The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1937)

An improbable stuttering bishop from Australia asks for Perry's help in proving the identity of the legitimate heir to a millionaire.

Director:

William Clemens

Writers:

Kenneth Gamet (screenplay), Don Ryan (screenplay)

Stars:

Donald Woods, Ann Dvorak, Anne Nagel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Woods	...	Perry Mason
Ann Dvorak	...	Della Street
Anne Nagel	...	Janice Alma Brownley
Linda Perry	...	Janice Seaton
Craig Reynolds	...	Gordon Bixler
Gordon Oliver	...	Philip Brownley
Joseph Crehan	...	Paul Drake
Helen MacKellar	...	Stella Kenwood (as Helen McKellar)
Edward McWade	...	Bishop William Mallory
Tom Kennedy	...	Jim Magooney
Mira McKinney	...	Ida Gilbert
Frank Faylen	...	Charlie Downs
Douglas Wood	...	Renald C. Brownley
Veda Ann Borg	...	Gladys
George Lloyd	...	Peter Sacks

Storyline

A Bishop from Australia comes to Perry to ask him to take a case of a woman wrongly accused of manslaughter 22 years before. The case would involve the wealthy Mr. Brownley and the fact that his alleged granddaughter may be an imposter. With that, the Bishop leaves and is clubbed in his hotel room. Soon after, he leaves on a boat and Perry meets the woman - Ida Gilbert. Perry goes to see Mr. Brownley, but gets nowhere. Later that night, Brownley is to meet Ida, but he is shot by a woman who drops Ida's gun. Ida is arrested for the murder of Mr. Brownley and Perry gets involved.

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Plot Keywords:

sixth part | perry mason character | della street character | six word title | clue club series | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last of six "Perry Mason" films released by Warner Bros. from 1934 to 1937.

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Quotes

Perry Mason: [to Della] Bishops don't often need lawyers. Show him in.

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Connections

Followed by Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993)

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Soundtracks

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
(1912) (uncredited)
Music by Ernest Ball
Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff
Sung a cappella with a phony Irish brogue by Donald Woods

User Reviews

one of the later Perry Mason's from the 1930s

Most of Edward McWade's roles were uncredited, but he certainly paid his dues in film-making; he had been making movies since 1919. Here he plays the stuttering bishop, who shows up at the office of Perry Mason (Donald Woods this time... Warren William had been playing Perry Mason for most of the 1930s.) with a case, then disappears. He makes accusations against the local rich man, Renald Brownley, played by Douglas Wood. Anne Dvorak and Joseph Crehan in supporting roles, as Mason confronts Brownley and tries to sort out the clues and what's going on. People start turning up dead, people are fighting, and then we're in the courtroom, like any good episode of Perry Mason. There are some comical moments, mostly between Mason and Della Street, and the names are a little confusing, with a Della, a Stella, TWO girls named Janice, and even an Ida. It's solid enough, with the usual court-room drama and outbursts. Directed by William Clemens, who had also directed many of the Nancy Drew and The Falcon films.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clue Club #10: The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1