The Case of the Curious Bride

The Case of the Curious Bride is a 1935 American mystery film, the second in a series of four starring Warren William as Perry Mason, following The Case of the Howling Dog. The script was based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Erle Stanley Gardner, published by William Morrow and Company, which proved to be one of the most popular of all the Perry Mason novels.[1]

The Case of the Curious Bride
Lobby card
Directed byMichael Curtiz
Written byTom Reed
Brown Holmes (add. dialogue)
Based onThe Case of the Curious Bride
1934 novel
by Erle Stanley Gardner
Produced byHarry Joe Brown (uncredited)
StarringWarren William
Margaret Lindsay
Donald Woods
Claire Dodd
CinematographyDavid Abel
Edited byTerry Morse
Music byBernhard Kaun
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • April 13, 1935 (1935-04-13)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film marked Errol Flynn's first appearance in a Hollywood film. He appears twice, as a corpse and in flashback towards the end.[2]

Plot

Rhoda Montaine learns that her first husband, Gregory Moxley, is still alive, which makes things awkward for her, since she has remarried Carl, the son of wealthy C. Phillip Montaine. She turns to Perry Mason for help, but when he goes to see Moxley, he finds only his corpse. Rhoda is arrested for murder.

Cast

Production

Warner Bros announced they bought the film rights in May 1934. The same month they announced they had purchased the film rights to Captain Blood, which would star Errol Flynn.[3] Warners had earlier bought the rights to Gardner's Case of the Howling Dog and announced they would make the two films with Warren William as Perry Mason, with plans for an additional four films.[4][5] Alan Crosland was originally announced as director[6] but the job eventually went to Michael Curtiz.

Filming started early 1935. Errol Flynn, described as an "Irish leading man of the London stage" was signed in February.[7]

Reception

The Chicago Daily Tribune praised the film's "laudable speed and suspense".[8] The Los Angeles Times liked William's performance but thought his character "was almost too darn clever."[9]

Filmink magazine said "The film is mostly worth seeing for the novelty of" Flynn's "American debut and seeing the serious-in-the-books-and-the-TV-series Perry Mason transmorphed into a wacky screwball hero."[10]

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 Lucky Legs, The Case of the Velvet Claws, The Case of the Black Cat and The Case of the Stuttering Bishop 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
  1. "FUMILY CLOSE-UP: Erie Stanley Gardner 'Pens' Books Vocally Erle Stanley Gardner 'Pens' Novels Vocally Leap, Norris". Los Angeles Times. Mar 30, 1958. p. D1.
  2. Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer * Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 27
  3. "SCREEN NOTES". New York Times. May 10, 1934. p. 25.
  4. Schallert, Edwin (May 25, 1934). "Hecht and MacArthur, Producing Films in East, Plan to Revive "Racket" as Talkie: EDWARD G. ROBINSON SOUGHT FOR LEAD ROLE Thomas Meighan Returning in "Peck's Bad Boy;" Jan Kiepura Remaining in Europe". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.
  5. Schallert, Edwin (July 16, 1934). "Race Heralded Between Fredric March and Leslie Howard for "Anthony Adverse": FANS DEMANDING PLACE FOR NEWER CANDIDATE Three-Color Process to Be Viewed in News Reels; Warren William Latest Movie Detective". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
  6. Schallert, Edwin (July 24, 1934). "Franchot Tone Sought as Leading Man for Several Stars, Including Katharine Hepburn: BRENT MAY APPEAR IN JOAN CRAWFORD PICTURE Fans Nominate Ronald Colman for Anthony Adverse; "Lorelei" Sighted for Dietrich". Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
  7. Schallert, Edwin (Feb 6, 1935). "Marlene Dietrich Will Play Empress Josephine if Napoleon Search Successful: Original by Szekely Under Consideration Frank Capra Will Direct "Valley Forge" at Columbia; "Radio Jamboree" Selected as Rudy Vallée's Next Picture". Los Angeles Times. p. 17.
  8. "Detective Film Is Full of Speed and Suspense: "THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS BRIDE." Tinee, Mae". Chicago Daily Tribune. Apr 24, 1935. p. 16.
  9. "Mystery and Humor Blend: "Case of Curious Bride" Now on Two Screens Scott, John". Los Angeles Times. Apr 12, 1935. p. 13.
  10. Vagg, Stephen (November 2, 2019). "The Films of Errol Flynn". Filmink.
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