Please Murder Me (1956)
Directed by Peter Godfrey, Please Murder Me! is a taut, cerebral film noir starring Raymond Burr, Angela Lansbury, and Dick Foran. With its flashback-driven narrative and morally complex characters, the film explores betrayal, courtroom manipulation, and the haunting consequences of love gone wrong.
Plot Summary
Defense attorney Craig Carlson (Raymond Burr) begins the film by dictating a message into a tape recorder for the district attorney—he believes he will be murdered within the hour. The story unfolds in flashback: Craig defends his lover Myra Leeds (Angela Lansbury) in court after she kills her husband, Joe Leeds (Dick Foran), claiming self-defense.
Craig’s impassioned defense wins her acquittal, but a forgotten letter from Joe reveals that Myra was never in love with Craig—her true affections lie with another man, Carl Holt, an artist. Realizing he was manipulated, Craig sets a trap to expose Myra’s guilt and ensure justice is served, even if it costs him his life.
Cast Highlights
- Raymond Burr as Craig Carlson
- Angela Lansbury as Myra Leeds
- Dick Foran as Joe Leeds
- John Dehner as District Attorney Ray Willis
- Lamont Johnson as Carl Holt
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film was shot in an abandoned supermarket near Yucca and Franklin Streets in Los Angeles
- Angela Lansbury, facing financial hardship at the time, took the role out of necessity and later applied for unemployment insurance after filming
- Raymond Burr auditioned for Perry Mason the same year this film was released, and his performance here is often seen as a precursor to that iconic role
