Quiet Please: Murder (1942) User Reviews

It Could Have Been a Classic

[Kittyman · 7/10 · 23 December 2008]

This interesting film noir features three very good performances: Sanders, Patrick, and Blackmer. The scenes between Sanders and Patrick are particularly outstanding. Demming, as the detective, is unfortunately not nearly as good. He lacks the intelligence, strength, and cynical world view of a Bogart. Had Humphrey played this part, we could have had a classic.

Pace, location (a library), and atmosphere are all good. But there are a few plot holes. Sanders strongly fears Blackmer and the ruthless organization (Nazis) he represents. Yet after mistakenly killing Blackmer, Sanders seems to experience no anxiety or remorse. Sanders then seizes the library and its occupants by using the ruse that he and his men are detectives investigating the murder. However, Sanders' hit man later tries to kill Demming by shooting him (without a silencer), even though the many other detainees could have been expected to hear, and become alarmed by, the noise. Finally, Sanders' hit man tries to kill Roberts, who has discovered the truth, but when she faints, he inexplicably does not.

What bothered me the most, however, was that the chance for a great and unexpected conclusion was wasted. Throughout the film Patrick is portrayed as a smart, hard-as-nails sociopath fearing nothing. Yet at the end, she flees panic-stricken from the last surviving Nazi, a brutish thug. By the time the cops find him, he has killed her. And she ends up being just another weak, stereotypical victim. What should have happened is this: the cops find the Nazi thug, but he is dead. She has cleverly killed him, and then vanished -- to continue her evil ways.

Solid Early Noir With Great Turns for Sanders and Patrick

[secragt · 7/10 · 2 April 2017]

This was a perfect vehicle for self-professed cad George Sanders and he found a gal more than his match in cold blooded Gail Patrick here. They share some surprisingly frank and witty badinage about criminal psychology along with their mutual oily distaste for humanity which transcends the occasionally breezier aspects of this quasi noir and gives it a nicely crusted edge. The movie veers back and forth between crime drama and something a bit lighter but overall, it hits a lot of good notes and has dated surprisingly better than many far more famous movies from the same era. The library antics are amusing enough, but the real selling point of this movie is Sanders, whose effortless cool is right up there near his best and far more recognized roles.

A very nice little B-movie.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 9 June 2017]

Jim Fleg (George Sanders) is a scumbag who has stolen an original folio of Hamlet AND is now selling forged versions. Can it get worse? Yes, he's a police lieutenant! Unfortunately for Fleg, he trusts a dealer to sell his forgeries...but she is really unscrupulous and stupid and sells one of them to folks Fleg warned her NOT to sell to. Why? Because that agent is purchasing the folio for top Nazis...and if they find out it's a forgery, they won't go to the cops...they'll go for their heads! Soon Hal McByrne (Richard Denning) gets involved in investigating the case and trying to figure out what's really happening.

This B has excellent acting, very good writing and better than average production values. If the film weren't only about an hour long, you might swear it's an A picture. Well worth your time.

Slick Little Programmer

[dougdoepke · 23 February 2011]

Master forger of rare books (Sanders) gets mixed up with Nazis (Blackmer), a detective (Denning) and a double-crossing dame (Patrick).

The convoluted script may take a Rosetta Stone to solve, still it's a slickly done TCF programmer. Those two smoothies Sanders and Patrick are well cast as a couple of A-team masochists, engaged in a game of one-upmanship and about as trustworthy as rattlesnakes. In fact, Patrick's character qualifies for the Devious Dame Hall of Fame, with her warm personality and stone cold heart. Still, I'm a bit surprised that some of that pain-loving dialog Sanders relishes made it past the censors. Usually old Hollywood just hinted at such things instead of belaboring them.

Denning and Roberts are clearly America's team, though Denning may wobble at times. One thing for sure—set design and art direction come cheap since most of the action takes place in a single setting, a library. Still, director Larkin keeps things moving. And get a load of baldy Kurt Katch's mute Nazi. He's about as inviting as the polar ice cap and just as chilling. But, I'm still wondering which thug belongs to which gang, which does get confusing.

