You are here:

Design for Murder

Name: Design for Murder
Director: Roy Boulting
Released: 1939
Duration: 60 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

1939

Director

Roy Boulting

Runtime

60 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Design for Murder is a product of its 1939 context, operating within the strict social hierarchies of pre-war British cinema. The narrative is driven by a singular, male-centric conflict that prioritizes psychological thriller elements over broader social exploration. The film does not intentionally represent diverse identities. Instead, it relies on established genre conventions, focusing on individual retribution and masculine aggression rather than exploring diverse identities or systemic critiques. Ultimately, the work functions as a localized character study. It reflects the era's tendency toward homogeneous social settings and traditional narrative structures.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Design for Murder have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any non-binary or LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships. It follows the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender, typical of 1930s crime cinema.

How does Design for Murder portray gender?

Limited

The story focuses on a male-dominated conflict between a student and a gang of bullies. It emphasizes traditional masculine traits such as physical strength and retaliation.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Design for Murder?

Minimal

The setting seems homogeneous, reflecting the era's Anglo-Saxon focus. There is no visible evidence of racial diversity.

How does Design for Murder represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film centers on individual revenge and psychological instability. It does not critique Western institutions but instead offers a character study of madness.

Does Design for Murder include disability representation?

Fair

The protagonist's psychological issues play a key role in the plot. However, his mental state is used mainly as a device for the crime.

Present on Screen

Explores complex themes of psychological instability and moral ambiguity.
Provides a character study of individual madness and vengeance.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities or same-sex relationships.
Reinforces traditional male clichés of physical dominance and violence.
Does not give real depth to neurodivergent or mental health conditions.
Reflects an Anglo-Saxon focus with little racial or ethnic diversity.

Official Synopsis

When a wealthy, lonely university music student is beaten and has his apartment trashed by a fellow dorm resident-bully and his gang, he goes mad, lures the bully into his room on pretense of forgiveness, slips him a paralyzing agent in a drink, throws him in a trunk and locks him in, and taunts the bully with the promise that he will be buried alive in the trunk. Only, once he gets his trunk and his prey to his country estate, the vengeful victim finds things keep going wrong...

How are these scores produced? →