Mon 26 Jan 2015
Movie Review: HOME, SWEET HOMICIDE (1946).
Posted by Steve under Mystery movies , Reviews[19] Comments
HOME, SWEET HOMICIDE. 20th Century Fox, 1946. Peggy Ann Garner, Randolph Scott, Lynn Bari, Dean Stockwell, Connie Marshall, James Gleason, Anabel Shaw, Barbara Whiting, John Shepperd, Stanley Logan. Based on the novel by Craig Rice. Director: Lloyd Bacon.
First of all, anyone wishing to know more about the book, the movie, and author Craig Rice in general, ought to read Jeffrey Marks’ long online article on all of the above. This very informative essay makes for fascinating reading, either before or after watching the film. It probably makes more sense to read it afterward, but since there has never been an official release of the movie that I know of, you might not want to wait until you find a non-official copy, luckily a task not too difficult to do.
Marks says that the story is more than slightly autobiographical in nature, and that’s easy to believe. Lynn Bari plays Marian Carstairs, a widow with three precocious children. She makes a living and a home for them all by spending most of her time in her upstairs study working on and typing out another Bill Smith mystery novel. In her absence, the three children, two older girls and a young tow-haired lad named Archie (played by ten-year-old Dean Stockwell), have taken over the household chores, and all in all are doing very well at it,
The three of them are also concerned about the romantic interest they think their mother needs, but even more importantly when they hear shots inside a neighbor’s house, they think their mother ought to get credit for solving the murder, and from that moment on, they do their best to keep the police from cracking the case ahead of her.
Which is where Randolph Scott comes in. By some strange coincidence his name is Bill Smith, also, a chance event which gets the Carstairs children thinking. He’s the “enemy” on one hand, albeit a friendly one, and yet he might be exactly what they are looking for in terms of their mother’s insufficient love life.
No matter. Solving the case comes first, which they do, in roundabout fashion, with a narrow escape or two, something they hadn’t taken into consideration — that killers really don’t want to get caught.
Even though Randolph Scott usually played the quintessential cowboy, his long and lanky frame fits the suit, tie and hat of a homicide detective very well. He doesn’t have a lot of chemistry with Lynn Bari’s character, but he’s wonderful with the children, both with his patience and exasperation with them, sometimes at the same time. But it’s the chemistry between the children themselves (the two older ones played by Peggy Ann Garner and Connie Marshall) that’s the reason that this movie has just become one of my favorites. (It’s long list, but this one is now there.)
As child actors go, they’re all naturals, funny, sophisticated (or so the oldest thinks), picked on (so Archie thinks) and charming. As mysteries go, I knew who the killer was almost right away, and you probably will too. But don’t let that make you put off finding a copy of this most delightful film for yourself. If you’ve read this far into the review, you’ll regret it if you do.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:48 pm
Not much mystery as you say, but it is a charming film and as I recall was a charming book with a more gentle take on Rice’s humorous hand at mysteries.
It does the children solving a mystery plot about as well as I have ever seen it done.
January 27th, 2015 at 12:27 am
David,
As you say, a charming film, but a property still filled with plenty of exploitable value: Week-to-week television series, with the same cast of characters. That no one has done this doesn’t mean it has not either been thought of, or will be at some point in the future.
As for the inexplicable lack of home video release — those things happen and good stuff falls through the cracked palms of indifferent attorneys and young jerks on the make for a buck.
This has to surface — unless the elements have been damaged beyond a reasonable and cost efficient point.
January 27th, 2015 at 12:46 am
Barry
You pose an interesting question. If TV had been around on a large scale in 1946, would I have liked to have seen a series with the same basic setup of this movie, and the same characters? Or failing that, a series of films with of the same actors, including the children?
As much as I enjoyed this film, which I’ve wanted to see for a long time, I’d have to say no. I’d prefer the one and done, s jewel in and of itself. More could very easily destroy the charm.
And yet, and yet. Yes I have to admit I’d have liked to see what came next. It could be done. Overall, though, right now, I’m of the philosophy of, in this case, leaving them wanting more.
As for a decent copy of the film, yes it exists. I had no problem watching the copy that I have.
January 27th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
This movie recently played a part in my own life:
When I was still working, one of my bosses, a nice lady named Annette, about 10-15 years my junior, who knew me as a movie buff, asked me if I knew anything about a movie called Home Sweet Homicide; she’d seen it on TV years before, and wanted to know if it was available on home video, so she could show it to her kids.
