I recently watched this film on Turner Classic Movies, thinking that since I am long time fan of Dorothy Sayers' detective stories, I would probably like it. The opposite is likely true: someone who has never read a Sayers mystery might find some enjoyment in the film. It's hard to count the number of ways the film went wrong. First, the title. "Haunted Honeymoon?" There is no haunting whatsoever here, and no character in the movie who thinks there might be. Second, casting. I like Robert Montgomery, but he is too obviously American too play pass for such a quintessentially British character as Lord Peter Whimsey. Has anyone read Sayers' books? Constance Cummings, an American who'd lived in England for a number of years by the time this was filmed, does a little better as Harriet Vane. The movie handles this problem by ignoring it, and just assuming Montgomery--who doesn't even attempt at a British accent--will be accepted as Whimsey. Third, premise. At the film's beginning, we learn Whimsey has given up detective work and his bride-to-be Vane has given up writing novels. Are you kidding me? There is no way either character from the books would do that; it would be especially outrageously for the fiercely independent Vane. What's she planning to do? Be a little house-wifey? Fourth, characterizations. Here we have Bunter as a long-suffering valet who stumbles around, dropping things and not always understanding what's going on. Harriet Vane's Bunter is entirely masterful; it is one of the sources of humor in the book that he can solve problems that even the talented Lord Whimsey can't. Fifth, script. So much time is wasted on the ridiculous giving-up-detectiving premise that we get hardly any chance to get to know the villagers who comprise the supporting cast; each one gets to have a one-dimensional character with a single motive. Moreover, the investigative part, which is the core of any Peter Whimsey story--as it is of any good detective story--is delayed for over half of the movie. Two stars for fine acting all around--even from the miscast Montgomery--but the writers, director, and producer should all have been mysteriously murdered.
Review of Haunted Honeymoon
