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A Slight Case of Murder (1938)

A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
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Slight Case of Murder is a breakneck-paced comedy starring Edward G. Robinson as a tough but good-hearted bootlegger. When Prohibition is repealed, Robinson faces a financial crisis: His beer tastes so awful that no one wants to drink it legally. As an additional headache, Robinson is under scrutiny from the Law, which is waiting to slip the cuffs on him for the slightest infraction. He arrives at his rented Saratoga mansion with his wife (Ruth Donnelly), daughter (Jane Bryan) and adopted son (Bobby Jordan), only to discover that a killer has left four corpses in his bedroom. Robinson and his stooges are forced to hide the bodies before his future son-in-law (Willard Parker), who happens to be a cop, tumbles to the dilemma. Based on a stage play by Howard Lindsay and Damon Runyon, A Slight Case of Murder a just as entertaining in the 1990s as it was fifty years ago (please ignore a tepid 1953 musical remake titled Stop, You're Killing Me). Surprisingly, this film was not a favorite of star Edward G. Robinson, who felt that director Lloyd Bacon rushed through the material without taking full advantage of its comic potential. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Edward G. Robinson, Jane Bryan, (more)
Director(s):
Lloyd Bacon
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of A Slight Case of Murder

Slight Case of Murder is a breakneck-paced comedy starring Edward G. Robinson as a tough but good-hearted bootlegger. When Prohibition is repealed, Robinson faces a financial crisis: His beer tastes so awful that no one wants to drink it legally. As an additional headache, Robinson is under scrutiny from the Law, which is waiting to slip the cuffs on him for the slightest infraction. He arrives at his rented Saratoga mansion with his wife (Ruth Donnelly), daughter (Jane Bryan) and adopted son (Bobby Jordan), only to discover that a killer has left four corpses in his bedroom. Robinson and his stooges are forced to hide the bodies before his future son-in-law (Willard Parker), who happens to be a cop, tumbles to the dilemma. Based on a stage play by Howard Lindsay and Damon Runyon, A Slight Case of Murder a just as entertaining in the 1990s as it was fifty years ago (please ignore a tepid 1953 musical remake titled Stop, You're Killing Me). Surprisingly, this film was not a favorite of star Edward G. Robinson, who felt that director Lloyd Bacon rushed through the material without taking full advantage of its comic potential. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
85 mins

Complete Cast of A Slight Case of Murder


Director(s):
Lloyd Bacon
Writer(s):
Joseph Schrank, Howard Lindsay, Earl W. Baldwin
Producer(s):
Hal B. Wallis, Sam Bischoff
Categories:
Comedy
A Slight Case of Murder Awards:
  • 1938 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
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    Jacon N.

    .If you like old movies full of clever banter...then skip this one. I'm a fan of Edward G. and enjoy old styled comedy from the Marx Bros. to Cary Grant, but this never-ending "comedy" just drains the life out of the viewer. Excluding EGR, the cast seems to think they're in the stage version of this production with their hammy, over-the-top performances. There's one well-done line in the film, though not attributable to the heavies but to the Margaret (Wicked Witch) Hamilton character. The rest of the laughs come from Mary Marco's transitioning between genteel lady and gangster mol speech patterns, which gets old after twenty minutes. I wanted to like this one, but it's not worth watching.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Amelia S.

    A fun and family friendly movie. Our teenager even enjoyed it. Definitely worth seeing. Most movies today are so unbelievably filthy. It is great to be able to find some old flicks like this.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Keith G.

    Silly, occasionally dopey, but often very funny film of gangster trying to go straight at the end of prohibition. turning his brewery (which happens to make awful tasting beer) legit. Edward G. Robinson is wonderful in the lead, and a lot of the supporting cast are very strong. Some very funny lines, and clever twists. Based on a Damon Runyon play.

    Yes   |   No

     
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