Busman's Honeymoon (film)

Busman's Honeymoon (US: Haunted Honeymoon) is a 1940 British detective film directed by Arthur B. Woods. An adaptation of the 1937 Lord Peter Wimsey novel Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers, Busman's Honeymoon stars Robert Montgomery, Constance Cummings, Leslie Banks, Googie Withers, Robert Newton and Seymour Hicks as Mervyn Bunter.

Plot
Newly married amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey and his wife, mystery writer Harriet Vane, are looking forward to a quiet honeymoon at their new country cottage when they are reluctantly drawn into the investigation of a local murder.

Cast

 * Robert Montgomery as Lord Peter Wimsey
 * Constance Cummings as Harriet Vane
 * Sir Seymour Hicks as Mervyn Bunter
 * Leslie Banks as Inspector Andrew Kirk
 * Robert Newton as Frank Crutchley
 * Googie Withers as Polly
 * Frank Pettingell as William George Puffett, The Sweep
 * Joan Kemp-Welch as Aggie Twitterton
 * Aubrey Mallalieu as Reverend Simon Goodacre
 * James Carney as Constable Tom Sellon
 * Roy Emerton as Noakes
 * Louise Hampton as Mrs. Doris Ruddle
 * Eliot Makeham as Simpson
 * Reginald Purdell as MacBride
 * Allan Whittaker as The Doctor
 * Ben Williams as Town Inspector

Production
Location shooting on Busman's Honeymoon began 4 August 1939 with Richard Thorpe as the original director. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the film was "shelved" until March 1940 with Arthur B. Woods appointed as director. Principal photography took place from 21 March to mid-April 1940 at Denham Studios, as well as other locations in England.

Critical reception
Film critic Bosley Crowther in his review of Haunted Honeymoon, wrote in The New York Times, "Seldom has there been a film so pleasantly conducive to browsing as this leisurely, bookish fable of murder in Devonshire; not of late has there been one so steeped in the genteel tradition of British crime literature. A glass of port, at least, should be taken along with it."

In a modern review, Britmovie wrote, "Americans Robert Montgomery and Constance Cummings aroused some national indignation when cast as such the essentially British sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey and his crime-writing bride Harriet Vane but they acquitted themselves satisfactorily, even though some of their thunder is stolen by a particularly colourful supporting cast that includes a morose Robert Newton, Seymour Hicks resourceful butler, Leslie Banks and Googie Withers".