Case Of The Black Cat

Perry Mason looks into a trio of murders heralded by the shriek of a cat.

Motion-picture show Details

Also Known Equally

The Example of the Caretaker's Cat

Genre

Release Appointment

October 31, 1936

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Distribution Company

The Vitaphone Corp.; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Country

Screenplay Data

Based on the novel The Example of the Caretaker's True cat by Erle Stanley Gardner (New York, 1935).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 2m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Picture Length

viii reels

Synopsis

Wealthy California invalid Peter Laxter, afraid that Douglas Keene, the fiancé of his granddaughter, Wilma Laxter, is only interested in her money, calls lawyer Perry Mason to his bedside tardily one dark and requests that Wilma be cut from his will. Instead, all of his money is to go to his ii grandsons, Frank Oafley and Sam Laxter. Peter also stipulates that his heirs must proceed to employ Ashton, the crippled caretaker, and further, must allow his cat to stay with him. Shortly after his will is changed, Peter is institute burned to decease and a million dollars is discovered to be missing from his bank business relationship. Perry learns that Peter died before the fire and suspects murder. After Ashton is constitute dead and his cat is found missing, Perry makes a visit to Peter's nurse, Louise DeVoe, and discovers her lying dead adjacent to a broken crutch. Perry learns that Laxter, Oafley and Douglas Keene, Wilma'due south fiancé, all visited Louise the evening she died. Several hours earlier, Keene brought Ashton's true cat to Wilma, after not having found the caretaker at home. Keene is arrested for Louise's murder when blood is institute on one of his shirts, and he is also accused of Peter's murder. At Keene'due south trial, Perry calls a surprise witness--Peter Laxter. Peter explains that considering he knew his relatives were trying to kill him, he substituted his body with the body of a vagrant and went into hiding with Ashton's assist. He saw Ashton visit Louise just after her matrimony to Oafley. Ashton was killed when Oafley strangled him while attempting to retrieve the stolen diamonds hidden in Ashton's crutch. When Ashton failed to come out of the flat, Peter confronted Louise, killing her in cocky-defense. Laxter found the body, so framed Keene for the murder. Now that everything is cleared up, Wilma and Keene are free to ally.

Directors

Crew

Videos

Film Details

Likewise Known Equally

The Example of the Flagman's True cat

Genre

Release Date

Oct 31, 1936

Premiere Information

not available

Product Company

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Distribution Company

The Vitaphone Corp.; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

State

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel The Instance of the Caretaker'southward True cat past Erle Stanley Gardner (New York, 1935).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 2m

Audio

Mono

Color

Blackness and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Motion-picture show Length

eight reels

Articles

The Instance of the Blackness Cat

With its twisted tale, complicated by 3 murders and a missing cat, fans consider this film the best of Warner Bros.' half dozen Perry Mason films. That'south rather surprising considering Erle Stanley Gardner, who wrote the original Bricklayer books, didn't approve of Ricardo Cortez'southward casting as the lawyer-sleuth and was quite vocal about it. Warner'south had to discover a new Mason after Warren William, who had starred in the kickoff four features, left the studio. Cortez had started in films equally a Latin lover, groomed by Paramount as a threat to Rudolph Valentino, fifty-fifty though Cortez was actually a New Yorker of Austrian descent. At least he had some experience sleuthing, having played Sam Spade in the first movie version of The Maltese Falcon (1931). Of special interest is the appearance of Jane Bryan, in her film debut, as a disinherited granddaughter among the suspects. Bryan would go one of Warner Bros.' almost accomplished young actresses, working with mentor Bette Davis in films like Marked Adult female (1937) and The Old Maid (1939) before retiring from interim to marry executive Justin Dart in 1939. Cortez and leading lady June Travis, who plays Della Street, also left acting within a few years, the former becoming a stock broker and the latter focusing on married life.

The Case Of The Black Cat

The Case of the Black True cat

With its twisted tale, complicated by 3 murders and a missing cat, fans consider this film the best of Warner Bros.' six Perry Mason films. That'south rather surprising considering Erle Stanley Gardner, who wrote the original Bricklayer books, didn't approve of Ricardo Cortez'south casting as the lawyer-sleuth and was quite vocal well-nigh it. Warner's had to find a new Mason after Warren William, who had starred in the kickoff four features, left the studio. Cortez had started in films every bit a Latin lover, groomed past Paramount equally a threat to Rudolph Valentino, fifty-fifty though Cortez was actually a New Yorker of Austrian descent. At to the lowest degree he had some experience sleuthing, having played Sam Spade in the first film version of The Maltese Falcon (1931). Of special involvement is the appearance of Jane Bryan, in her motion picture debut, as a disinherited granddaughter amongst the suspects. Bryan would go one of Warner Bros.' virtually accomplished young actresses, working with mentor Bette Davis in films like Marked Woman (1937) and The Old Maid (1939) before retiring from interim to marry executive Justin Dart in 1939. Cortez and leading lady June Travis, who plays Della Street, besides left interim within a few years, the former condign a stock broker and the latter focusing on married life.

Quotes

Trivia

Director Alan Crosland (I) died during filming, and was replaced past William C. McGann.

Notes

The film's working title was The Case of the Caretaker's Cat. Gimmicky reviews note that although the film'due south title refers to a black cat, the cat in the motion-picture show was actually a white cat with spots. News items in Hollywood Reporter note that William McGann took over equally director later on the death of Alan Crosland in a car accident. This was the simply ane of 7 Perry Mason films fabricated by Warner Bros. to star Ricardo Cortez. For more information about the series run across The Example of the Howling Domestic dog (below) and consult the Series Index.