Home, Sweet Homicide

Cute story that combines comedy with mystery. The kids are great little actors, aren't they? But, phenobarbital!!!! What a shame that Barbara Whiting didn't have more scenes. She and Peggy Ann were such a great team in "Junior Miss" and I was hoping they'd be cast together in a similar way for this film. While this was a terrific movie and I enjoyed all 3 of the siblings, I think Hollywood shot itself in the foot by not using the Barbara-and-Peggy duo to its best advantage.

I've seen this film a few times but it's been years and I'd kill to find a copy of it. It's tremendously charming. The kids are terrific -- led by the wonderful Peggy Ann Garner. A really enjoyable 'B' pic that is not available on video. If it turns up at all it's on the Late Late Show. Stay up for this one. You'll be glad you did.

As with the rest of you Home Sweet Homicide has been on my wish list for years. I too first saw this minor classic on New York's great Million Dollar Movie. Well good news all! While researching this title I discovered a site through Amazon that sells a public domain-ish VHS tape of Home Sweet Homicide. The quality is a little murky sometimes but it is most certainly watchable. The company I purchased it from is:

Life Is A Movie, 3639 Midway Drive, Suite B-326, San Diego, CA 92110-5254

Toll Free Telephone: 888-403-0873

Email: custserv@lifeisamovie.com

The total cost was $16.97

Enjoy!

The movie is based on the book of the same name by Craig Rice, who was a popular mystery writer in her time. This movie is a pretty faithful adaption of the book and is somewhat autobiographical. Marian Carstairs (played by the underrated Lynn Bari) is a widow who writes mystery books featuring Detective Bill Smith as the protagonist. Her three children (Dinah, the eldest, April, and Archie, the youngest who is bossed around by his sisters and rightly resents it). Even so, the banter between the youngsters and their obvious fondness for each other and their mother is refreshing. When a murder happens in their neighborhood, the siblings decide they need to solve it and make sure their mother gets the credit for doing so and in that way she will get a lot of publicity for her books. Leading the murder investigation is a detective coincidentally named "Bill Smith," nicely played by Randolph Scott. Smith's partner, Sgt. O'Hare (played by the always excellent James Gleason) is continually frustrated by the youngsters' antics. In their effort to solve the mystery for their mother and to protect the husband of the victim from being accused of the murder, the children come up with the harebrained and potentially dangerous idea of giving the police untrue information. They also come up with the idea that Lt. Smith would be a good beau for their mother. This really isn't much of a mystery as it's easy to figure out who the murderer is but it is a delightful and highly entertaining movie. The siblings, played by Peggy Ann Garner, Connie Marshall, and Dean Stockwell work wonderfully well together and are a highlight of this movie. This movie has one of the best introductory credits I've ever seen. A group is singing a sedate "Home Sweet Home." The rendition is interrupted by screaming and other murderous sounds. It's hilarious. For those interested in Craig Rice, Jeffrey Marks has written an excellent biography of her entitled "Who was that lady? Craig Rice: queen of the screwball comedy."

I remember seeing this movie on the Million Dollar Movie. I think my sister and I saw it every night and day that it showed. On the weekend it was on several times a day. It was one of our favorite movies. We have been trying to find out if it is on video or who owns the rights to it. I dont understand, why it has not been on T.V. I think it was a real classic and would really like a video of this, or at least find out if it will be shown on T.V. at all, and when. If you have any idea who we can contact please, someone let me know. My sister and I enjoyed this movie and talk about it all the time. We would appreciate any help we can get in locating this film.