This was in the days before MOD-DVDs, and I was unable to answer her.
Some time later, I was at a “nostalgia” show, and happened to find a “collector-to-collector” DVD (OK, bootleg); I bought two copies, one for me, and I gave the other to Annette, who was duly grateful (see under: job security). Later, I lent her my copy of Craig Rice’s original novel, which she loved (I believe she ultimately procured her own copy [with my help]).
I was also able to tell her a few things about Craig Rice’s own life (cribbed mainly from Jeffrey Marks’s book), including her checkered marital history. Annette was fascinated, but I don’t know if she ever followed up on it herself.
Since my retirement, I’ve been on the lookout for an MOD of Home Sweet Homicide; no luck yet, and I’ve lost touch with Annette.
Oh well …
# 3:
I’ve been reading up on mystery movie series in the ’30s-’40s; just this morning I happened to catch Eyes In The Night on TCM, which was clearly intended to launch a Duncan McClain series for MGM and Edward Arnold – but didn’t quite.
I would imagine that Fox would have loved to at least try a series with Lynn Bari and the kids, but if you’ll recall, Craig Rice never did a follow-up novel with the characters.
Not that that would have necessarily stopped Fox, given their other detective franchises, but we don’t seem to know the details one way or the other, so there too.
One other sidelight:
I suppose that most of you are aware that one of Craig Rice’s husbands was the beat poet Lawrence Lipton; he was the incumbent during the time frame covered by the novel and movie we’re discussing here.
You might also be aware that Lipton’s son by his prior marriage was James Lipton of Inside The Actor’s Studio fame.
In his memoir, James Lipton maintains that his father had more than a hand in writing Craig Rice’s mysteries, a point disputed by Jeffrey Marks and other students of Rice’s work.
Since Home Sweet Homicide falls squarely in the middle of the Rice-Lipton marriage, which by all accounts (including James Lipton’s) was a tumultuous one …
… well, there it is; maybe somebody somewhere can make something out of it all.
Meanwhile, if you’d be interested in getting a look at Lawrence Lipton “in action” so to speak, catch a flick called The Hypnotic Eye, in which the elder Lipton makes a completely irrelevant cameo appearance as himself in a scene in a “beatnik” cafĂ©.
Somehow, I don’t think his son will be showing this clip on Inside The Actor’s Studio any time soon …
January 27th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
There was a second Maclain film with Arnold in the role, HIDDEN EYES, I think. Not as good as the first, but not bad.
Barry, Steve,
I’m afraid a series would have deteriorated quickly into a roadshow Hardy Boys or Our Gang solves a mystery, but you never know. MR. & MRS NORTH did well on the small screen despite the improbability of a publisher’s wife stumbling on a murder every week.
I don’t think the exploitive side of the kids in danger theme would have occurred to anyone in that period, it dates at least back to Dickens, and was a staple in film. I suspect it would have worked on television, but without Scott, Bari, Stockwell et al I’m not sure with the same charm.
The quality here really is charm over substance in film and book, and most of that, in this case, is the perfect cast, and a relatively faithful screenplay.
January 27th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
Another book to add to my very tall to be read pile. There was a time when I was something of an authority on Craig Rice, having written an essay for one of the reference guides to mysteries. Someone else had been given the assignment, but was unable to complete it and it fell to me. I sat down with a stack of Craig Rice books and set to work.
January 27th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Steve kindly invited me over to chat. Yes, this is a great movie. It is one of the better out of Hollywood at that time (and by that I mean they didn’t change the entire plot or replace all the characters.) The book is something far from Rice’s usual works, which were hilarious — yet filled with lots of drinking. She was extremely particular about the film translation of this book.
I have very fond memories of this movie. I got to watch it with the Rice children, who gave me a running commentary as we watched. The children matched in gender and age, but they’d grown up in different homes and so the camaraderie was not there (as it was in the book.)
I’d be happy to answer questions if I can about the movie. I don’t know why it’s not commercially available. Rice’s other lesser works are.
January 27th, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Jeff
Thanks for stopping by. One question that has come up is this. I assume that since you didn’t mention it in your essay on the book and the film, there was never any talk of making a sequel to the movie. Am I correct?
Also, how would you feel a followup film would have fared, if it had been made? Would it have worked out, or (as is my opinion right now) can you catch lightning in a bottle only once?
