as he is too much of a coward to commit suicide like he has been trying to work up the nerve to do. While the burglar initially wants no part in the endeavor, he agrees to help out Hans once a proper contract is drawn up clearing him of any responsibility and a considerable sum is offered to carry out the hit. The burglar asks Hans to give him until noon the next day to complete the job to make things more painless for the both of them. Hans is supposed to take the night to give the world a proper farewell, but the previously despondent young lad finds a new reason to stay alive once he meets the lovely Kitty (Lien Deyers). Fate is a cruel mistress.
The Man In Search of His Murderer leans into both offbeat dark humor and major slapstick elements that are reminiscent of some of the best that Hollywood has to offer, such as Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther series. The race to try to find his future assassin and cancel the hit is one filled with many over-the-top sight gags and ridiculous misunderstandings that will have you laughing out loud while also wringing your hands. The increasingly grandiose failed assassination attempts are a highlight of the film. The construction of this film is simply stunning from the editing to the cinematography and the performances. Every element is working together in perfect harmony, so it comes as a bit of a shock that the film which runs a brisk 53 minutes is actually a 97 minute film with four of its nine acts lost to history. Not having the background as to why Hans is despondent is a bit of a bummer, but you would never guess that this is an incomplete film once you watch it. It is not realistic to imagine that most people have a 1930s black-and-white German comedy on their watchlist, but they really should. Not only do you get a quick dose of expertly executed comedy, but you also gain a greater context to the careers of some Hollywood legends.
Video Quality
The Man In Search Of His Murderer makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a decent transfer from an unknown source. For a film that is 90 years old this year, this is a truly pleasing presentation. The gorgeous black-and-white photography shines in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a fair amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing and within the production design. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. Black levels present with some depth with no overwhelming occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is mostly well defined, but the transfer experiences a noticeable amount of flicker and specks of damage to the print. There are also more than a few stray, faint vertical lines that make a quick appearance without ruining the overall aesthetic of the film. Kino Classics has done as well as could be expected given the quality of the source material.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a pretty solid LPCM 2.0 Master Audio track in the original German that serves this movie quite well considering its place in early sound recording. Dialogue and background noises are represented in pleasing harmony with all competing elements. This track does present with a decent amount of age related wear and tear including some hissing and crackles that likely date back to the source elements. The music from Friedrich Hollaender and Franz Waxman never overpowers the dialogue or other important information. There are optional English (SDH and Non-SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. The good folks at Kino Classics have done their best to provide the most stable track possible for this one.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historian Josh Nelson provides an informative commentary track in which he explores the place of this film in cinema history as well as the careers of the artists involved. This also helps contextualize the legacy of this film that is helpful when reflecting upon it. Well worth a listen!
Final Thoughts
The Man In Search Of His Murderer is a wonderful, little-known entry in the filmographies of such talents as Billy Wilder and Robert and Curt Siodmak. The hilarious dark comedy speeds along with a ferocity and confidence that few works exude these days. The addition of something more on the heartfelt side of the spectrum allows this one to be a universal crowd pleaser for anyone who takes the time to seek it out. Kino Classics has rescued this hidden gem with a new Blu-Ray sporting a pretty solid A/V presentation and an interesting commentary track. Those who like the snappy rapport of Golden Age comedies or the broad visual humor of silent films will find a lot to love here. Highly Recommended
The Man In Search Of His Murderer will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on April 6, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.