Please Murder Me
Encyclopedia
Please Murder Me is a 1956 American film directed by Peter Godfrey.
) buys a pistol at a pawn shop and travels to his office, where he deposits the gun in a desk drawer with a file folder, then begins to dictate into a tape recorder. Directing his message to District Attorney Ray Willis (John Dehner
), he reveals that he anticipates being murdered within an hour, and begins to tell his story in extended flashbacks. The memories begin with him explaining to his war buddy and best friend Joe Leeds (Dick Foran
) that he is having an affair with Leeds's wife Myra (Angela Lansbury
), who wants a divorce. His reaction concerned rather than angry, Joe asks Craig to give him a little time to think the matter over. Days later at his own office, Joe finishes writing a letter as his business partner Lou Kazarian arrives fresh from his daughter's wedding. Distraught over his own marriage, Joe gives the letter to Lou to mail and makes a phone call to Myra telling her he will be home soon to discuss something. Joe goes home to confront Myra in their bedroom, where a door is closed, and the audience only hears a gunshot soon after.
The next morning, police are at the home investigating Joe's death. When she is questioned, Myra explains that Joe became irate and threatened her physically, forcing her to shoot him in self-defense. Craig is also on the scene, having arrived before the police and acting as Myra's lawyer. In the ensuing trial, DA Willis allows the police to present their evidence that a physical struggle did not occur as she'd said, and notes that Myra was not employed when she first met Joe, a successful businessman with a good amount of life insurance. In her defense, Craig attributes Myra's inconsistencies regarding the night in question as post-traumatic hysteria, and in his closing argument, says that the money motive in Willis' case is not valid because Myra was in love with another man - a revelation that could inspire Joe to cause Myra pre-meditated harm. Craig then reveals that he himself is Myra's lover.
The jury finds Myra not guilty, and soon after, she and Craig throw a party to celebrate with friends as a couple. When Lou arrives in the same tuxedo he wore when he last talked to Joe, he reveals privately to Craig that he had forgotten about Joe's letter until finding it in the tux that night, and that the letter was addressed to him. Craig reads the letter, in which Joe states that Myra did indeed marry him for his money, that she was actually in love with an artist, and that Joe was going that night to ask her to stay married, in part to save her from Craig, who then remembers Myra mentioning an "old friend", an artist named Carl Holt, had visited her in jail during the trial. Craig visits Holt, who explains his long relationship with Myra, interrupted by her marriage to Joe, and states his gratitude and admiration for Craig in his defense work in Myra's trial, especially his posing as Myra's lover as a tactic. Later, Craig confronts Myra with Joe's letter and his talk with Holt, and she admits that she does intend to go on with Holt now she is free. Insulted as a man and as a lawyer, Craig tells Myra she will pay for her crime regardless, because he will force her to murder him. Myra is incredulous, but Craig soon puts a plan in motion, developing a friendship with Holt, even employing him to paint a portrait to delay Myra and Holt's departure to Europe to marry. All the while, Craig tells Myra he will reveal all the evidence to Holt and let him decide if he wants to marry a murderess. As well, Craig meets socially with DA Willis, discussing Myra's case, and lets Myra see them together.
Craig concludes his story being dictated into the tape recorder by saying he has arranged to meet Myra at the office at 12:30am, which soon arrives. Hearing a knock at the office door, Craig leaves the recorder running and hides the microphone behind a desk photo of himself and Joe, then lets in Myra. He shows her the file he says is full of evidence he's compiled against her, and then sets down the pistol on the desk. As he starts to make a phone call to Holt, Myra, successfully driven to desperation, takes the gun and shoots Craig, who falls to the floor. Using a handkerchief, she hangs up the phone and wipes her fingerprints from the gun, which he puts in Craig's hand. She finds the file is full of nothing but blank sheets of paper. When DA Willis arrives, she explains that Craig has shot himself. After checking that Craig is in fact dead, Willis learns that Myra had an appointment with Craig for 12:30, then tells her Craig had invited him to come at 12:40. He finds the microphone and recorder, then stops and rewinds the tape. As he begins to play Craig's recording, Myra starts crying, defeated.
Plot synopsis
Defense lawyer Craig Carlson (Raymond BurrRaymond Burr
Raymond William Stacey Burr was a Canadian actor, primarily known for his title roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. His early acting career included roles on Broadway, radio, television and in film, usually as the villain...
) buys a pistol at a pawn shop and travels to his office, where he deposits the gun in a desk drawer with a file folder, then begins to dictate into a tape recorder. Directing his message to District Attorney Ray Willis (John Dehner
John Dehner
John Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
), he reveals that he anticipates being murdered within an hour, and begins to tell his story in extended flashbacks. The memories begin with him explaining to his war buddy and best friend Joe Leeds (Dick Foran
Dick Foran
John Nicholas 'Dick' Foran was an American actor, known for his performances in western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures.-Life and career:...