Oh well, things do sort out, I think. Then too, it's 1942 and the war is still in doubt. Byron Foulger's officious little air warden may be on the silly side, but the blackouts weren't. These old movies do show us things the history books can't. Anyhow, the movie may be nothing to write home about. But it's still impressive how Hollywood could turn out such slick little programmers in the middle of a big war.

Great title

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 15 February 2015]

Actually, the title is so memorable that it would be hard for any movie to live up to it. This one doesn't....but it's still pretty good. It's a tough little "B" crime tale with higher aspirations. Right in the opening scene, George Sanders kills a man in cold blood and steals a rare Shakespeare manuscript. But Sanders is not merely a killer, a forger and a crook; he is also a philosopher, who constantly analyzes the subconscious desire of the criminal for punishment and his compulsion for living on the edge. And "Quiet Please, Murder" has a pretty hard edge, including a very good femme fatale played by Gail Patrick. Unfortunately, probably due to the Production Code, she "has to" pay for her sins at the end. There is a little too much running around in the library, but the film never gets boring. **1/2 out of 4.

The ghost of the Danish prince mixes with Nazi's.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 11 January 2019]

This interesting early World War II era film Noir features an intriguing story but gets a little lost and its own intelligence as it tries to deal what the plot of forgeries of classic Shakespeare books. The opening scene has the suave George Sanders literally committing murder to get his hands on the glass protected volume of Shakespeare's "Hamlet", owned allegedly at one time by one of the early actors to play the Danish Prince. If the rumor of the Scottish play curse was anything close to what goes on here with attempts to get hands-on other valuable Shakespeare volumes, then you better not be whistling in the library or mention the name of any of Shakespeare's tragic plays.

Nearly stealing the film away from the always excellent Sanders (who here plays one of his best villain roles) is the alluring Gail Patrick, not someone I would call of leading lady material, but always commanding in her films weather playing a nasty socialite in a screwball comedy or a femme fatale in a film noir like this. When first scene, she is obviously In cahoots with Sanders, and the mystery surrounds why they are after all of these valuable books. Along comes a special investigator Richard Denning who meets Patrick and does his best to get her to help him get to the bottom of this book forging ring where is the recipients of theforged books are far more dangerous than Sanders.

My description of the plot line does the film little justice because indeed it is a complex story that needs full attention to truly understand the many realms of its story. It is excellently photographed and often filmed with very tense shadows, especially in the climactic scene where dozens of patrons seem to be trapped in the library as the various elements of all those involved come together for an intense confrontation of demands and violence responses. In many ways, this feels like something that Hitchcock might have done in the 1950s, but I think he would have had a better script that didn't move all over the place while remaining unique and original in its own fashion. In spite of its flaws, I believe that this is a film worth studying because it has a lot to offer and will certainly be considered quite more literary and thought provoking than many other thrillers of similar natures made at this time.

"Didn't you read the sign?-Quiet please."

[morrison-dylan-fan · 6/10 · 29 March 2015]

With my dad being a fan of George Sanders The Saint/Falcon movies,I decided to search round for a Sanders movie that he could enjoy over the Easter holiday.Taking a look at a DVD sellers page,I spotted a fun-sounding Film Noir starring Sanders,which led to me staying quiet.

The plot:

Desperate to get as close to one of the few manuscripts of Hamlet in existence,book forger Jim Fleg kills the security guard and steals the manuscript.Being an expert on the black market,Fleg arranges for Myra Blandy to sell fakes of the manuscript for him.Ignoring Fleg's demands,Blandy sells a manuscript to a high-roller called Hal McByrne.Unknown to Blandy,McByrne is a tough cop,who has been following their trail.Fearing that McByrne is closing in,Fleg decides that Mcbyrne's chapter needs closing.

View on the film:

Opening with a startling robbery sequence.co-writer/(along with Lawrence G. Blochman) director John Larkin brews a frosty Film Noir atmosphere,with Larkin & cinematographer Joseph MacDonald dimming the lights,as Fleg and Blandy find themselves stuck in a tough corner.Taking place largely in a library,Larkin smartly uses war time blackouts to cover the location in merciless shadows,which McByrne discovers contains people who want to give him his final blackout.

