The Mystery of Mr. E

 

(2023)
Directed by Martyn Tott
Written by Sophie Hannah, Martyn Tott, Annette Armitage (music)
Starring Harry W. Knight, James N. Knight, Kevin Dixon, Martin Spendlove, Martyn Tott, Rachel Dobell. Anna Macleod Franklin, Nicola Wright
IMDB Entry

Finding things to write about here often includes a bit of serendipity. After I finished watching Nando Fodor and the Talking Mongoose, Youtube suggested The Mystery of Mr. E. I've been enjoying a lot of UK cosy mysteries and thought I'd give it a chance.  

But this wasn't just a mystery. It was a musical, and I love musicals.

George and John Danes (James N. Knight and Harry W. Knight) are generalists -- the opposite of specialists (it's explained in the first song) who are called to Idlewyld House, a country house and the home of the late Harriet Landrigan (Nicola Wright). Landrigan was a wildly successful romance novelist who died after falling down stairs. As they're about to go to the British manor, they are approached by the mysterious Mr. E (Kevin Dixon), who introduces himself as the murderer, then leaves. When the Daneses reach Idlewyld, they find that no murder has been committed. The house is run by Harriet's son Peter (Martyn Spendlove) and his wife, the overbearing Clemence (Anna Macleod Franklin), and their son Oscar (Aidan Broderick). There are also three obnoxious houseguests, Swithun Kirk (Martyn Tott), a hammy actor; Irene Coggins (Rachel Dobell), a fan who knows everything about Harriet's books; Max Russell (Judson Vaughan), her publisher; and several others to fill out the requirements of the cozy mystery. 

We find out that Harriet suddenly stopped publishing her novels. She wrote them, bound them secretly, and put them under glass for no one to read. The guests all had reason to want to see them.

Then there's a murder (of course).

This is just another iteration of the cozy mystery form, but the songs add an extra dimension. Sophie Hannah, who wrote the lyrics, is an accomplished poet and mystery writer.* Annette Armatage's music is just right.

As a quibble, the final scene where everyone gathers together and the murderer's true identity is revealed,** goes on too long, and the reason for Harriet's death is pretty tenuous.

But the movie is a lot of fun if you love mysteries and musicals.

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*The Agatha Christie estate has had her write new novels featuring Hercule Poirot. 

**As is the motive for Harriet stopping publication of her books.