The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop is a 1937 drama film directed by William Clemens. It stars Donald Woods as Perry Mason and Ann Dvorak as Della Street, his secretary. Edward McWade plays the role of stuttering Bishop William Mallory.[1] It is the sixth and final film in the Warner Bros. Perry Mason series. It is based on the novel The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1936) by Erle Stanley Gardner.
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | William Clemens |
Produced by | Bryan Foy |
Written by | Kenneth Gamet Don Ryan Erle Stanley Gardner (novel) |
Starring | Donald Woods Ann Dvorak Anne Nagel |
Music by | Heinz Roemheld |
Cinematography | Rex Wimpy |
Edited by | Jack Saper |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 70 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
Perry is asked by an Australian Bishop to take the case of a woman who was falsely accused of manslaughter 22 years ago. During his investigations Perry gets involved in another murder for which Ida, the woman he is supposed to free, gets arrested.[2]
Cast
- Donald Woods as Perry Mason
- Ann Dvorak as Della Street
- Anne Nagel as Janice Alma Brownley
- Linda Perry as Janice Seaton
- Craig Reynolds as Gordon Bixler
- Gordon Oliver as Philip Brownley
- Joseph Crehan as Paul Drake
- Helen MacKellar as Stella Kenwood (as Helen McKellar)
- Edward McWade as Bishop William Mallory
- Tom Kennedy as Jim Magooney
- Mira McKinney as Ida Gilbert
- Frank Faylen as Charlie Downs
- Douglas Wood as Renald C. Brownley
- Veda Ann Borg as Gladys
- George Lloyd as Peter Sacks
Cultural references
In September 1937 Warner Bros. produced the Looney Tunes cartoon, The Case of the Stuttering Pig, featuring Porky Pig. Although a lawyer figures in the story,[3]:251 the cartoon has no relationship to the Warner Bros. Perry Mason feature that inspired its clever title.[4]:7203
Home media
On October 23, 2012, Warner Home Video released the film on DVD in Region 1 via their Warner Archive Collection alongside The Case of the Howling Dog, The Case of the Curious Bride, The Case of the Lucky Legs, The Case of the Velvet Claws and The Case of the Black Cat in a set entitled Perry Mason: The Original Warner Bros. Movies Collection. This is a manufacture-on-demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and only in the US.
References
- Hans J. Wollstein (1937-06-08). "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1937) - William B. Clemens | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1937) : Plot Summary". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- Liebman, Roy (2003). Vitaphone Films: A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0786446971.
- Davidson, Jim (2014). "The Movies (1934–1937)". The Perry Mason Book: A Comprehensive Guide to America's Favorite Defender of Justice (e-book). ASIN B00OOELV1K.