Murder on the Homefront Will Look to Continue
A Wartime Murder Melodrama
Warning: Spoilers
When a woman is found dead young home office pathologist Lennox Collins attends the scene; he soon determines that she was strangled; there is something more sinister about the case than that though; she had a swastika carved onto her tongue! His inspection of the scene is interrupted by reporter Molly Cooper but rather than getting the story she hoped for she gets offered a job as Collins' secretary. The only clue to what the woman had done earlier on the night she was killed is a letter 'M' on her hand; an indication that she had been to the Metropol dance hall. There are a handful of suspects here; including the somewhat seedy owner and a German refugee with a penchant for collecting saucy postcards. Soon another murder takes place; it appears they are dealing with a serial killer.
This two part story is very much a melodrama despite being inspired by the memoirs of somebody who worked with a pathologist at the time. Surprisingly it was quite fun despite there being numerous moments when the viewer will think 'that wouldn't have happened back then'… for example at one point Molly walks down a well lit night time street… so much for the blackout! Guessing the killer shouldn't be too difficult either; in such dramas it is never the first accused or the obviously nasty person! Patrick Kennedy and Tamzin Merchant put in good performances as protagonists Lennox and Molly; I rather hope we see more of them in further stories one day. Overall I'd say this is a fun melodrama; just don't expect it to be another 'Foyle's War' or you'll be very disappointed!
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You have a devious streak, Miss Cooper. I like that in a woman.
Patrick Kennedy would not be unfamiliar to most viewers. He can be see in Downton Abbey, Boardwalk Empire. Day of Atonement, War Horse, and Pirates of the Caribbean, to name a few.
Her he is a doctor in wartime London trying to school the police in forensic science as he attempts to determine cause and criminal in several murders.
There is a bit of Foyle's War here, but the focus is on Doctor Collins, not the police.
He is assisted by Molly Cooper (Tamzin Merchant), who I imagine is a stand in for the author Molly Lefebure, upon which the film is derived by her memoirs.
Of course, the government is not above protecting a killer to aid the war effort.
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Odd but okay
This an odd sort of film. There is nothing specially good about it. The acting, the production, the effects and even the plot are all somewhat mediocre. Yet it has its moments. Setting a Jack The Ripper sort of story against the London blitz is unique in itself. But the intriguing aspect is that they have combined some pretty gory scenes with an offbeat sort of humour. I'm not sure whether it's a war movie, a murder mystery or a comedy. Maybe a bit of each. Not a great film by any means. Yet it's something different and we enjoyed it. Was this perhaps inspired by Foyle's War? It also had the look of a pilot for a planned TV series that never happened.
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Loved it, despite other reviews
Well, I won't go on and on here as I am not a movie review fanatic or even talented at describing things well. But I will say, as far as liking this movie that I loved it! I thought it was an excellent murder mystery type movie with very likable characters and I would love to see many more of these. I loved all the lead characters and thought all the acting was great. One reviewer says that Tamzin Merchant was awful. What? I thought she was perfect and I really couldn't get into any kind of sequel without her. One reviewer was disappointed that it was made by Carnival films and not BBC. I for one am glad it was not the usual boring, dragging on, BBC drama. I, if you can't tell, am American and this film was sooooo much better than the usual BBC stuff. It was not Hollywood either nor am I sad that it wasn't. Hollywood stuff gets old. All I can say is that if this is an example of British (admittedly low budget) movies today than I am ready to start watching a lot more of them. I think it was VERY well done on a whatever budget that I really didn't even notice because I was glued to the story the entire time! I was only disappointed when it ended. I could watch more of these on and on. Once again, thank you to all involved, I hope you make many more!
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A Glorious whodunit.
A killer uses the backdrop of the Blitz to disguise their crimes.
What an absolutely brilliant ninety minutes of drama this was. The Blitz setting is an excellent backdrop for a murder mystery, the crimes are nasty and the detection is intriguing. You could be forgiven for thinking that Dr Collins had landed there from the future, but these pioneers certainly existed, leading to the technologies used today.