After kicking things off with a thrilling intro,the screenplay by Larkin & Blochman sadly jumbles things up,with the writers keeping the movie largely locked down in the blacked-out library,which leads to the film being unable to build a real sense of tension.Along with the closed-in location,the writers also blow away the excitement created in the opening,by pushing Fleg to the sidelines,and instead focus on the growing romance between McByrne & Blandy,which despite giving Blandy a good Femme Fatale shade,is never set alight.

Despite being pushed to the narrow margins, George Sanders is still able to give a wonderful performance as Jim Fleg,thanks to Sanders showing Fleg's silky smooth charm to hide a ruthless desire to keeps his crimes unpublished.Chasing after Fleg, Richard Denning gives a good,stern performance as Hal McByrne,whilst the pretty Gail Patrick gives an icy Femme Fatale performance as Myra Blandy,in a Film Noir which offers a speedy read.

Competent B-noir

[suw · 6/10 · 25 February 2001]

A competent B-noir, with the interesting twist of being set in a library. George Sanders' erudite villain is an oily delight; otherwise it's a somewhat overwrought collection of hard-boiled detective film cliches.

Classic Sanders

[michaelciafone · 9/10 · 2 February 2020]

Worth watching for George Sanders dialogue alone. Obviously a B movie with a very limited budget but its a lot of fun to watch. If you're a George Sanders fan like me you wont be dissapointed!

Good little mystery is over comes its over complications thanks to a great cast

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 16 June 2009]

George Saunders is a forger who steals a rare copy of Hamlet, killing a guard in the process. Months later an associate of his is selling forgeries of the book for great sums of money. One of the forgeries is sold to a man working for the Nazi's. Not happy at being taken the Nazi front man insists on getting his money back, at the same time an investigator working for one of the other swindled clients shows up. The middle woman in an effort to keep herself safe begins to play all sides against each other and sets up a meeting at the New York public library between various parties, however as people begin to die, the library is locked down and more murders (and perhaps some rare book larceny) seem to be close to happening. Complex murder mystery is a good little thriller with a great cast (Saunders is joined by Richard Denning and a cast of solid supporting players) If there is a flaw the film is almost too complicated with plots with in plots and everyone pretty much out for themselves. The layers of theft, forgery, murder and war time intrigue (this was 1942) are almost too many for the brief 70 minute running time. Still its an enjoyable little film with a darkness and sense of inescapable doom for some of the characters that clearly marks this as one of the first film noirs. Until Denning shows up we're down among some charming thieves, whom we like, perhaps even more than the hero, but its clear from word and deed this is not going to have a completely happy ending, and they know it, even if they fight it. A good little film that's worth searching out.

The Blood-Soaked Public Library

[boblipton · 5/10 · 12 October 2019]

George Sanders has a nice business. He steals rare books, like Burbage's copy of the First Folio, from the library, forges exacting copies, and sells them to suckers through Gail Patrick. If he has to shoot a library guard, that's part of the business. However, when Miss Patrick sells a copy to an agent of high-ranking Nazis, Sanders knows that's not good business. So it happens when he's next at the library to pick up some merchandise, there's a murder. He takes charge, claiming to be a police officer. However, PI Richard Denning is on site, trying to track down the missing books for a sizable reward....

There's a lot of flair in the script and performances, some discussion of how the crooks enjoy the terror of being at risk, but this Fox B movie istoo complicated for the simple solutions that are offered at the end. It's very watchable, with some fine actors like Byron Foulger, Sidney Blackmer and Lynne Roberts, but ultimately unsatisfying.

"This is wondrous strange"!

[Spondonman · 8/10 · 4 June 2012]

I saw this only once back in the '80's when UK TV regularly used to show programmes more than a few years old, never forgot it and finally caught up with again last night. It would be an ordinary little b picture in a rather grotty condition but for its unusual plot and setting which make it worth at least one look.

