Edit
Storyline
There are plenty of guilty secrets at the school where Hildegarde Withers teaches. When she finds the body of the pretty music teacher, she calls in her old friend Inspector Piper, who promptly arrests the obvious suspect. Clues multiply and everyone looks suspicious as Piper and Miss Withers continue their battle of the sexes. Written by
Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Edit
Did You Know?
Goofs
Two wide-mouthed bottles appear out of nowhere on Miss Halloran's desk as Miss Withers searches it.
See more »
Quotes
[
last lines]
Oscar Piper:
...A fella could come up and see ya some time couldn't he?
Hildegarde Withers:
Why, Oscar Piper!
[
Oscar laughs]
Hildegarde Withers:
Why, you dreadful man! You get out of here. Go on, get out!
[
He leaves the diner, laughing heartily, as Hildegarde smoothes her ruffled feathers]
Hildegarde Withers:
Insulted at my age!
Bearded Diner:
Better late than never, sister.
Hildegarde Withers:
[
haughtily]
That will do.
See more »
Connections
Followed by
Forty Naughty Girls (1937)
See more »
Soundtracks
"The Sidewalks of New York"
Music by
Charles Lawlor (1894)
Played after the credits
See more »
Decidedly dated, early mystery starring Edna May Oliver as the irrepressible sleuth Hildergard Withers, Murder on the Blackboard is all fun. Oliver excels as the wise-cracking "Lady" teacher sleuth who finds that a young, pretty music teacher has been killed in her school
- as both have stayed late working. Oliver enlists the help of
detective James Gleason(an always reliable character actor) and the one-liners between the two begin to ensue as the track down the murderer. The writing in this film is witty, sharp, and rapid-fire and both Gleason and Oliver do more than justice to their respective roles. The list of suspects is limited(really only four people) but amongst them are Bruce Cabot and Tully Marshall. Because it was made in 1934 it is somewhat stagy and creaky, but the film is elevated by the two acting leads. Oliver on screen is pure magic as she is able to look oh so dour and be oh so sarcastic at every turn. A crackling whodunit in the old-fashioned sense of the word.