The Famous Ferguson Case
Brief Synopsis
Two reporters interested in different stories write about a murder.
Cast & Crew
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Lloyd Bacon
Director
Joan Blondell
Maizie Dickson
Grant Mitchell
Martin Collins
Vivienne Osborne
Mrs. Marcia Ferguson
Adrienne Dore
Tony Martin
Tom Brown
Bruce Foster
Film Details
Genre
Crime
Release Date
May
14,
1932
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
First National Pictures, Inc.; The Vitaphone Corp.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 14m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Synopsis
When wealthy George M. Ferguson is murdered and his wife Marcia is discovered bound and gagged, small town reporter Bruce Foster writes a story about the crime that makes the major newspapers. Soon reporters descend on the small town of Cornwall. Tony Martin, Bruce's fiancée and co-worker, takes them to interview Marcia. She denies that she and her husband quarrelled about her friendship with married banker Judd Brooks, insisting that they are old friends, nothing more. Although the townspeople beg the reporters to be careful about what they print as it could damage innocent people, most of them, led by heavy drinker Bob Parks, are convinced that Brooks murdered Ferguson during an argument over Marcia. They force the county attorney to arrest Marcia and Judd, despite the fact that there is no evidence and Marcia insists that her husband was killed by two robbers. Meanwhile Bob turns his attentions to Tony, telling her that his wife is an invalid. Reporter Maizie Dickson tries to warn Tony that Bob is no good, but Tony accuses Maizie of jealousy and refuses to listen. On the trail of their story, the reporters besiege pregnant Mrs. Brooks, and their announcement of Brooks's arrest causes her to collapse. Bruce, however, is not swayed by the big town reporters. He tracks down his own lead, and while the other reporters are holding a big party, he gets out an extra edition announcing the capture of the murderers who actually are two jewel robbers just as Marcia said. Bruce gives the story to every paper in New York. Just after the story breaks, the reporters learn that Mrs. Brooks has died in childbirth. Brooks beats up Bob, Marcia sues the newspapers and the county attorney is impeached. Despite job offers from some of the New York papers, Bruce decides to stay in Cornwall. Tony leaves with Bob, and Maizie, who is fed up with the corruption of big town newspapers, asks Bruce for her job.
Director
Lloyd Bacon
Director
Cast
Joan Blondell
Maizie Dickson
Grant Mitchell
Martin Collins
Vivienne Osborne
Mrs. Marcia Ferguson
Adrienne Dore
Tony Martin
Tom Brown
Bruce Foster
Kenneth Thomson
Bob Parks
Leslie Fenton
Perrin
Oscar Apfel
Walter Miller
Cedric Works
Purnell Pratt
George M. Ferguson
Willard Robertson
The sheriff
George Meeker
Jigger Bolton
Russell Hopton
Rusty Callahan
George Macfarlane
Leon Waycoff
Judd Brooks
J. Carroll Naish
Claude Wright
William Burress
Dad Sipes
Clarence Wilson
County attorney
Russell Simpson
Craig
Miriam Seegar
Mrs. Brooks
Bert Hanlon
Eddie Klein
Mike Donlin
Photographer
Wallis Clark
Lindsay Jamison
Jean Laverty
Minnie Moody
Harry Shutan
Kaplan
Dick Curtis
O'Toole
Spencer Charters
Fire chief
Fred Burton
Bridges
Crew
Film Details
Genre
Crime
Release Date
May
14,
1932
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
First National Pictures, Inc.; The Vitaphone Corp.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 14m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Articles
The Famous Ferguson Case