Fabulous characters, all beautifully acted. The two central characters, Lennox and Molly are a joy to watch, the chemistry between Patrick Kennedy and Tamzin Merchant is the quite wonderful and helps to engage you.
At times it's dark, serious and also funny, it's instantly a drama that grips you, it also boasts a fabulous ending which manages to crank up the tension.
Bravo, I thought this was excellent. 9/10
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WWII murder mystery
Warning: Spoilers
"Murder at the Home Front" is based on the memoirs of Molly Lefebure, secretary to pathologist Dr Keith Simpson (the pathologist) during WW II. She was the first woman to work in a mortuary, and known by Scotland Yard as "Miss Molly."
During the London blitz, Dr. Lennox Collins (Patrick Kennedy) is assigned to do an autopsy on a prostitute who was strangled and a swastika carved on her tongue. Merchant is Molly Cooper, a reporter who becomes Collins' assistant.
The chief suspect is a German, Wilfred Ziegler, who discovered the body. However, he is left-handed and the killer was right-handed.
The trail leads to a club, the Metropole, where Mary spent a lot of time. Molly goes there and meets the club's owner, Danny.
Two more women are murdered, and a gay actor, Ronald Terry, is put at the scene. Then Terry commits suicide, it seems, though after Lennox and Molly investigate, it turns out to be murder.
Ziegler confesses and is sentenced to be hanged, though Collins is not convinced. He begins to suspect a conspiracy - at the very top.
This film took a few hits from reviewers here, possibly because people were expecting more, along the lines of Foyle's War. Well, Foyle's War has no peers as far as I'm concerned. This was okay, not as terrible as described.
The character of Lennox Collins (Patrick Kennedy) is based on a famous pathologist, Keith Simpson, a pioneer in the field, who solved many murder case. Kennedy gives a solid and probably a realistic performance of a dedicated doctor. If it wasn't the most exciting thing you've ever seen, I imagine he was going for an accurate approach.
I didn't think Tazmin Merchant was so bad - compared to whom? The actors on Beverly Hills 90210? She was fine, and as far as no chemistry with Dr. Collins, I thought the scene at the end had plenty of chemistry and was lovely.
I will concede there were some silly choices made, such as a lit street during the blackout and a certain amount of predictability.
It looks like this was supposed to be a series, as there is one listed on IMDb.
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period piece... wartime Who-dunnit
Not a lot of info on this one on IMDb, probably because it began as a British TV movie. It's on netflix now. Set during WW II, we follow the "Molly", who works with detectives and forensic scientists as they try to track down a prostitute's murderer. Then another murder. They must try to find the bad guy as the clues and crime scenes are all getting erased by the German bombs. It's actually quite good. Moves along slowly but surely. And of course, opium must be involved, since the original writer had also studied opioids. Some clever blending of scenes... at one point, they talk about knives, and we fade into someone carving a hunk of meat. Another time, we start by looking at a mirror ball in a dance hall, which turns into the bright, full moon. The murder victims all have some things in common, and we don't really have any obvious suspects. We plod along, following the slow progress, but it's pretty entertaining. Also the usual wartime issues, such as fifth column spies, homosexuality, woman's lib.
Directed by Geoffrey Sax, who has done a mix of British TV series and films. Looks like he worked exclusively in TV from the 1970s until about 2005, when he made a few films. This seems to be the memoirs of Molly Lefebure, who was a writer... lived from 1919 to 2013. Apparently she wrote about 20 books, among them studies on Coleridge and his family. Quite an interesting write-up on wikipedia. She actually DID work with a pathologist, and worked in a mortuary, no doubt gathering knowledge for her novels.
