The Case of the Velvet Claws (Warner Bros.) (1936)

PUBLICITY (Lead-Off Story) Liberty Books Thrilling New Murder Mystery “me Case of. the Velvet Claws,” First National’s latest murder mystery drama, has been booked by the Theatre ag the feature attraction Starting Soess core -.,.0% next. This is the fourth of the popular novels by Erle Stanley Gardner to be brought to the screen by the same producers with Warren William starred as the brilliant amateur detective, Perry Mason. The plot of “The Case of the Velvet Claws” is unique, baffling and the suspense is maintained up to the moment of the amazing climax. There are two possible motives for the murder— to cover a love seandal—and to gain possession of the wealth. Perry Mason’s problem is to find which is the real cause of the crime. Eight persons are suspected, one of whom believes herself to be the killer. Circumstantial evidence points to the probability that Perry Mason himself did the deed. The hero is injected into the case by the pistol method—just as he is starting on his honeymoon—by the wife of the man who is marked for slaughter, and who has laid herself open to suspicion through a_ secret love affair. Winifred Shaw plays the wife suspected of the murder, while Claire Dodd is the bride. Others in the strong cast are Ruth Robinson, Paula Stone, Ad ————~qdison Richards, Kennéth ifarian, Stuart Holmes, Eddie Acuff, Olin Howland, Dick Purcell, Carlisle Moore, Jr., Clara Blandick, Carol Hughes, Alma Lloyd, Joseph King, Robert Middlemass and Eddie Shubert. “The Case of the Velvet Claws” was directed by William Clemens from the screen play by Tom Reed. (Opening Day Story) New Perry Mason Mystery Play at Liberty Today Another of Erle Stanley Gardner’s baffling murder mystery thrillers, “The Case of the Velvet Claws,” opens at the........ Theatre today, with Warren William again in the role of Perry Mason, the lawyer-detective made famous by the noted writer. Eight persons are suspected of the killing of a rich and eccentrie blackmailer who secretly publishes a scandal sheet. These include his wife, his nephew, the detective working on the case and members of the wealthy man’s household. Several motives are brought to light as the possible cause of the crime, including a plot to cover up a love scandal, greed for the man’s riches and vengeance. Claire Dodd, beautiful blonde actress, has the role of Warren William’s wise-cracking secretary and his bride whom he deserts on his wedding night to work on the crime case, he being forced into it by the wife of the slain man at the point of a gun. Winifred Shaw has the role of the murdered man’s wife while others in the cast include Gordon Elliott, Joseph King, Addison Richards, Eddie Acuff, Olin Howland, Kenneth Harlan, Dick Pureell, Clara Blandick, Ruth Robinson, Paula Stone, Stuart Holmes, and Carol Hughes. William Clemens directed. Page Six Wedding Night Visitor! Claire Dodd (left), Warren William and Winifred Shaw (right) portraying a newly married couple and the mysterious woman who summons the groom, at the point of a gun, to help solve a murder mystery—in the First National thriller “The Case of the Velvet Claws” which opens at the__._.. ie See TRECOLVEN ON... = ee ee Mat No. 202—20c (Review ) ‘Case of the Velvet Claws’ _Smashing Mystery Thriller_ Warren William Does Splendid Job in Role of Famous Attorney-Detective Few murder mystery melodramas have so intriguing a plot as the latest First National thriller, ‘‘The Case of the Velvet Claws,’’ which kept audiences alternately laughing hilariously or gripped in suspense, at its first showing locally at the. 25 55 Pere ...Theatre yesterday. The picture is the most novel of all the productions made from the famous series of novels by Erle Stanley Gardner whose attorney-detective, Perry Mason, is known to every lover of fiction. And, for once, Perry Mason has a genuine romance, for he is married to his wiseeracking secretary in the very first scene. But it is a strange honeymoon, one that nearly drives the bride to the divorce courts, the bridegroom being kidnapped at the point of a gun and forced to take over a criminal case by a woman who has had a secret love affair and fears that her name is about to be dragged through the columns of a scandal sheet. It is this woman’s husband who is mysteriously slain that very night, and strangely enough the wife believes herself guilty of the murder, although she accuses her own attorney of doing it. There are eight persons who come under the suspicion of the police, all having various motives for the erime. Just what this motive may be, is a complete mystery until the smashing climax of the story, the detectives, working on various theories, that of revenge, for the man was