The history of the murder mystery genre in film has evolved over the decades from the 1900s to present day. Early silent films featured simplistic mysteries, while 1940s-50s films grew darker and more violent. The 1960s-70s saw updates of classic novels and period pieces set in the 1930s-40s. From the 1980s on, neo-noir and psycho-thriller styles emerged, with more complex plots, international settings, and fast-paced action sequences. The changing nature of audiences required more intricate mysteries to avoid predictability.

1. The history of the genre of
murder mystery

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.
• The setting of these film would most likely be in a huge mansion
with a certain amount of suspects and the murderer is likely to be
wearing something dark.

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.
• The setting would roughly remain the same except there will be
more suspects and as years went on it became increasingly harder
to figure out who the murderer was.

4. 1960’s -70’s
• Films of this era were based on classic films/novels 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.
• Contemporary films will films like Marlowe (*1969+based on Chandler’s The little Sister) and a
remake of the big sleep set in contemporary London.
• Example of Period piece films are Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and
Chinatown (also 1974)
• The new wave may sometimes have the use of a detective in a futuristic, science-based
theme.
• Sometimes in film from this era amnesia would be and the detective, victim or suspect will be
out to try and recover his memory.
• The setting for some of the films in this era would be taken to different areas such as other
houses and the murderer would have or possibly make his mark in everyone of these places.
• The murder would be plain obvious to tell because he/she be doing there best to look
innocent and frame someone else plus there will high angle and low angle shots pointing on
specific people to make it feel as someone is being watched whilst a conversation is going on

5. 1980’s-present
• In the early 80’s neo noir genre was popular emerged with
a moody, fatalistic style inspired by the 40’s.
• Complex murder mysteries at this time would often have
the military involved.
• In the 1990’s Pyscho-noir movies emerged which was a
blend of mystery, suspense and horror and it was mainly
centred around sophisticated serial killers.
• The murder will have quite a lot of henchmen which are
used help track down the hero and take the villain to his
next location.
• There will be some fast action moments which will indicate
something could happen out of the blue or someone could
have been killed

6. 1980’s-present continued
• L.A. police detective stories returned after they
were first shot in the 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.
• The locations will also start to go worldwide and
it will sometimes include some high speed car
chases because the villain will be after something
the hero has.

7. Why did this genre change over the
years?
• The why the genre had to change is that it had
to have a more complicated plots because the
audience were limited to a certain amount of
suspects and they had seen many different
examples from this genre e.g. the butler did
it, and that’s why it to change because it
would become predictable.

8. How this information will help me?
• This information will help because it will show
what’s already been done in this genres
history and this also tell me what storyline I
should go along on how the dead person was
murdered. It can also tell me what people
would have expected from films in this genre
and how they should be structured out.