One of the Worst MGM Films of the 1930's

I am shocked by the fairly high rating MURDER IN THE FLEET has on IMDb. Like most MGM "B" movies, this one has a lot of polish that makes it look like an A but it has telltale signs that are very uncommon in MGM movies from the period, notably an uneven script but especially two scenes that roughly combine two takes of their scenes. In both of these, Robert Taylor is discussing matters with an officer when suddenly mid-scene the distance of the actors from the camera jumps closer indicating the cinematographer did not have the lens setting the same for both shots (or perhaps shot them from different distances). This sort of thing is usually camoflogued by a closeup inserted between the two shots but was not done so here. I've seen this sort of bad matching in Warner Bros. B movies before but never in an MGM film.

The acting was not all that much better, Jean Parker being particularly weak. The "comedy" relief came off best: Una Merkel, Nat Pendleton, Ted Healy, and as the gruff society couple, obscure character actors John Hyams and Leila McIntyre. One of the IMDb reviews makes note that Hyams gets the best laugh in the picture, no doubt the one at Una's gum-chewing floozy "Tootsie"'s expense which really is a great line.