The first of the Perry Mason's made for the big screen is a very good entry that gives Warren William a serious role to sink his teeth into before they changed the characterization for the next round of films with William in one and various actors in others. "You're a cross between a saint and a devil", Helen Trenholme's Della Street tells Mason in a key scene in the film. Mason defends Mary Astor in a murder trial, playing possibly another dark lady several years before she entered dark lady immortality in "The Maltese Falcon". She is accused of marrying her estranged husband who has allegedly committed bigamy and was haunted by the howling of a dog which forecasted his death. Aster isn't exactly willing to give out all the information, and at the end, it is very clear that if this had been made a year later, the production code would have made them change the ending.
As for Trenholme as Della Street, this was only one of two films she made, having primarily been a stage actress in the 1930's. Heartache on Della is straightforward, and while there is a hint of a romance between her and Perry, it is not clear cut. While a lot of actors cut dashing figures in the 1930's, Warren William was in a class of his own because he could play shyster, criminal, ruthless businessman or Lothario, and you still couldn't help but like him. His take on Mason here is direct with only minimal wisecracks, and this focuses mainly on the case rather than an overabundance of witty lines. It is Warner Brothers at its best and brightest, no-nonsense and strictly to the point.
The plot does get a little convoluted here and there, but it certainly will make you sink afterwards. Helen Lowell is very funny as a housekeeper who is very hard of hearing, although after a while, you begin to wonder if she is pretending this only to irritate her boss. Such well-known character actors as Grant Mitchell and Arthur Hoyt round out the cast along with Dorothy Tree who is the second wife in the bigamous marriage. This speeds by at a nice pace, and even if it is lacking in an overabundance of comedy, is never dull and will keep you involved.
As for Trenholme as Della Street, this was only one of two films she made, having primarily been a stage actress in the 1930's. Heartache on Della is straightforward, and while there is a hint of a romance between her and Perry, it is not clear cut. While a lot of actors cut dashing figures in the 1930's, Warren William was in a class of his own because he could play shyster, criminal, ruthless businessman or Lothario, and you still couldn't help but like him. His take on Mason here is direct with only minimal wisecracks, and this focuses mainly on the case rather than an overabundance of witty lines. It is Warner Brothers at its best and brightest, no-nonsense and strictly to the point.
The plot does get a little convoluted here and there, but it certainly will make you sink afterwards. Helen Lowell is very funny as a housekeeper who is very hard of hearing, although after a while, you begin to wonder if she is pretending this only to irritate her boss. Such well-known character actors as Grant Mitchell and Arthur Hoyt round out the cast along with Dorothy Tree who is the second wife in the bigamous marriage. This speeds by at a nice pace, and even if it is lacking in an overabundance of comedy, is never dull and will keep you involved.