Polished thug (George Sanders) – and his slinky female cohort (Gail Patrick) – both with mental issues are ready to murder people to get to valuable rare books so he can forge copies from them for resale. He murders a library security guard to get an olde copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet, problems then arise after he rips off a sinister gang of Nazis already speculating for the post War world, and a mercenary private dick (Richard Denning) is also on his track. Most of it is set in a dimly lit city of a library with miles of bookshelves, only running back and forth along its aisles and even stumbling across the Art room twice cheapens the overall atmosphere, which is surprisingly dark and menacing. Make no mistake, the various sets of baddies at each other's throats are an evil bunch of weirdos, with Sanders spouting manic cod psychology at every lucid moment, never mind Patrick not telling the truth for the entire picture. With a stroke of luck long haired Denning sorts it all out leaving wide eyed Sanders hoping to "die in terror", Patrick to go her own sweet way as a not very convincing victim of her own conscience, and even walks off at the end happily for a coffee with a GI's girl. And this is only a sketch for there's a lot packed into 67 complicated minutes.

Thought provoking hokum yet daft beyond words and a little gem I treasure. To paraphrase what the man said, fulfil your secret desire to be caught off guard and pleasantly surprised.

Quiet Please: Murder

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 20 April 2023]

George Sanders ("Fleg) is up to no good in this light-hearted tale of theft and forgery. He has pinched an original Shakespeare folio and has been subsequently flogging copies. Unfortunately for him, his selling agent "Myra" (Gail Patrick) is none too bright and when she inadvertently sells one of his copies to a Nazi - their very lives are soon in peril, and it might actually be policeman "McByrne" (Richard Denning) who comes to their rescue! The acting is good, the writing quite pithy and it packs quite a lot into 70 minutes. Maybe the production is a touch basic; the settings are all a bit too static, but unlike so many of these cheap and cheerful B features, this one has a decent story that is actually quite enjoyable to watch.

confusing B movie

[blanche-2 · 5/10 · 27 October 2010]

A really good cast, consisting of George Sanders, Gail Patrick, Richard Denning, and Sidney Blackmer stumble through "Quiet, Please: Murder," a 1942 film produced by 20th Century Fox.

I unfortunately saw a very poor print of this with fuzzy sound, which naturally hampered my enjoyment. The plot concerns a rare book scam, headed by Jim Fleg (Sanders) and Myra Blandy (Patrick). Fleg steals a rare book from the library, makes copies, sells them as stolen goods, and Blandy verifies the book's authenticity. When Myra insists on selling a fake book to a Nazi, against Fleg's orders, trouble ensues. A detective, Hal McByrne (Richard Denning) becomes involved and falls for Myra, who is playing him against Fleg.

Most of Fleg's dialogue is psychobabble, as he analyzes Myra and himself as people who like pain and desire punishment, etc. The story is convoluted, with Fleg, posing as a police officer, coming to the library to investigate a murder. He takes the opportunity to steal rare books, saying they need to be under police protection. The books are then stolen by Hal and consequently stolen by Myra.

It all gets pretty confusing, and if you could have seen the characters throwing around these supposedly fragile, valuable books without wearing gloves or taking any kind of care, it's too much. It's always great to see Sanders and Patrick (who, as Gail Patrick Jackson, wound up as producer of the Perry Mason TV series) - he makes a great villain and she's a wonderful femme fatale.

All in all, disjointed and disappointing.

Complex and dark

[lucy-66 · 12 August 2002]

The plot is as much of a riddle as the psychology of the two main

villains: George Sanders and the perfect noir woman. They calmly

discuss their need to fail, self-sabotage and love of punishment

and fear, namechecking Freud but in a skeptical aside. The

(blackhaired of course) girl spends most of the action in furs, high

heels and a spiky hat with a veil. (You mean that's not how you

dress to visit your local library?) Her words and actions are always

ambiguous. The library setting is played for all it is worth:

dialogues take place in rooms filled with antique furniture,

classical sculpture or old musical instruments. Sanders, seen

through the 'prison bars' created by the strings of a harp (usually

played by angels), plucks one out to use as a torture instrument.

We last see him deliberately cutting his wrists on the handcuffs

and looking forward to his execution. A routine thriller? I don't think

so. Xxxx.

More style than substance

[VADigger · 6/10 · 25 August 2021]

This thriller about murder, double dealing and betrayal in the forged book racket starts out promisingly, but all too quickly any real plot is abandoned and things just starts going around in circles. The premise and the cast deserved a much tighter, richer story. Still, it has enough style to just get by.

An absolute gem

[context-consult · 8/10 · 2 November 2010]

Another reviewer suggested a better, more realistic ending (but one that would've been acceptable in 1942, when good had to triumph over evil at the movies). So I can see how some might prefer a more postmodern version.