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Murders in Wartime
In 1940, in London, a prostitute is found dead in her room in a boarding house with a swastika carved on her tongue. The rookie pathologist Dr Lennox Collins (Patrick Kennedy) is summoned by Detective Freddie Wilkins (David Sturzaker) to investigate the crime scene. They meet the snoopy journalist and aspiring writer Molly Cooper (Tamzin Merchant) in the spot and Lennox invites her to be his assistant. Then they interview the Anglo-German Wilfred Zeigler (John Heffernan), who found the body and collect cards of women photos. After the autopsy, they discover that the woman had gone to the Metropol night-club and they decide to visit the place with Wilkins. Three men do not have alibi and become suspects. When two other women are murdered in the same modus operandi, Wilkins accuses Zeigler with circumstantial evidences only. When the gay actor Ronald Terry (John Bowe) is found dead apparently after committing suicide, Lennox and Molly believe the murders are connected. Lennox is not convinced that Zeigler is the serial-killer and proceeds with his investigation. Who might have killed the women and the actor?
"Murder on the Home Front" is a promising TV Movie about murders in wartime that could have been better and better. The odd story is interesting but the rushed conclusion is not satisfactory and disappoints. The chemistry between Patrick Kennedy and Tamzin Merchant is worthwhile watching with funny moments and dialogues. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Assassinatos em Tempo de Guerra" ("Murders in Wartime")
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Delightful Show
Don't believe the reviews posted by the media snobs, this show is fun to watch, well done and is period accurate. The only thing that is stretched a bit is the sophistication of the forensic knowledge, but it's easy to overlook.
If you're into rock-em, sock-em action then this is not the show for you. It mostly appeals to those who are accustomed to the pace of British shows and their propensity toward utilizing the English language rather than smacking you across the head with the obvious in the form of splashing, flashing video imagery.
I loved this show, and I hope there are more in our future.
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Great find on Netflix
I gave it 9 out of 10 because I found it very entertaining. I've read some comments about accuracy (who cares); it's all about the storyline which I thought held up. In the end I want to be entertained and this film accomplished that. Very refreshing compared to the trash we have to see on TV in the US.
I also read other comments on the IMDb message board about the acting and in general that the production was like a high school play. Come on? I think the acting was fine.
In general throughout the entire movie I think they got the look and feel of the era right. I've also seen that they plan on making this into a series. Should be good!!!
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LOVED IT -Give us more
My wife and I loved this film. The setting, music, special effects were all enjoyable. Acting was good, if not great, but fitting for the wartime storyline. This is far better than mist of the junk on the mainstream American networks. The central characters were interesting and we'd love to see another.
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Where Forensic Science was At It's Infancy
Warning: Spoilers
Macabre, with perfectly woven details and nice blend of dark comedy, "Murder on the Home Front" is an exhilarating criminal drama that dates back when forensic science was was in its infancy and the exciting stories that come with each corpse before they settle to their final resting places. Crime labs had come a long way but the seedlings of C.S.I. evolved in London during the London Blitz of 1940.
Based on the memoirs of Molly Lefebure, a receptionist at the Home Office of Pathologist Keith Simpson, "Murder on the Home Front", this 90 minute crime drama gives a glance at a time period that has often been neglected in history or in television. During the peak of World War II the examination of corpses were beginning to be more involving as we see the evolution and the importance as what caused a certain individual to die and dismissing the corpses by saying they were killed is never enough as these scientists are curious as who, how, why or what led to these deaths make everything all the more fascinating and inquisitive.
What's interesting before crime labs and DNA traces were more evident, the evolution of forensic science had to depend solely on inventive tactics and breaking taboo. They didn't have the technological advances they needed to crack cases. Instead these investigations had to depend on clues, evidence left behind and piecing a puzzle together solving criminal activities.