) that he is having an affair with Leeds's wife Myra (Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
), who wants a divorce. His reaction concerned rather than angry, Joe asks Craig to give him a little time to think the matter over. Days later at his own office, Joe finishes writing a letter as his business partner Lou Kazarian arrives fresh from his daughter's wedding. Distraught over his own marriage, Joe gives the letter to Lou to mail and makes a phone call to Myra telling her he will be home soon to discuss something. Joe goes home to confront Myra in their bedroom, where a door is closed, and the audience only hears a gunshot soon after.
The next morning, police are at the home investigating Joe's death. When she is questioned, Myra explains that Joe became irate and threatened her physically, forcing her to shoot him in self-defense. Craig is also on the scene, having arrived before the police and acting as Myra's lawyer. In the ensuing trial, DA Willis allows the police to present their evidence that a physical struggle did not occur as she'd said, and notes that Myra was not employed when she first met Joe, a successful businessman with a good amount of life insurance. In her defense, Craig attributes Myra's inconsistencies regarding the night in question as post-traumatic hysteria, and in his closing argument, says that the money motive in Willis' case is not valid because Myra was in love with another man - a revelation that could inspire Joe to cause Myra pre-meditated harm. Craig then reveals that he himself is Myra's lover.
The jury finds Myra not guilty, and soon after, she and Craig throw a party to celebrate with friends as a couple. When Lou arrives in the same tuxedo he wore when he last talked to Joe, he reveals privately to Craig that he had forgotten about Joe's letter until finding it in the tux that night, and that the letter was addressed to him. Craig reads the letter, in which Joe states that Myra did indeed marry him for his money, that she was actually in love with an artist, and that Joe was going that night to ask her to stay married, in part to save her from Craig, who then remembers Myra mentioning an "old friend", an artist named Carl Holt, had visited her in jail during the trial. Craig visits Holt, who explains his long relationship with Myra, interrupted by her marriage to Joe, and states his gratitude and admiration for Craig in his defense work in Myra's trial, especially his posing as Myra's lover as a tactic. Later, Craig confronts Myra with Joe's letter and his talk with Holt, and she admits that she does intend to go on with Holt now she is free. Insulted as a man and as a lawyer, Craig tells Myra she will pay for her crime regardless, because he will force her to murder him. Myra is incredulous, but Craig soon puts a plan in motion, developing a friendship with Holt, even employing him to paint a portrait to delay Myra and Holt's departure to Europe to marry. All the while, Craig tells Myra he will reveal all the evidence to Holt and let him decide if he wants to marry a murderess. As well, Craig meets socially with DA Willis, discussing Myra's case, and lets Myra see them together.
Craig concludes his story being dictated into the tape recorder by saying he has arranged to meet Myra at the office at 12:30am, which soon arrives. Hearing a knock at the office door, Craig leaves the recorder running and hides the microphone behind a desk photo of himself and Joe, then lets in Myra. He shows her the file he says is full of evidence he's compiled against her, and then sets down the pistol on the desk. As he starts to make a phone call to Holt, Myra, successfully driven to desperation, takes the gun and shoots Craig, who falls to the floor. Using a handkerchief, she hangs up the phone and wipes her fingerprints from the gun, which he puts in Craig's hand. She finds the file is full of nothing but blank sheets of paper. When DA Willis arrives, she explains that Craig has shot himself. After checking that Craig is in fact dead, Willis learns that Myra had an appointment with Craig for 12:30, then tells her Craig had invited him to come at 12:40. He finds the microphone and recorder, then stops and rewinds the tape. As he begins to play Craig's recording, Myra starts crying, defeated.
Cast
- Angela LansburyAngela LansburyAngela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
as Myra Leeds - Raymond BurrRaymond BurrRaymond William Stacey Burr was a Canadian actor, primarily known for his title roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. His early acting career included roles on Broadway, radio, television and in film, usually as the villain...
as Attorney Craig Carlson - Dick ForanDick ForanJohn Nicholas 'Dick' Foran was an American actor, known for his performances in western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures.-Life and career:...
as Joe Leeds - John DehnerJohn DehnerJohn Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
as Dist. Atty. Ray Willis - Lamont JohnsonLamont JohnsonLamont Johnson was an American actor and film director who has appeared in and directed many television shows and movies. He won two Emmy Awards....
as Carl Holt - Robert Griffin as Lou Kazarian
- Denver PyleDenver PyleDenver Dell Pyle was an American film and television actor. He is best remembered for playing Uncle Jesse in The Dukes of Hazzard .-Early life:...
as Det. Lt. Bradley - Alex Sharp as Sgt. Hill
- Lee MillerLee MillerElizabeth 'Lee' Miller, Lady Penrose was an American photographer. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1907, she was a successful fashion model in New York City in the 1920s before going to Paris where she became an established fashion and fine art photographer...
as Policeman on witness stand - Russell ThorsonRussell Thorson----Russell Thorson , was an American actor, perhaps best known for his co- starring role as Det. Lt. Otto Lindstrom in the ABC late '50's hit crime series, The Detectives- Career :Born in Wisconsin, USA...
as Trial judge