2. 1900’s – 40’s
• The first murder mystery films date back to when it was the
silent era of the film industry
• The most primitive films during this time possessed a degree
of mystery e.g. Sherlock Holmes (Which is believed to be cited
as the first murder mystery film ever)
• Some films during this time would often be shown in separate
parts.
• Most films that were created in this genre have had books
written before hand and then turned into a film e.g. Sherlock
Holmes created by Arthur Conan Doyle
3. 1940’s – 50’s
• During this time murder mystery films grew darker and
became more violent.
• The detectives in these films would be just as ruthless as the
cold-hearted criminals they chased.
• During World War II if you wanted to watch something you’d
have to go to the nearby cinema in order to watch something
or if you didn’t go then you’d have to stay at home and listen
to it on the radio.
• Sometimes in certain films a man gets poisoned and he only
has limited amount of time to try and figure out who
poisoned him.
4. 1960’s -70’s
• Films of this era were based on classic films that had
already been produced .
• They fall into three categories: Modern updates of novels
and old films, atmospheric period piece films which have
been set in the 30’s and 40’s and new contemporary
detective stories that pay homage to the past.
• The New Modern wave began in the era some films set in a
futuristic type scene based around science fiction books
• Using Amnesia in these films would have been used as a
central plot device, here the person who has this is out to
try and remember his pre-existing memories from an
incident that happened
5. 1980’s – the present
• In the early 80’s neo-noir came out inspired by
the moody, fatalistic film noir crime dramas
that occurred during the 40’s
• The more complex murder mysteries would
often involve more use of the military
• In the 1990’s Pyscho-noir movies emerged
which was a blend of mystery, suspense and
horror and it main centered around
sophisticated serial killers
6. 1980’s – the present continued
• L.A. police detective stories returned after
they were first shot in 40’s/50’s, but they
came with a more harder edge and
contemporary sensibility that references
current issues.
• Some films that were made in this time would
normally be set around about the 1930’s –
1950’s.