But I think the clichés of this film are good campy fun. It's been a very long time since I found a movie this good that I've never seen before. So I see it as a superb relic to be treasured.

It's a charming film noir crime caper, stagy and clumsy at times, but with a very smooth George Sanders as the rather mild villain, and surprisingly smart banter throughout. It has a good formulaic story that doggedly ties up all loose ends into a neat package. It moves very quickly for its age, and is pretty easy to follow, despite the plot being somewhat complex.

I'm very excited to have stumbled across it.

Quiet Please: Audience sleeping

[AAdaSC · 3/10 · 7 October 2015]

George Sanders (Fleg) is a book forger who, in collaboration with phony forgery expert Gail Patrick (Myra), carves out a wealthy lifestyle by selling his "original" Shakespeare copies to the rich. However, Patrick makes a mistake by selling one of these fakes to well-connected Nazi Sidney Blackmer (Cleaver) who demands his money back. At the same time, detective Richard Denning (McByrne) is also sold a fake book and is looking to crack the case. Everyone meets in a library for a showdown.

The film starts off alright with Sanders in a typical villainous role, but I'm afraid interest just seeps away. Everything gets complicated, there are far too many characters and henchman to understand who is siding with who and it ends up being a lot of people running around in a library. Totally unbelievable, a quite preposterous plot and some pretty stupid dialogue with meaningless psychobabble. I just wanted it to stop.

Having said that, I've never known so much activity to go on in a library. They are usually full of obnoxious teenagers talking really loud, tramps sitting around, old people reading newspapers and I remember using the place to crash out after a hard night's drinking or whatever else I'd been up to. I'd rather spend the length of this film in an actual library rather than watch the film.

Finally, I remember being in our school library at the same time as a peculiar looking guy from the year below me. He was peculiar because he had recently died his hair gold. Not blonde……Gold…!! Anyway, I have to applaud him in his outlook on literature. I remember him saying aloud "Shakespeare! On the floor!" in disgust as he picked up the Shakespeare book and placed it carefully back on the shelf. I found it funny but it also made me view the notion of respect in a different light. He was genuinely offended by the fact that a Shakespeare book had been discarded on the floor. And I really liked him after that incident. I googled him recently and discovered that he has won some military honours in Sierra Leone and Afghanistan and is a Colonel and expert in military planning. Anyway, I see him as how George Sanders could have turned out if only Sanders had shown Shakespeare a little more respect. Even though I know that at school he died his hair gold! Ha ha.

Doesn't Live Up To It's Compelling Opening Scene!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 14 June 2011]

From the compelling opening scene (the best in the movie), Fleg (George Sanders) an expert forger of rare books is after a valuable edition of "Hamlet". When the library curator jokes "over my dead body", after Fleg has asked if he may take it home, Fleg is happy to oblige. If only the rest of the movie had lived up to the opening but, unfortunately, it doesn't. His partner in crime is Myra (Gail Patrick) a rare book appraiser and she has been busy trying to convince Martin Cleaver (Sidney Blackmer) that "Hamlet" is the genuine article and a steal at $20,000. But Cleaver is dangerous, he, in turn, is intending to sell the book to Nazi Generals (Goerhing, Himmler etc).

Most of the movie is set in the public library, where Fleg takes control by masquerading as a police officer (and a very commanding one) and ordering the rare books to be put under "police protection". This was the directorial debut of John Larkin, who also wrote the story. To his credit he achieved more excitement from a library setting than most directors got from a whole war and it is a pity he only directed two more films (one was a short subject).

Sanders and Patrick had screen chemistry together - with their Freudian comments about their need for danger and "You enjoy being hurt", but once Richard Denning entered as a Detective, the dark originality took a back seat to conventionality. Even my eyebrows were raised as Denning, in an effort to find the priceless lost books started flinging valuable books off the shelves. Then Lynne Roberts appeared as a patriotic librarian waiting for her Johnny, who is serving overseas. A different ending may have been viable, but in production code films of the 40s all offenders had to be punished so Patrick would never have been able to walk away. The fact that there was no romance between Denning and Roberts provided a patriotic subplot - so at the end he could upbraid Patrick's duplicity with a speech about how "there are plenty of girls like Kay in America today" etc, pointing out that she is loyal and true to her country and her man. Maybe the film meant to highlight that, in those fearful times, Patrick may have been the real villain, someone who has no loyalty and is not to be trusted.

