Design for Murder poster
FilmCrime

Design for Murder (1939)

Original title: Trunk Crime

1939-03-27 · 1h 0m · EN
57%
User score
3 votes
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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...

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Roy BoultingDirector

Top billed cast

Full cast & crew →
Manning WhileyManning WhileyBentley, the studentBarbara EverestBarbara EverestUrsulaThorley WaltersThorley WaltersHuey FrazerMichael DrakeMichael DrakeGrierson, the bullyHay PetrieHay PetrieOld DanDavid KeirDavid KeirQuineyTom GillTom GillOne of Grierson's FriendsLewis StringerLewis StringerOne of Grierson's FriendsIan FultonIan FultonOne of Grierson's FriendsGeoffrey GabrielGeoffrey GabrielOne of Grierson's FriendsEileen BennettEileen BennettEveHoward DouglasHoward DouglasThe Landlord

Keywords

RevengeBullyPoisonDrunkennessPsychoBully victim

Movie DNA

Genre affinityCrimeTheme affinityRevenge · Bully · PoisonPacingShortDirector preference329404Actor preference299194 · 342379 · 339748Country preferenceGb

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Frequently asked questions about Design for Murder

What is Design for Murder about?

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 long is Design for Murder?

Design for Murder has a runtime of 60 minutes.