Murder by an Aristocrat(Warner Bros.) (1936)

PUBLICITY (Lead-Off Story) Thrilling Murder Mystery Play Is Booked by Strand “Murder by an Aristocrat,” a First National mystery drama, based on one of the most popular of Mignon G. Eberhart’s baffling murder stories comes to the.... area Theatre on with Lyle Talbot, Marguerite Churehill and Claire Dodd in the leading roles. The plot centers about the deaths of two members of the proud and aristocratic Thatcher family. Bayard Thacher, a part played by William Davidson, is the first to meet death. The blacksheep of the family who is attempting to blackmail his relatives, is wounded mysteriously one night by a bullet, and the next day he is found shot through the heart. Five other members of the family are suspected as also are the butler and two maids, although John Eldredge, portraying the district attorney, a relative, tries to make out a ease of robbery a costly string of emeralds having disappeared. Later Gordon Elliott, in the role of Dave Thatcher, is eliminated as a suspect, he being found dead in the attic of the Thatcher mansion. Lyle Talbot as Dr. Allen Carrick, is called into the case and brings a nurse to the house, a part played by Miss Churehill. The nurse runs across so many strange incidents during’ her night in the home, she confides to Talbot, her fiancee, that she believes a murder has been com “Witted whith tne camliy is trying to cover up. She eventually discovers the missing jewels and uncovers the murder plot. Claire Dodd as the wife of Dave Thatcher, has another siren role. Joseph Crehan and Florence Fair are two other members of the family being blackmailed by Bayard, and Virginia Brissae plays the part of Adela Thatcher, the aged spinster head of the family. Stuart Holmes is the butler, and Lottie Williams and Mary Treen are the two maids, all under suspicion. The picture was directed by Frank McDonald. Crime Solvers Marguerite Churchill and Lyle Talbot solve the screen’s first high hat homicide, “Murder by an Aristocrat,” by Mignon G. Eberhart, the First National thriller coming to the... DP RCRET CaO aes te eo, Mat No, 108—10c Page Six Stars Of Clue Club Drama Satta telat eee 4 Marguerite Churchill, Lyle Talbot and Claire Dodd, who have the leading roles in Mignon G. Eberhart’s new thriller, “Murder by an Aristocrat,” the first mystery film endorsed by the Clue Club in six months. It will open at the... DIVCUURG Ol eee Mat No. 209—20c (Opening Day Story) Baffling Murder Mystery Drama At Strand Today and-—beffling mystery melodrama, “Murder by an Aristochai “Comes: tO the. oa, Theatre today, with Lyle Talbot, Marguerite Churchill and Claire Dodd in the leading roles. Produced by First National from the exciting novel by Mignon G. Eberhart the picture is said to be packed with thrilling situations, eerie and blood eurdling episodes that make the hair stand on end. A new Five members of a proud, aristocratic family are being blackmailed by a blacksheep ne’er-dowell, who later is found with a bullet through his heart in the library of the home. Another member of the family is found dead in the attic, evidently a victim of a poisonous drug. The others of the family are suspected as also are the butler and two maids. To complicate matters, however, the aged spinster head of the family declares that a string of costly emeralds has been stolen, and the district attorney, also a relative, tries to make out a case of murder for the purpose of robbery in order to save his kin from seandal. The murder is’ eventually solved by a nurse and a doctor, who have been ealled to the house, after a series of harrowing events in which an attempt is made to kill the nurse. Lyle Talbot and Miss Churechill play the roles of doctor and nurse, who are in love with each other. Claire Dodd has the role of a member of the family who, though married, carries on a clandestine love affair with her husband’s cousin, a part played by John Eldredge. Other members are Virginia Brissaec, William Davidson, Gordon Elliott, Joseph Crehan and Florence Fair. Stuart Holmes is the butler and Lottie Williams and Mary Treen the two maids. Frank MeDonald directed the picture from the screen play by Luci Ward and Roy Chanslor. ry Doctors Advise Talbot How to Portray Roles If Lyle Talbot took the advice ef -the-manr -deetors ahe-have written him regarding his portrayals of medicos in screen roles, he would probably go mad trying to please them all. Talbot, who enacts a doctor’s role for the eleventh time in his current picture, “Murder by an Aristocrat,” which comes to the Nani eee heatre: Ole ao a. an has received 200 letters from doctors throughout the country who offer him expert advice and eriticism. “You should never wear a suit of a light color while acting as a doctor,” writes one of the M.D.’s. “Keep up the dignity of the profession by always wearing black.” Another medical worker econtradicts his brother in medicine by saying: “Always dress in light, gay colors. It is the best way to improve your