Busman's Honeymoon (film)

This article is about the 1940 film, marketed in the U.S. as Haunted Honeymoon, based on the 1936 play and 1937 novel by Dorothy Sayers. For the 1986 Gene Wilder comedy film, see Haunted Honeymoon. For the 1925 silent comedy film, see The Haunted Honeymoon.

Busman's Honeymoon
American theatrical release lobby card (Note: U.S. release title)
Directed by	Arthur B. Woods
Screenplay by	Monckton Hoffe Angus MacPhail Harold Goldman
Based on	1936 play Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers Muriel St. Clare Byrne
Produced by	Harold Huth Ben Goetz
Starring	Robert Montgomery Constance Cummings Leslie Banks Sir Seymour Hicks
Cinematography	Freddie Young
Edited by	Al Barnes James B. Clark
Music by	Louis Levy Charles Williams (uncredited)
Production company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios
Distributed by	Loew's Inc.[1]
Release dates	22 July 1940 (1940-07-22) (London) (UK) September 1940 (1940-09) (US)[2]
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Busman's Honeymoon (US: Haunted Honeymoon)^[1] is a 1940 British detective film directed by Arthur B. Woods.^[3] An adaptation of the 1937 Lord Peter Wimsey novel Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers, Busman's Honeymoon stars Robert Montgomery, Constance Cummings, Leslie Banks, Googie Withers, Robert Newton and Seymour Hicks as Mervyn Bunter. ^{[Note 1]}

Plot

Newly married amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey and his wife, mystery writer Harriet Vane, are looking forward to a quiet honeymoon at their new country cottage when they are reluctantly drawn into the investigation of a local murder.

Cast

• Robert Montgomery as Lord Peter Wimsey
• Constance Cummings as Harriet Vane
• Sir Seymour Hicks as Mervyn Bunter
• Leslie Banks as Inspector Andrew Kirk
• Robert Newton as Frank Crutchley
• Googie Withers as Polly
• Frank Pettingell as William George Puffett, The Sweep
• Joan Kemp-Welch as Aggie Twitterton
• Aubrey Mallalieu as Reverend Simon Goodacre
• James Carney as Constable Tom Sellon
• Roy Emerton as Noakes
• Louise Hampton as Mrs. Doris Ruddle
• Eliot Makeham as Simpson
• Reginald Purdell as MacBride
• Allan Whittaker as The Doctor
• Ben Williams as Town Inspector

Production

Location shooting on Busman's Honeymoon began 4 August 1939 with Richard Thorpe as the original director. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the film was "shelved" until March 1940 with Arthur B. Woods appointed as director.^[5] Principal photography took place from 21 March to mid-April 1940 at Denham Studios, as well as other locations in England.^[6]

Critical reception

Film critic Bosley Crowther in his review of Haunted Honeymoon, wrote in The New York Times, "Seldom has there been a film so pleasantly conducive to browsing as this leisurely, bookish fable of murder in Devonshire; not of late has there been one so steeped in the genteel tradition of British crime literature. A glass of port, at least, should be taken along with it."^[7]

In a modern review, Britmovie wrote, "Americans Robert Montgomery and Constance Cummings aroused some national indignation when cast as such the essentially British sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey and his crime-writing bride Harriet Vane but they acquitted themselves satisfactorily, even though some of their thunder is stolen by a particularly colourful supporting cast that includes a morose Robert Newton, Seymour Hicks resourceful butler, Leslie Banks and Googie Withers".^[8]

References

Notes

1. American stage and film actor Robert Montgomery could effectively carry off a British accent as Lord Peter Wimsey.^[4]

Citations

1. Haunted Honeymoon at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
2. Heiman, Sarah. "Articles: 'Haunted Honeymoon' (1940)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
3. "Film details: "Busman's Honeymoon' (1940)." BFI. Retrieved: 24 August 2016.
4. Maltin 1994, p. 622.
5. "Trivia: 'Haunted Honeymoon' (1940)." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: 24 August 2016.
6. "Original print information: 'Haunted Honeymoon' (1940)." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: 24 August 2016.
7. Crowther, Bosley (31 October 1940). "'Haunted Honeymoon,' a leisurely English mystery film, at Loew's Criterion". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
8. "Films: 'Busman's Honeymoon'." Archived 3 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine britmovie.co.uk, 2016. Retrieved: 24 August 2016.

Bibliography

• Maltin, Leonard. Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia. New York: Dutton, 1994. ISBN 0-525-93635-1.

External links

• Busman's Honeymoon at the TCM Movie Database
• Busman's Honeymoon at IMDb
• Busman's Honeymoon at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films