The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935)

Frank Patton is the promoter of the Lucky Legs Contest. The problem is that he always skips town before paying the $1000 to the winner. Mr. Bradbury, suitor of Cloverdale winner Margie, ... See full summary »

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

Brown Holmes (screenplay), Ben Markson (screenplay),

Stars:

Warren William, Genevieve Tobin, Patricia Ellis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Warren William	...	Perry Mason
Genevieve Tobin	...	Della Street
Patricia Ellis	...	Margie
Lyle Talbot	...	Dr. Doray
Allen Jenkins	...	Spudsy
Barton MacLane	...	Bisonette (as Barton Mac Lane)
Peggy Shannon	...	Thelma Bell
Porter Hall	...	Col. Bradbury
Anita Kerry	...	Eva Lamont
Craig Reynolds	...	Frank Patton
Henry O'Neill	...	District Attorney Manchester
Charles C. Wilson	...	Police Officer Ricker (as Charles Wilson)
Joseph Crehan	...	Detective Johnson
Olin Howland	...	Dr. Croker
Mary Treen	...	Spudsy's Wife

Storyline

Frank Patton is the promoter of the Lucky Legs Contest. The problem is that he always skips town before paying the $1000 to the winner. Mr. Bradbury, suitor of Cloverdale winner Margie, hires intoxicated Perry Mason to find Frank. Perry knows the scheme that Patton is using and has Spudsy find him, but Frank is dead when Perry arrives. The how is a surgeons scalpel, but the who is not yet known.

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Plot Keywords:

perry mason | contest | fraud | frame up | airplane | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Caso das Pernas Bonitas

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names, if any): George Chandler (Pilot), Lillian Worth (Blonde), Stanley Mack (Gas Man) and William Bailey.

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Quotes

Thelma Bell: And somebody bumped against the bathroom door.
Perry Mason: In any country but this, they would have let him in.

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Connections

Version of Perry Mason: The Case of the Lucky Legs (1959)

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Soundtracks

"Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)"
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Music by Richard Wagner
Hummed by Warren William

User Reviews

Not the Mason that Boomers grew up to

Raymond Burr's Perry Mason of the fifties practically defined the law to a whole generation of boomers. Words like incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial were on the lips of kids of all ages. Burr made defense attorney the highest calling imaginable.

The thirties version is different. it's entertaining, but in a light comic way reminiscent of the Thin Man series. Warrem Williams plays for laughs and like the thin man is often drinking. The pace is snappy and keeps the interest from flagging. You won't be bored, but don't expect anything like the classic TV series.

Missing here - believe it or not there's no courtroom drama, not even a surprise confession from the character you hardly noticed until Mason started his penetrating questions. There are no penetrating questions for that matter. Paul Drake is "Spudsy" Drake and, like his name, inserted for comic effect. The cops are more keystone and there is no Hamilton Berger D.A.

On the whole OK, but more interesting as a comparison that shows what the 50's television series achieved and what changes made it possible.