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Murder by Television

Name: Murder by Television
Director: Clifford Sanforth
Released: 1935
Duration: 53 min

Representation Score

1.4/10

Minimal

1935

Passed

Director

Clifford Sanforth

Runtime

53 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Murder by Television is a product of its time, functioning as a standard genre piece that reinforces established social hierarchies. The narrative focuses on individual ability to act and technological mystery rather than social subversion. The film centers on male-driven plots of invention and investigation, which limits the exploration of diverse perspectives and multi-layered complexity. Ultimately, the work adheres to the homogeneous casting and traditional moral frameworks common in 1935, offering limited representation for underrepresented groups.

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Category Breakdown

Does Murder by Television have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships. It follows a traditional mystery format that emphasizes heterosexual relationships.

How does Murder by Television portray gender?

Limited

Men like James Houghland and Police Chief Nelson take center stage, holding leadership and intellectual roles that reflect the gender norms of the 1930s.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Murder by Television?

Minimal

The story focuses on a technological conflict without showing a diverse cast. It follows the homogeneous casting practices typical of mid-1930s studio productions.

How does Murder by Television represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story explores industrial espionage within a traditional capitalist framework, without critiquing or deconstructing Western institutions.

Does Murder by Television include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The narrative does not explore neurodivergent or physical disability storylines.

Present on Screen

The film offers a clear, focused mystery centered on technological innovation and industrial espionage.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks diverse representation across gender, race, and sexual orientation.
The story reinforces traditional social hierarchies rather than exploring systemic or cultural complexities.
There is a notable absence of characters with disabilities or diverse neurodivergent perspectives.

Official Synopsis

James Houghland, inventor of a new method by which television signals can be instantaneously sent anywhere in the world, refuses to sell the process to television companies, who then send agents to acquire the invention any way they can. On the night of his initial broadcast Houghland is mysteriously murdered in the middle of his demonstration and it falls to Police Chief Nelson to determine who the murderer is from the many suspects present.

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