Murder on the Blackboard (1934)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

George Archainbaud

Writers:

Willis Goldbeck, Stuart Palmer (story)

Stars:

Edna May Oliver, James Gleason, Bruce Cabot

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edna May Oliver	...	Hildegarde Withers
James Gleason	...	Inspector Oscar Piper
Bruce Cabot	...	Addison 'Ad' Stevens
Gertrude Michael	...	Jane Davis
Regis Toomey	...	Detective Smiley North
Tully Marshall	...	Mr. MacFarland
Frederick Vogeding	...	Otto Schweitzer, the Janitor (as Fredrik Vogeding)
Edgar Kennedy	...	Detective Donahue
Jackie Searl	...	Leland Stanford Jones
Barbara Fritchie	...	Louise Halloran
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Dr. Max Von Immen
Tom Herbert	...	Detective McTeague
Jed Prouty	...	Dr. Levine

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

hildegarde withers | laundry drying on clothes line | jealousy | police inspector | murder | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 June 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

El crimen en la pizarra

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Two wide-mouthed bottles appear out of nowhere on Miss Halloran's desk as Miss Withers searches it.

---

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.

---

Connections

Followed by Forty Naughty Girls (1937)

---

Soundtracks

"The Sidewalks of New York"
Music by Charles Lawlor (1894)
Played after the credits

User Reviews

"I've Got to Admit you Can Take it...When Necessary, I Can Dish it out Too"

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.