Lawyer Perry Mason is summoned to the Laxter mansion in the dead of night to write granddaughter Wilma out of invalid Peter Laxter's will, to keep her from marrying suspected fortune hunter Doug. Peter dies in a mysterious fire and Laxter's two grandsons, Sam Laxter and Frank Oafley, inherit his estate on the condition old caretaker Schuster and his cat Clinker are kept on. When cat-hating Sam threatens Clinker, Perry steps in and learns Laxter's death was suspicious and the family fortune and diamonds are missing. Schuster's found dead in his basement apartment, Laxter's nurse Louise is murdered with Schuster's crutch, and circumstantial evidence brings Doug to trial for Louise's death. Mason's investigation produces a surprise witness who turns the trial around. Written by Sister Grimm
Acting
Ricardo Cortez's Perry Mason: smug, sharp, weirdly hot.
Writing
Erle Stanley Gardner's twisty plot crammed into 66 minutes.
Production
Shadowy mansion sets that scream pre-Code atmosphere.
Director
William C. McGann
Ricardo Cortez
Perry Mason
June Travis
Della Street
Jane Bryan
Wilma Laxter
Craig Reynolds
Frank Oafley
Carlyle Moore Jr.
Douglas Keene
Bill Elliott
Sam Laxter
Nedda Harrigan
Nurse Louise DeVoe
Garry Owen
Paul Drake
Harry Davenport
Peter Laxter
Clarence Wilson
Mr. Shuster
Guy Usher
District Attorney Hamilton Burger
Harry Hayden
Reverend Stillwell
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Warren William originated Perry Mason on screen in 1934, but Ricardo Cortez took over for this and one other film before the character moved to radio and TV.
Erle Stanley Gardner reportedly hated Hollywood's changes to his plots; this film's compressed timeline and added romance would have annoyed him.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