Gail Patrick began her career as a colourless ingenue, but, after "My Man Godfrey", broke the mold and from then on always seemed to find work as a haughty femme fatale. Lon McCallister had a very brief part as Freddie the library stacker. Theodore Von Eltz who, in my opinion, was a dead ringer for Edmund Lowe, had a brief scene in Denning's office.

Recommended.

When I act or ruins this movie

[amufan · 2/10 · 13 June 2021]

I really wanted to like this movie because I like George Sanders and I love old mystery movies. The setting was good the plot fairly interesting but unfortunately Richard Jennings ruins the movie for me. Obviously he was cast for his looks but he's a ham actor That Makes his character annoying with overacting. The whole time he was in the movie I was rooting for him to get shot and the bad guys to win. I was disappointed.

A Little Contrived, But Good

[GManfred · 27 October 2010]

"Quiet Please, Murder" is an odd movie that grows on you. Notice I didn't say Noir, or even Mystery - it's more of a drama/ romance in the 'B' mold. There must have been a headline movie billed over it because it couldn't stand on its own.

Having said that, it's a fast-paced, compelling picture with an interesting cast that takes place mainly a city library. George Sanders, Hollywood's most polished bad guy, is a forger of priceless manuscripts and Gail Patrick is his legman (woman). They make the mistake of selling one to Sidney Blackmer, a frontman for the Nazis, who were trying to corner the market on rare art and literature. Richard Denning is a private eye who is hot on Sanders' trail.

There is an undercurrent between Sanders and Patrick of some Freudian psychological aberration regarding sado-masochism which may or may not be an interesting plot twist. I thought Denning lacked gravitas and the part needed someone else. Byron Foulger, who must have made a thousand movies, is on hand as a librarian - you would recognize him immediately.

And just when you think the picture is becoming a little far-fetched, it is over, as it is only 70 minutes long. All it would have needed was one more plot contrivance or loose end and I would have lowered my rating. This film played on TCM the other morning.

Almost a Masterpiece, Certainly a Gem

[gps642 · 8/10 · 3 August 2022]

This engrossing and literate film is all but forgotten except by classic movie buffs. Enjoyed watching George Sanders play George Sanders and Gail Patrick play Gail Patrick. Richard Denning just fine. Great fun.

Disappointing

[marthawilcox1831 · 1/10 · 10 July 2014]

This film is terribly uninteresting. The characters are one dimensional and the script lacks depth. It doesn't look as though the writer has made any effort to engage the audience with a believable storyline or interesting characters. The only reason why I watched it is because George Sanders is in it. When he is presented with a good script under a good director his performance really soars. This film has neither a good script nor a good director. The performances at best are mediocre, and even Sanders without a good script and director shows the holes in his acting. The film is utter crap, and the only thing it is good for is to be relegated to the dustbin.

Polonius Dies

[tedg · 24 December 2006]

Toward the end of the great period of experimentation, we have some experiments in excess.

The story here is about four great minds colliding, each intending to outsmart and probably kill the others.

One is a master forger who steals great books in order to sell copies. At the opening of the film, he steals a unique "Hamlet."

A second is a master detective, whose mere name throws everyone into a guarded position and further intrigue.

Then you have a (presumably) beautiful and intelligent woman, initially the forger's mistress and assistant. She plays all sides against the others for her benefit.

And because the US was at war with evil Germany, we have an evil German and his German henchmen. He was an unhappy customer of a fraudulent copy of the purloined Hamlet. (Interestingly, the so called Burbage Hamlet was itself stolen.) His purchase was with Nazi money that itself was stolen.

Witnessing the whole thing is the sweet, sweet fiancé of a GI.

These four arrange to be in a grand public library (London?) just at closing time. What we see is a game of wits. People die. Books are stolen and restolen. Its a great idea, and perhaps in better hands it would have worked. But this is bizarrely confusing and uncinematic. Its interesting only in its ambitions, which as high as the best con movie.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.