Busman's Honeymoon (1940)

Written by CinemaSerf on February 24, 2023

The criminal fraternity is about to breathe an huge sigh of relief. "Lord Peter Wimsey" (Robert Montgomery) and his crime-writing fiancée "Harriet" (Constance Cummings) are to marry - and to hang up their magnifying glasses. That is, until they arrive at their new/her old home and first thing they discover after he has carried her over the threshold is - a body! It belongs to "Noakes" from whom "Lord Peter" bought the property and soon they must work with old friend "Insp. Kirk" (Leslie Banks) to identify the killer - and boy, are there a few suspects who loathed the unpopular old fellow. The remainder of their investigation involves a cactus and some well timed electrics - and Robert Newton's ("Crutchley") and his girlfriend - and the deceased man's beneficiary -"Aggie" (Joan Kemp-Welch) are heading to the top of the list. Sir Seymour Hicks chips in occasionally as their friend "Bunter" but to be honest this film really only serves to suggest the end of something... The war had started and the days of this kind of whimsical "Wimsey" were already numbered. It's far too long too - it could easily lose half an hour and that way offer us a better, more condensed mystery but it's still just about worth a watch.