January 27th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Mike,
The same James Lipton memoir says that Rice and Larry Lipton moved to SF (and in fact they moved to LA.) He was a child who was not on the scene. He received all of his information from Larry, who was by that point divorced from Craig. As an ex-spouse, he’s suspect, especially given that he complained about Rice’s typing noise in the divorce complaint.
January 27th, 2015 at 7:16 pm
There was some talk of a sequel. This was her most famous and most well-received title. However, the book came out in 1944. Rice’s marriage fell apart the next year. That split precipitated a long and painful depression, and Rice reneged on all of her writing contracts.
I honestly don’t know if it could have been reproduced. The first book solved the trouble of her romantic life. But I think in small doses, it might have worked. I don’t see it as a long series, but a single sequel might have worked.
January 27th, 2015 at 8:13 pm
Jeffrey, as I understand it you had a hand in convincing the Rice family to release her books as e-books. I have notice its been awhile since any have been released (I buy them as they come out). How did sales go? Any plans for more Rice books such as Home,Sweet Homicide to be re-released in any book format? I know you said you don’t know why this film is not on DVD, but can you guess who might own the copyright or has it fallen into public domain?
January 27th, 2015 at 9:41 pm
Michael,
I know at least one early Malone novel and one non series Rice book are available in free e-book form.
January 27th, 2015 at 10:20 pm
12. Thanks, David, but there are more. On Kindle alone I own 6 Rice books, the George Sanders, both Gypsy Rose Lee (no matter who “actually” wrote them), and a Michael Venning. Plus I own several short stories by her…I am a Malone fan (including short stories, books, radio series, movies, and have the TV series on my bucket list). If it is out there and I can find it I buy it.
Sadly there are still several Rice books left until my Kindle library is complete.
Some may remember my review of radio’s THE AMAZING MR MALONE here at
https://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=10076
January 27th, 2015 at 10:20 pm
In case I didn’t make it clear before, James Lipton’s book is definitely clear that his relationship with his father Lawrence was anything but close; one of the running themes is James’s ongoing search for a father figure, a ideal where Lawrence fell notably short.
So if he gives more credence to Dad’s claims than they deserve … I’d say understandable, and maybe forgivable.
But that’s just mellow me …
James Lipton was born in 1926; the Rice-Lipton marriage falls in his teenage years, when he was mainly living with his mother.
Those who came up in broken marriages (which, thankfully, I did not) can possibly speculate on details and come closer than I to what went down between father and son.
January 27th, 2015 at 10:25 pm
My last comment is even more badly written than my usual standard, but let it stet.
My thanks to Jeffrey Marks for his contributions and clarity.
(Hoping the Ellery Queen bio is progressing apace …)
January 27th, 2015 at 10:31 pm
12. Oh, David I just noticed the use of “free” in your comment. I do know Lucky Stiff and Sunday Pigeon Murders had been available for free. But the family approved versions of The Big Midget Murders and The Fourth Postman cost only $3.99 each. And there are several Malone short stories for 99 cents to $1.99. Lucky Stiff is available now at Kindle for $1.99, I think it is the same copy as the free version but Amazon reportedly currently discourages authors and publishers from the free price point. But there are other places to find them as you know.
January 28th, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Mike,
I know. It’s just rather ironic that the book talks about his lack of a relationship with his father and then repeats the father’s tales as gospel. Larry had a huge ego. If you want some laughs look up his fights with Kerouac. Amusing stuff.
January 28th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
About the eBooks, yes, I’ve been helping the estate get the eBooks out. I haven’t heard lately, but last time I talked to the estate it seemed like they were close to a deal to release them all. I’ll check on that and let you know..
Most of the ones out there now are from people/publishers who have looked to see which books are in the public domain and then releasing them.
Of the Malone books, Big Midget and Lucky Stiff, I believe, are in the public domain. In other series, Thursday Turkey and Jethro Hammer are as well. The rest are a single short story for $0.99 (most are from The Name is Malone.)
I’m honestly not sure why it hasn’t been released. People talk to me about it, and I get emails asking where they can find a copy, but it just hasn’t been released.
I finally just found a copy of The Underworld Story, which is supposed to be based on a Rice short story. I’m saving it for a snow day, and I’ll try to determine which story was the basis for the movie.
May 2nd, 2020 at 2:21 pm
[…] Sweet Homicide has been reviewed, among others, at January Magazine, Mystery File, Classic Mysteries, Cross-examining Crime, and The Invisible […]