

Design for Murder
1939, English. Directed by Roy Boulting.
When a wealthy, lonely university music student is beaten and has his apartment trashed by a fellow dorm resident-bully and his gang, he goes mad, lures the bully into his room on pretense of forgiveness, slips him a paralyzing agent in a drink, throws him in a trunk and locks him in, and taunts the bully with the promise that he will be buried alive in the trunk. Only, once he gets his trunk and his prey to his country estate, the vengeful victim finds things keep going wrong...
- Runtime
- 1h 0m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Too new to call
Not enough people have rated it yet for a verdict.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch Design for Murder
Design for Murder isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 27 March 1939.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Roy BoultingDirector
- Manning WhileyBentley, the student
- Barbara EverestUrsula
- Thorley WaltersHuey Frazer
- Michael DrakeGrierson, the bully
- Hay PetrieOld Dan
- David KeirQuiney
- Tom GillOne of Grierson's Friends
- Lewis StringerOne of Grierson's Friends
- Ian FultonOne of Grierson's Friends
- Geoffrey GabrielOne of Grierson's Friends
- Eileen BennettEve
- Howard DouglasThe Landlord
Details
- Released
- 27 March 1939
- Original title
- Trunk Crime
- Country
- United Kingdom
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
If you liked Design for Murder

The Crash
2026 · 6.8/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Bully
2001 · 6.7/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

180
2026 · 5.9/10
SnoozefestRecommended by TMDB viewers

Dead Man's Shoes
2004 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

No Retreat, No Surrender
1986 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Promising Young Woman
2020 · 7.4/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Brotherhood of Justice
1986 · 6.0/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Vendetta
2022 · 6.1/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Hole
2001 · 6.2/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Dirties
2013 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Design for Murder: quick answers
Is Design for Murder worth watching?
Design for Murder doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is Design for Murder?
Design for Murder runs 60 minutes (1h 0m).
Does Design for Murder have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Design for Murder. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Design for Murder parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for Design for Murder yet.
Which OTT platform is Design for Murder on?
Design for Murder isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 27 March 1939. (Checked 8 November 2026.)
What movies are like Design for Murder?
If you liked Design for Murder, try The Crash, Bully, 180.
Who directed Design for Murder?
Design for Murder (1939) was directed by Roy Boulting and stars Manning Whiley, Barbara Everest, Thorley Walters.