Watch Of Dolls and Murder

Of Dolls and Murder is a 2012 documentary film directed by Susan Marks, featuring renowned movie director John Waters, Jamie Bowen, and Darrolyn Butler. The movie is an intriguing narration of a world that is both macabre and fascinating as it tells the story of the 19th-century Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, dollhouse-sized dioramas used to train detectives to solve life-size murders.

The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death were created by Frances Glessner Lee, a wealthy heiress who spent her life pursuing her passion - forensic science. In the 1940s, Lee created 19 intricately detailed dollhouse-like crime scenes, which were used to train homicide investigators. These miniature scenes tell the stories of murders, suicides, and accidental deaths, some of which were real-life cases Frances Lee felt had been mishandled by the authorities.

The documentary takes you on a journey into these tiny worlds, exploring every nook and cranny, as if you were one of the investigating officers. You'll come to understand Glessner Lee's fascination with crime and her efforts to create attention to the importance of careful observation, thorough investigation, and the use of forensic evidence.

Director Susan Marks does an excellent job of capturing the intricate details of both the crime scenes and the lives of the people who created them. She masterfully weaves together interviews with curators, detectives, and forensic experts who are impacted by the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, including famous cult director John Waters, who is a self-confessed "dollhouse fanatic."

But, while the movie is about the dollhouses and their creator, it's also about the murder cases that inspired them. The scenes are incredibly detailed, down to the very last drop of blood, and recreate a world that, at once, is both quaint and terrifying. Murder scenes are shown in surprising detail, but none of it is done gratuitously.

Of Dolls and Murder manages to convey a sense of eerie beauty and almost morbid fascination as it explores the work of Frances Glessner Lee. The atmosphere created is captivating, and the dollhouses are delightful yet haunting. The documentary is a rare glimpse into an age-old art form of miniature crime scenes, which has long been kept shrouded in secrecy by the police.

The movie also delves into the history of forensics and the role of women in the field. Frances Glessner Lee was a pioneer, who used her wealth and social connections to make forensic science more accessible to women. Her work paved the way for other women in the field, but it wasn't without its challenges. The documentary touches on these difficulties and how Lee was impacted; it's a sobering reminder of how far women have come in the sciences.

Overall, Of Dolls and Murder is a fascinating look at the history of forensic science and the woman who changed how we look at crimes. The movie is made with skill and respect for the subject matter, and the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death are presented with an appropriate level of respect as well. The documentary manages to tell a story that is both engrossing and haunting, and it's not to be missed.