A Slight Case of Murder (1938)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Writers:

Earl Baldwin (screenplay) and
Joseph Schrank (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 March 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

High finance teaches a racketeer new tactics !

Plot:

Former bootlegger Remy Marco has a slight problem with forclosing bankers, a prospective son-in-law, and four hard-to-explain corpses.

Plot Keywords:

Beer | Prohibition | Banker | Gangster | State Trooper

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Remy Marco
Jane Bryan	...	Mary Marco
Allen Jenkins	...	Mike
Ruth Donnelly	...	Nora Marco
Willard Parker	...	Dick Whitewood
John Litel	...	Post
Edward Brophy	...	Lefty
Harold Huber	...	Guiseppe
Eric Stanley	...	Ritter
Paul Harvey	...	Mr. Whitewood
Bobby Jordan	...	Douglas Fairbanks Rosenbloom
Joe Downing	...	Innocence
Margaret Hamilton	...	Mrs. Cagle
George E. Stone	...	Kirk
Bert Hanlon	...	Sad Sam

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14A (video rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #3916) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 11 September 1935 and closed in October 1935 after 69 performances. The opening night cast included John Harrington as Remy Marco and Georgia Caine as Nora Marco. Future screen star 'José Ferrer (I)' played a Policeman.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The name of Robinson's character is spelled "Marko" throughout the movie on signs, on his beer, on his office door, and by the character himself, but the name is spelled "Marco" in the closing credits.

Quotes:

Remy Marco: Sure, I'm legit. I'm in favor of law and order. But you don't have to have it right in your own house, do you?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

How Do You Do, Mr. Marco?

A Comic Gem!

Edward G. Robinson stars as an ex-bootlegger who tries to go straight after the repeal of Prohibition. The problem is he decides to stay in the beer business, not knowing his beer is swill. Making matters worse, his dopey daughter is back from school in Europe and her boyfriend is a cop. All hell breaks loose at his rented summer house in Saratoga Springs when the family, his stooges, and some unlucky bank robbers all converge during a big house party. What fun! Ruth Donnelly is good as the wife, Margaret Hamilton has fun as the orphanage director, Bobby Jordan (as little Douglas) is hilarious, as is Paul Harvey as the dyspeptic father. Good cast all around includes Allen Jenkins, Harold Huber, Jane Bryan, Willard Parker, John Litel, and Edward Brophy. Carole Landis is one of the party guests, and the great Betty Compson, an Oscar nominee for The Barker, has a bit part as dark-haired Loretta on the piano bench. Best of all, however, is Robinson who is totally at home in this zany comedy.