The Case of the Velvet Claws
Brief Synopsis
Perry Mason's honeymoon with Della Street is interrupted by the murder of a scandal-sheet publisher.
Cast & Crew
Read More
William Clemens
Director
Warren William
Perry Mason
Claire Dodd
Della [Street]
Winifred Shaw
Eva Belter
Gordon Elliot
Carl Griffin
Joseph King
George C. Belter
Film Details
Genre
Suspense/Mystery
Release Date
Aug
15,
1936
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
The Vitaphone Corp.; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner (New York, 1933).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 3m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Synopsis
On the night of his wedding to Della Street, criminal lawyer Perry Mason is kidnapped by Eva Belter, who wants him to to take care of a scandal involving her and politician Peter Milnor. Perry visits the editor of Spicy Bits , the scandal sheet threatening to publish the story, and discovers that millionaire stockbroker George C. Belter, the real owner of the paper, wants the story published to punish his wife. When she learns this, she threatens Belter with a gun and shoots at him. He falls to the ground, and thinking that she has killed him, she runs away. She calls Perry to the murder scene where he finds a second bullet. After some investigation, Perry figures out that the murder was actually committed after Eva left the room by Belter's nephew Carl Griffin. Griffin killed Belter himself when he learned that Eva thought she had killed him. In fact, Eva's bullet had not even come close, but Griffin knew that Belter had changed his will, making Griffin his heir. In order to keep the housekeeper Mrs. Veito and her daughter Norma quiet about hearing two shots, Griffin agreed to marry Norma. With the murder wrapped up, Perry gets to night court just in time to stop Della from annulling their marriage and the two head off for a belated honeymoon at Pinehurst Lodge.
Director
William Clemens
Director
Cast
Warren William
Perry Mason
Claire Dodd
Della [Street]
Winifred Shaw
Eva Belter
Gordon Elliot
Carl Griffin
Joseph King
George C. Belter
Addison Richards
Frank Locke
Eddie Acuff
Spudsy Drake
Olin Howland
Wilbur Strong
Dick Purcell
Crandal
Kenneth Harlan
Peter Milnor
Clara Blandick
Judge Mary F. O'Daugherty
Ruth Robinson
Mrs. Veito
Paula Stone
Norma Veito
Robert Middlemass
Sergeant Hoffman
Stuart Holmes
Digley
Carol Hughes
Esther Linton
Eddie Shubert
Detective Jones
Harry Semels
Kickopopolos
Alma Lloyd
Helen Berkley
John Dilson
Arthur Atwood
Carlyle Moore Jr.
Tiny Brewster
William Davidson
Crew
Film Details
Genre
Suspense/Mystery
Release Date
Aug
15,
1936
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
The Vitaphone Corp.; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner (New York, 1933).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 3m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Articles
The Case of the Velvet Claws
In the fourth of Warner Bros.' six Perry Mason films, the famed defense attorney accomplishes something he never did in his popular television run. He marries secretary Della Street. In fact, the film opens with their wedding (performed by Auntie Em, or rather a female judge played by Clara Blandick of Wizard of Oz [1939] fame). Later their honeymoon suite is invaded by a gun-toting woman (Wini Shaw) who hires him to suppress a scandalous magazine story. Given that this is a Perry Mason film, that naturally leads to murder, with Mason doing his best to prove his client innocent and find the real culprit. This was Warren William's fourth and final outing as Mason. His contract with Warner Bros. was up and after one more film, Stage Struck (1936), he signed with MGM, where he began the move into character roles. Claire Dodd had played Della Street previously in The Case of the Curious Bride (1935). She was the only actress to play the role in more than one feature. New to the series is Eddie Acuff, who takes over the role of Mason's private eye, Spudsy Drake. In one of the series' many departures from the novels, Drake is played for comic relief.
The Case of the Velvet Claws
In the fourth of Warner Bros.' six Perry Mason films, the famed defense attorney accomplishes something he never did in his popular television run. He marries secretary Della Street. In fact, the film opens with their wedding (performed by Auntie Em, or rather a female judge played by Clara Blandick of Wizard of Oz [1939] fame). Later their honeymoon suite is invaded by a gun-toting woman (Wini Shaw) who hires him to suppress a scandalous magazine story. Given that this is a Perry Mason film, that naturally leads to murder, with Mason doing his best to prove his client innocent and find the real culprit. This was Warren William's fourth and final outing as Mason. His contract with Warner Bros. was up and after one more film, Stage Struck (1936), he signed with MGM, where he began the move into character roles. Claire Dodd had played Della Street previously in The Case of the Curious Bride (1935). She was the only actress to play the role in more than one feature. New to the series is Eddie Acuff, who takes over the role of Mason's private eye, Spudsy Drake. In one of the series' many departures from the novels, Drake is played for comic relief.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
For complete information on the other films in the series see The Case of the Howling Dog (above) and consult the Series Index.