patient’s mental attitude and make him forget that you are a doctor.” Other expert advice the actor receives in the sartorial line is to wear—and not to wear—wing collars, bow ties, black shoes and derby hats. All of which makes Lyle wish he could enact the patient’s role once in a while and wear nothing but a snappy pair of pajamas. “Murder by an Aristoerat” is a baffling mystery drama taken from the popular novel by Mignon G. Eberhart. The east, besides Talbot, includes Marguerite Churehill, Claire Dodd, Virginia Brissac, William Davidson, John Eldredge, Gordon Elliott and Joseph Crehan. Frank McDonald directed the picture from the screen play by Luci Ward and Roy Chanslor. LENG TE OF BUM oo 2 sg er 9918 FEET RUNNING TIME ssSsSsSCSsS OS MINUTES (Review ) ‘Murder by an Aristocrat’ Smashing Mystery Drama Picture Is packed With Thrills, Chills and Dynamic Action One of the strangest and most unusual mystery dramas to come to the screen, ‘‘Murder by an Aristoerat,’’ was Theatre yesterday for of the most popular novels by Mignon G. Eberhart, the picture is packed with thrills and exciting incidents that kept spectators on the edge of their seats with suspense. There is a talented cast which is headed by Lyle Talbot and Marguerite Churchill in the romantie roles with Claire Dodd again portraying a siren. The plot involves the murder of the black sheep member of a proud, aristocratic family. The night after the murder, another member of the family is found dead in the attic of the great mansion, the victim of a noxious drug. A maid also is found writhing in agony, evidently from the effects of a deadly poison. With the aid of the district attorney, related to the family by marriage, an attempt is made to cover up the crimes in order to prevent a ANG ab 18 announced that a string of priceless emeralds has been stolen from a wall safe in order to give the impression that the murder was the outeome of a robbery. But Lyle Talbot, the doctor in the ease, calls in a nurse with whom he is in love, a_ part played by Marguerite Churchill. In the night she encounters some harrowing situations im—one of which an attempt is made by an unrecognized assassin to hurl her from the roof to certain death. Eventually she solves the mystery in an amazing climax to the story. seandal Talbot, usually seen in heavy parts, has the heroic and romantic role in this picture. He gives an exceptionally fine performance, being quite as much at home in this characterization as in his villainous parts. Miss Churchill’s performance is both capable and artistic. In the role of the siren who is married to one member of the Thateher family and_ keeping clandestine love trysts with another, Claire Dodd gives a fine portrayal of a coldly caleulating although passionate woman. Gordon Elliott plays the part of her husband and John Eldredge that of her lover, both giving excellent performances. Virginia Brissac, famous stage star and exceptionally well known on the West Coast, where for years she managed, directed and played in her own companies, is superb as the spinster head of the Thatcher family who is willing to sacrifice her hfe to save the family honor. work inFlorence Others who do fine clude Joseph Crehan, Fair, William Davidson, Stuart Holmes, Lottie Williams, Mary Treen, Milton Kibbee and Henry Otho. Direction that sustains the suspense throughout the picture was given the production by Frank McDonald. Luci Ward and Roy Chanslor wrote an_ excellent screen play. In Thriller Claire Dodd and William Davidson portray the ‘heavy roles” in Mignon G. Eberhart’s most thrilling murder mystery, “Murder by an Aristocrat,” the First National picture now making a hit at the 2. Theatre. Mat No. 109—10c Miss Churchill Plans to Take Nursing Course Moving picture roles that actors and actresses portray on the screen sometimes prove so fascinating that the player often wishes he could desert the glare of the are lights and take up such a part in real life. Marguerite Churchill found this out after working for several weeks as a trained nurse in the First National new mystery thriller “Murder by an Aristoerat,” which comes to the....... RE Metts <9 DHeaAthes ONG Wier... es Marguerite became so attached to the neat white uniform she wears and so interested in the technical knowledge of the profession that she has decided to take a course in elemental nursing at a Los Angeles hospital. “It will keep me busy between pictures,” says the actress, “and a little knowledge of first aid and what to do in a sick room wouldn’t hurt anyone.” Marguerite is already proficient in the art of rolling bandages and making splints. She practiced this for several days under the instruction of a trained nurse. The picture is a melodramatic murder mystery drama based on the best selling novel of the same title by Mignon G. Eberhart. Besides Miss Churchill the cast includes Lyle Talbot, Claire Dodd, Virginia Brissac, William Davidson, John Eldredge, Gordon E1liott and Joseph Crehan. Frank MeDonald directed.