Set during the London Blitz of 1940 during World War II, a number of single women had been killed, DI Freddie Wilkins (David Sturzaker) believes that the culprit is loner Wilfred Ziegler (John Heffernan) and that the bodies have marking s of swastikas carved on their tongues. But Pathologist Dr. Lennox Collins (Patrick Kennedy) and former journalist turned personal assistant Molly Cooper (Tazmin Merchant) have second thoughts as they depend on more advanced methods to track down who's behind these serial murders. In an effort to advance deeper clues into murder, Lennox also has to confront the government who's willing to debunk their methods just to save their reputation. In spite of the dark content, this film is still about characters living their lives to their fullest.
Though Kennedy and Merchant lead the pack the supporting performers aew equally effective as James Fleet was excellent as always as Professor Henry Stephens and Emerald Fennell as Issy Quennell.
With the horrors of the London Blitz and that the Nazis were ready to strike at any moment, the energy of the characters and the vibrant effects shows people can still live the life if there was no tomorrow both literal and figuratively speaking. It's also the epicenter to use the blackout as a way for deviants to cover up their heinous acts. While the Luftwaffe were up to their evil, criminals are able to successfully get away with murder.
And Dr. Lennox Collins is very new to the world of pathology he is determined to go though all means necessary to cover the cases that are brought to his attention. With new scientific discoveries. This gives him the chance to prove his line of work all the more prominent especially from Professor Stephens. Molly Cooper is a very dependable important character who's more than just a pathologist's secretary, but a highly intelligent woman and can very adept at assisting Dr. Collins though his research. Once they discover a cold-blooded murderer on the loose,Dr. Collins while trying to theorize with his dismissive boss that his tactics in catching criminals works.
With their research, Collins and Cooper will have enough evidence that will link to who the real killer is and that theory alone won't crack the case and that and that the law won't hang the wrong person.
Executive Producer Sally Woodward Gentle heavily praised the direction of Geoffrey Sax and the clever script of Davy Kane as we get an insightful look at how forensic science started during the Blitz and how to this day continues to evolve.
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Lightweight Sunday Evening Viewing
This was ok. It had the feel of a Sunday evening show like Endeavour or Downton. Nothing really taxing but watchable. Great period settings, sets and costumes. The male lead was fine but female lead very irritating. They did not look like a likely couple. It felt like a pilot for a shoe that was not given the green light for a TV series. Not bad.
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Unoriginal and a bit wooden
"I know - let's cross Foyle's War with Silent Witness. It can't fail!" That's the crass idea behind this - the only idea behind it. Patrick Kennedy even looks like Michael Kitchen's younger brother and his character has a similar phlegmatic approach to crime solving. What a pity Tamzin Merchant is not a patch on Honeysuckle Weeks.
It might just have worked if it hadn't been so creakily wooden, if the fake bomb sites hadn't had obvious cardboard bits, if the CGI had been a bit more convincing and if they hadn't resorted to gratuitous gore - but I suppose they had to put that in as part of their homage to Silent Witness.
It might yet find its feet, but it's a poor testimony to the creativity of British TV. Scandinavia and the USA are bursting with good ideas. What went wrong in the UK?
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Ultimately Fails
You know that commercial with the young adults trying to flee a murderer and the girl cries out, "There's a car, let's go!" And one of the young man says, "No, let's hide behind those chainsaws!" - mocking the utterly foolish decisions people make in horror movies (or, really, the poor storytelling of the writers)?
Well, that's part of the problem with this program. I don't dislike the actors and the plot line has potential (though it's a bit of a mimic of the great Foyle's War - except for a forensic expert).
But, there are far too many predictable features. Bad decisions as in the horror story pattern. The typical supervisory stupidity and skepticism and corruption in high places is also present.
I had high hopes with this. Great setting (WWII London). Decent acting. Plenty of potential but ultimately it is frustrating.
It's just a boiler-plate crime story-line copied thousands of times by one TV show after another.
I am normally not at all that critical about such programs. There was some enjoyment in the program. But, seriously is there no originality left?
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Passable... sad, because it could have been excellent
The premise was so good. What a shame the final product is so mediocre. This program should be used in film school as the perfect example of style overwhelming the fundamental purpose of a film, which is to tell a story through the compelling representation of characters pursuing their objectives in a believable context (which can even be an imaginary one).Everything about the style of the film is excessive—gesture pushed to the point of camp.
