THE CASE OF THE STUTTERING BISHOP
US, 1937, 70 minutes, Black and white.
Donald Woods, Ann Dvorak, Anne Nagel, Linda Perry.
Directed by William Clemens.
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop is a Perry Mason story, based on the series of novels by Erle Stanley Gardner. Director William Clemens had already made The Velvet Claw and was to make films in the Nancy Drew series, The Falcon, Torchy Blaine and a Philo Vance film. They were all small supporting features.
Donald Woods was a reliable actor for many decades in film and television. However, compared with Raymond Burr (for whom Perry Mason is identified by many fans) he was rather pleasantly bland. Ann Dvorak is Della Street. There had been some previous Perry Mason films with Warren Williams and one with Ricardo Cortez.
The title is arresting, a bishop arriving from Australia, under suspicion, stuttering – with the explanation that he only stuttered when under stress (and when kissed by all the female characters at the end, he begins to stutter).
The story is fairly complicated and requires a deal of attention as to which character is which. However, Perry Mason as the detecting, Della Street has the brainwaves, Perry Mason performs well in court and the truth is revealed.
1. The popularity of Perry Mason? Erle Stanley Gardner’s novels? The television series?
2. Warner Bros B-budget production, black and white photography, sets and characters, cast?
3. The mystery in itself, the identity of the victim, the set-up, the competing villains, the murder of the millionaire – and the complications of how he was killed? Satisfying murder mystery?
4. Perry Mason, Donald Woods’ style, the smart young lawyer, his reliance on Della? His investigations, interrogations, following people, working things out, going to court, defending the seemingly indefensible accused? The revelations, the truth?
5. Della Street, the competent assistant, in the office, working for Perry, going in disguise, in court?
6. The family situation, the explanation by the bishop, the hit-run accident, the arrogance of the millionaire, his despising of his son’s wife, her giving birth, her friend and the alternate baby, the adoption? The issue of the will, the scheme to get the money, the crooked detectives? The expose, the analysis in the courts, the revelation of what had happened, the victim being driven into the river?
7. The comic characters, the house detective and his memory, his pratfalls? His contributing to the solving of the mystery? The police? The DA? The judge?
8. The conventional aspects of the murder mystery court case – but the contribution to the popularity of Perry Mason?
