Guy Kibbee stars as Scattergood Baines in another outing, well directed by Christy Cabanne. This time it is a murder mystery: two eccentric old ladies have died, leaving their fortune to their cat, and suddenly murders begin to happen...
The Scattergood Baines series, from a series of stories by Clarence Buddington Kelland, never raises its head above its B roots, but the scripts are well written -- this one is particularly good -- and contains a wealth of character actors, including Florence Lake -- best known for playing Edgar Kennedy's wife in his series of shorts for RKO -- Willie Best as Scattergood's shop assistant, and the dependable B lead and A support, Wallace Ford. There's also a nice subplot as John Archer, new owner of the weekly newspaper, tries to make a go of it and romance Margeret Hayes.
It's all very pleasantly managed, and the mystery plot is well handled. Not a classic by any means, it times in at just over an hour and is a fine time-killer.
The Scattergood Baines series, from a series of stories by Clarence Buddington Kelland, never raises its head above its B roots, but the scripts are well written -- this one is particularly good -- and contains a wealth of character actors, including Florence Lake -- best known for playing Edgar Kennedy's wife in his series of shorts for RKO -- Willie Best as Scattergood's shop assistant, and the dependable B lead and A support, Wallace Ford. There's also a nice subplot as John Archer, new owner of the weekly newspaper, tries to make a go of it and romance Margeret Hayes.
It's all very pleasantly managed, and the mystery plot is well handled. Not a classic by any means, it times in at just over an hour and is a fine time-killer.