Movie Review: Murder in the Fleet (1935)
Synopsis: USS Carolina has been selected for a new firing control system that must be installed by a firm deadline if the United States Navy is to have exclusive rights to it. However, when the equipment is first misdirected then subjected to acts of sabotage, it's clear someone doesn't want it installed. Things then take a deadly turn when two people are murdered.
Who's in it? The movie stars Robert Taylor, Ted Healy, Jean Parker, Una Merkel and Nat Pendleton.
Review: I've had Murder in the Fleet in my library for a few months and attempted to watch it on more than one occasion only to wind up picking a different movie instead. I finally took the time to see it this morning, and it turned out to be a good choice.
I think the thing I liked most about this film was the fact there was no clear suspect. Due to what had to be the worst security ever, with Carolina allowing everyone from foreign dignitaries to jilted lovers onboard (despite the top-secret nature of the equipment that was being installed), there were plenty of people with the potential to be saboteurs and murderers.
It was also unclear when and where the killer would strike next and there were some surprises in terms of how the victims were killed. This kept the movie from getting boring, even during the non-death scenes.
While I had some doubts, the romantic subplots, especially between Lt. Tom Randolph (Taylor) and his girlfriend, Betty (Parker), were easy to become invested in. The movie leans heavily into patriotism (as would be expected), with Carolina's crew choosing between their naval duties and their private lives, and it did make me wonder if some of the romances would survive as a result.
I did think the film leaned a little too heavily into the comedy. It's one thing to have some comic relief, in this case, Healy's Mac O'Neill. However, it does seem a bit inappropriate once people start dying and should have been toned down a bit. The movie, quite honestly, probably would have been just fine without it.
Final Opinion: It's a good murder mystery with plenty of suspects and a somewhat unusual location. It's worth taking the time to watch.
My Grade: B+
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