a blackmailer; an attempt to cover up a scandal, for the wife was having a clandestine love affair with a big shot politician; and greed, the dead man having left a vast inheritance. This is the fourth time that Warren William has played the part of the cool, analytical and debonaire Perry Mason. Always giving a fine portrayal of the character, William outdoes all his previous performances in the current picture, not only puz zling the audience by his mysterious maneuvers, but sending them into gales of laughter oceasionally by his subtle tricks, one of which is to play the part of a corpse, frightening a morgue attendant into hysterics. Claire Dodd is excellent as the sophisticated and ever efficient secretary who marries her boss, only to be deserted on her honeymoon night. But her romance is finally rounded out when a gunman is engaged to drive clients away from her husband. Winifred Shaw has the role of the wife of the slain man, a part which she handles with great capability. Eddie Acuff adds to the hilarity of the picture by his antics. William Clemens has done a fine job of direction, balancing the humor nicely with the many thrills. The screen play is by Tom Reed. Warren William Joins Amateur Detectives Warren William, who has become identified on the screen as Perry Mason, the debonnaire lawyer-detective of the Erle Stanley Gardner mystery dramas, has accepted an invitation to join the Amateur Detectives Club of America. William has played the character of Perry Mason in four pictures, the latest being in the First National production, “The Case of the Velvet Claws,” which COMME TOM TN Gs oo ee ne se onan Theatre. on Solving Mystery Dramas Popular American Sport “The Case of the Velvet Claws” is Latest Baffling Murder Thriller of Screen The mystery-detective story is America’s greatest craze both from a financial and popularity viewpoint. Figures compiled by the First National research department, aided by other film companies, radio concerns and publishing companies, show it tops miniature golf, bridge, soft-ball games, and all other fads which have swept the country during the past twenty-five years. Moreover, this game, for game it is, shows signs of long tenure in public favor. There are definite rules. For example, all clues on which the detective bases his final solution must be clearly planted, so the reader, or spectator, if he is keen enough, has access to them also. And the test is to beat the fictional detective to his solution. One of the strangest phenomena in connection with the craze is its creation of fictional detectives who have become as well-known as the movie stars who portray some of them. Foremost of these are Warren William and Warner Oland, as Perry Mason, Erle Stanley Gardner’s Sherlock, and Charlie Chan, the late Earl Derr Biggers’ Chinese detective. William has also portrayed the erudite Philo Vance, whose uneasy ghost has also settled upon the shoulders of Basil Rathbone and has at last, apparently, come to rest with William Powell. Film companies have made the rather startling discovery that it is very difficult. to please the public when the personality accepted as a given detective is replaced by someone else. William is doomed to be Perry Mason. Certain other players go from film to film because these characters, too, are fixtures in the variRomantic ous mystery yarns. leads, however, usually change. In “The Case of the Velvet Claws,” William is supported by Claire Dodd, Dick Foran, Winifred Shaw, Alma Lloyd, Eddie Acuff, Olin Howland, Dick Purcell and Paula Stone. Suspect! A IRREL LE ARTE OR Winifred Shaw as the mystery woman in the First National thriller, “The Case of the Velvet Claws,” coming to the_— ies eae Theatrée-on z Perry Mason Perry and bridegroom in the First National thriller, “The Case of the Velvet Claws,” now showing at Theatre. Mat No. 102—10c William, as master sleuth, Warren Mason, es Five Actresses Support William in Mystery Play Warren William is two up on George Brent. Some weeks ago the Irish Mr. Brent had three leading ladies in his picture, “Snowed Under.” The girls he made love to, for benefit of cameras, of course, were Genevieve Tobin, Glenda Farrell and Patricia Ellis. The well-dressed Mr. William has five leading ladies in his current First National picture, “The Case of the Velvet Claws,” which comes to the Theatre on The girls are Claire Dodd, Winifred Shaw, Paula Stone, Alma Lloyd and Carol Hughes. “The Case of the Velvet Claws” is a thrilling murder mystery drama by Erle Stanley Gardner with the redoubtable attorney-detective, Perry Mason, solving a mysterious crime. William has the role of Mason while others in the cast include Gordon Elliott, Joseph King, Addison Richards and Eddie Acuff.