They should have focused more on good casting and getting the best, most three-dimensional performances from the actors, so that we would believe in them and care about them. Given the historical context (London during the Blitz), achieving that goal should have been extraordinarily easy.
Patrick Kennedy as Dr, Collins was actually quite good. Tamzin Merchant as Molly Cooper was pretty awful, really. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no chemistry between their characters—which isn't too surprising, since Ms. Merchant's character is basically missing in action.
All in all, I recommend you give it a miss.
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An absolute gem.
Tamzin Merchant in superb form. The costumes were excellent. This drama truly reeked of the 40's. A great story that could easily been stretched to 120 minutes, and it's rare to say that. Put simply this was a marvelous bit of telly. A curtain call for all involved. It would be great to have another episode.
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I was disappointed with the production
I was disappointed with this production. It was more like those B films that Hollywood put out in the 40's and 50's. I frankly did not care for the leads since they had no charisma. Also the look of the film was not sharp. Some of the acting was amateurish also especially the owner of the club. He was straight out of a B movie. The club scenes I suppose were meant to interesting but again I kept thinking that look like something Monogram and even Republic studios would have put out. What's will that guy constantly dancing on stage to the music. Sorry I am a big supporter of British programs but this just did live up to stuff. I see it was made by Carnival Films and not the BBC
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Well constructed TV movie.
A young pathologist and his assistant try to solve a series of murders in wartime London. It was well done for a TV movie. The most enjoyable part was the Doctor's understanding of the crime scene and everybody else's lack of. Kept me interested throughout, well worth a try.
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Terrible acting
This was almost camp, it was so amateur. The acting was incredibly lame. The main guy was okay but everyone else was absolutely terrible. Production was okay if a little like a TV miniseries, but otherwise I struggled to watch this.
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If you enjoyed Ms Lefebure's book avoid this film.
Any comment that this film is based upon the wartime memoirs of Molly Lefebure are stretching such a claim beyond all recognition. Clearly the reason for doing so was to attract viewers, but there is a world of difference between a bit of poetic licence and a complete deviation from an original story.
Had the makers not "lifted" the title from Ms Lefebure's book nor come up with a fictional "case," it would have just been another second rate film and one you would be unlikely to recommend to your friends.
As with the American film U-571 (supposedly about a bunch of US sailors capturing the first Enigma coding machine) this film was so far from the truth it completely failed to reflect what was an interesting (and for the most part factually accurate) narrative of Ms Lefebure's experiences working for a Home Office pathologist.
I really am no expert and am certainly not a purist when it comes to films, but had the film reflected the author's experiences of working with Dr (and later Professor) Keith Simpson in war torn London and the Home Counties or, had it followed just one of the many head-lining cases investigated by him, it could have been immensely enjoyable.
As it was, it just left me completely flat.
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Gave up after 10 minutes
I found the cliched opening scene where he picks up an unknown woman in a bar and tried to get off with her bad enough. But then, when he was called to examine a body, he left at least 2 lights on and the electric fire burning when he left his flat - just so completely anachronistic and unbelievable that I was struggling. Quickly followed by another lame device of the girl reporter (presumably) managing to barge into the murder scene. I switched off at that point - too inaccurate and irritating for me I'm afraid.
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Charming exciting and fun period drama.
As a fan of crime detective dramas, I found this an enjoyable who-dunnit murders, red herrings in wartime London. Reminded me of Strike, Poirot, 39 steps all mixed up. Fab one liners in there too.
This would make a good TV detective series.
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Ecellent
This is by far one of the best films of it's kind around, it kept me on the edge of my seat right from the start, yet is was filmed in 2013, but l have never heard of it till now, it was a great drama, a fantastic mystery, and a little hind of comedy, all in all a great film l gave it 10/10.
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