I Killed the Count
Encyclopedia
I Killed the Count is a 1939
British
, black-and-white
, comedy
, crime
, mystery film
, directed
by Frederic Zelnik
and starring Ronald Shiner
as Mullet, Ben Lyon
, Syd Walker
, Terence de Marney
, Barbara Blair and Athole Stewart
. It was produced
by Grafton Films. The film was based on a play by Alec Coppel
.
. Cockney comedian Syd Walker
plays it more or less straight as Scotland Yard
Detective Inspector Davidson, at present trying to determine who murdered the much-hated Count Mattoni (Leslie Perrins
). The dilemma isn't that the Detective is suffering from a lack of witnesses. In fact, four different people come forth to confess to the killing - each of them with plenty of motive and opportunity.
in 1939, I Killed the Count was reissued the following year as Who is Guilty? by Monogram Pictures
in America.
A second adaptation I Killed the Count was made by the BBC
in 1948
. The play was also adapted as a three-parter on TV's Alfred Hitchcock Presents
.
1939 in film
The year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
British
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
, black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
, comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, crime
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
, mystery film
Mystery film
Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film and at times the thriller genre. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.The...
, directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Frederic Zelnik
Frederic Zelnik
Frederic Zelnik was one of the most important producers-directors of the German silent cinema. He also appeared on screen as an actor.-Early life and career:...
and starring Ronald Shiner
Ronald Shiner
Ronald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
as Mullet, Ben Lyon
Ben Lyon
Ben Lyon was an American film actor and a 20th Century Fox studio executive.-Life:Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lyon entered films in 1918 after a successful appearance on Broadway opposite Jeanne Eagels. He attracted attention in the highly successful film Flaming Youth , and steadily developed into...
, Syd Walker
Syd Walker
-Selected filmography:* Old Bill Through the Ages * Royal Cavalcade * Over She Goes * I Killed the Count * The Gang's All Here -External links:...
, Terence de Marney
Terence De Marney
Terence De Marney was a British film, stage, radio, and television actor, as well as theatre director and writer.-Actor:...
, Barbara Blair and Athole Stewart
Athole Stewart
-Selected filmography:Athole appeared in the following films:* Canaries Sometimes Sing * The Speckled Band * The Faithful Heart * The Constant Nymph *Loyalties * The Four Masked Men...
. It was produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
by Grafton Films. The film was based on a play by Alec Coppel
Alec Coppel
Alec Coppel was an Australian born screenwriter, novelist and playwright. He spent the majority of his career in London and Hollywood, specialising in light thrillers, mysteries and sex comedies...
.
Synopsis
The British version of I Killed the Count was based on the tricky, stage puzzler by Alec CoppelAlec Coppel
Alec Coppel was an Australian born screenwriter, novelist and playwright. He spent the majority of his career in London and Hollywood, specialising in light thrillers, mysteries and sex comedies...
. Cockney comedian Syd Walker
Syd Walker
-Selected filmography:* Old Bill Through the Ages * Royal Cavalcade * Over She Goes * I Killed the Count * The Gang's All Here -External links:...
plays it more or less straight as Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
Detective Inspector Davidson, at present trying to determine who murdered the much-hated Count Mattoni (Leslie Perrins
Leslie Perrins
Leslie Perrins was an English actor who often played villains. In his long career, he appeared in well over 60 films...
). The dilemma isn't that the Detective is suffering from a lack of witnesses. In fact, four different people come forth to confess to the killing - each of them with plenty of motive and opportunity.
Other Versions
Originally released in the US by Grand National Films Inc.Grand National Films Inc.
Grand National Films, Inc or Grand National Pictures was an American motion picture company in operation from 1936-1939. The company has no relation to the British Grand National Pictures.-History and releases:...
in 1939, I Killed the Count was reissued the following year as Who is Guilty? by Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
in America.
A second adaptation I Killed the Count was made by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 1948
1948 in film
The year 1948 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Laurence Olivier's Hamlet becomes the first British film to win the American Academy Award for Best Picture.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :...
. The play was also adapted as a three-parter on TV's Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
.
Cast
- Ben LyonBen LyonBen Lyon was an American film actor and a 20th Century Fox studio executive.-Life:Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lyon entered films in 1918 after a successful appearance on Broadway opposite Jeanne Eagels. He attracted attention in the highly successful film Flaming Youth , and steadily developed into...
- Bernard Froy - Syd WalkerSyd Walker-Selected filmography:* Old Bill Through the Ages * Royal Cavalcade * Over She Goes * I Killed the Count * The Gang's All Here -External links:...
- Detective Inspector Davidson - Terence De MarneyTerence De MarneyTerence De Marney was a British film, stage, radio, and television actor, as well as theatre director and writer.-Actor:...
- Detective Sergeant Raines - Barbara Blair - Renée la Lune
- Athole StewartAthole Stewart-Selected filmography:Athole appeared in the following films:* Canaries Sometimes Sing * The Speckled Band * The Faithful Heart * The Constant Nymph *Loyalties * The Four Masked Men...
- Lord Sorrington - Antoinette CellierAntoinette CellierAntoinette Cellier was an English film and theatre actress.-Early life and education:She was born in Broadstairs, Kent, England. Her father, Frank Cellier, was a film and theatre actor...
- Louise Rogers - Leslie PerrinsLeslie PerrinsLeslie Perrins was an English actor who often played villains. In his long career, he appeared in well over 60 films...
- Count Mattoni - David BurnsDavid Burns (actor)David Burns was an American Broadway theatre and motion picture actor and singer.Burns was born on Mott Street in the Manhattan Chinatown of New York City. He made his Broadway debut in Face the Music in 1932, Cole Porter's Nymph Errant was his London debut, and he appeared in many comedies and...
- Diamond - Ronald ShinerRonald ShinerRonald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
- Mullet - Aubrey MallalieuAubrey MallalieuAubrey Mallalieu was an English actor with a prolific career in supporting roles in films in the 1930s and 1940s....
- Johnson - Kathleen HarrisonKathleen HarrisonKathleen Harrison was a prolific English character actress best remembered for her role as Mrs. Huggett in a trio of British post-war comedies about a working class family's misadventures. To modern viewers she is better remembered as Mrs...
- Polly - Gus McNaughtonGus McNaughtonGus McNaughton was an English film actor. He appeared in 70 films between 1930 and 1947.He was born in London and died in Castor, Cambridgeshire.-Selected filmography:* Children of Chance...
- Martin - Ronald ShinerRonald ShinerRonald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
- Mullet