I agree that "Mary" is weaker in several aspects that "Murder!", although they were produced in parallel on the same sets, just with different actors.
But from the cinematic history point of view, to have both versions (such parallel movies were made only in a short time frame c. 1930-33, between introduction of sound, and the availability of post-production dubbing) allows some insight in the cultural differences.
I read somewhere that the German actors wanted more changes made, but Hitchcock refused. One was obvious for me: the dark secret of the lover was not that he was "half-caste" (Murder!), but "an escaped convict" (Mary). And there may be more subtle ones.
For entertainment, just watch "Murder!" (which also has a German dub by now). For earnest study of the parallel producing of movies, watch "Murder!" and then "Mary" as double-feature ...
But from the cinematic history point of view, to have both versions (such parallel movies were made only in a short time frame c. 1930-33, between introduction of sound, and the availability of post-production dubbing) allows some insight in the cultural differences.
I read somewhere that the German actors wanted more changes made, but Hitchcock refused. One was obvious for me: the dark secret of the lover was not that he was "half-caste" (Murder!), but "an escaped convict" (Mary). And there may be more subtle ones.
For entertainment, just watch "Murder!" (which also has a German dub by now). For earnest study of the parallel producing of movies, watch "Murder!" and then "Mary" as double-feature ...