I Killed the Count (film)

I Killed the Count
I Killed the Count
	Spanish poster
Directed by	Frederic Zelnik
Written by	Lawrence Huntington
Based on	I Killed the Count ; by Alec Coppel
Produced by	Isadore Goldsmith
Starring	Ben Lyon ; Syd Walker ; Terence de Marney
Cinematography	Bryan Langley
Music by	Hans May
Production; company	Grafton Films
Distributed by	Grand National Pictures ; Monogram Pictures (US)
Release date	6 May 1939;
Running time	69 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Last updated December 28, 2025

I Killed the Count is a 1939 British mystery film directed by Frederic Zelnik and starring Ben Lyon, Syd Walker, Terence de Marney.^[1] It was shot at Highbury Studios.^[2]^[3]

Synopsis

Cockney comedian Syd Walker plays it more or less straight as Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Davidson, at present trying to determine who murdered the much-hated Count Mattoni (Leslie Perrins). The dilemma isn't that the Detective is suffering from a lack of witnesses. In fact, four different people come forth to confess to the killing – each of them with plenty of motive and opportunity.

Cast

Ben Lyon as Bernard Froy
Syd Walker as Detective Inspector Davidson
Terence De Marney as Detective Sergeant Raines
Barbara Blair as Renée la Lune
Athole Stewart as Lord Sorrington
Antoinette Cellier as Louise Rogers
Leslie Perrins as Count Mattoni
David Burns as Diamond
Ronald Shiner as Mullet
Aubrey Mallalieu as Johnson
Kathleen Harrison as Polly
Gus McNaughton as Martin

Reception

Variety said after "a casual start, the story warms up and becomes exciting and entertainment."^[4]

References

↑ Wood p.100
↑ "Film News of the Week. "I KILLED THE COUNT."". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 31, 727. New South Wales, Australia. 7 September 1939. p. 26. Retrieved 4 May 2023– via National Library of Australia.
↑ ""I KILLED THE COUNT"". Smith's Weekly . Vol. XXI, no. 29. New South Wales, Australia. 16 September 1939. p. 20. Retrieved 4 May 2023– via National Library of Australia.
↑ I Killed the Count Review at Variety

Bibliography

Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927–1939. British Film Institute, 1986.

External links

I Killed the Count at IMDb

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[1] Wood p.100

[2] "Film News of the Week. "I KILLED THE COUNT."". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 31, 727. New South Wales, Australia. 7 September 1939. p. 26. Retrieved 4 May 2023– via National Library of Australia.

[3] ""I KILLED THE COUNT"". Smith's Weekly . Vol. XXI, no. 29. New South Wales, Australia. 16 September 1939. p. 20. Retrieved 4 May 2023– via National Library of Australia.

[4] I Killed the Count Review at Variety

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