''The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case'' is a 1943 American

mystery film A mystery film is a film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, ...

directed by

Eugene Forde Eugene Forde (1898–1986) was an American film director. Selected filmography * '' Daredevil's Reward'' (1928) * '' Painted Post'' (1928) * '' Son of the Golden West'' (1928) * '' Charlie Chan's Courage'' (1934) * '' Charlie Chan in London'' ( ...

and starring

Warner Baxter Warner Leroy Baxter (March 29, 1889 – May 7, 1951) was an American film actor from the 1910s to the 1940s. Baxter is known for his role as the Cisco Kid in the 1928 film ''In Old Arizona'', for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor at ...

Lynn Merrick Lynn Merrick (born Marilyn Llewelling; November 19, 1919 – March 25, 2007) was an American actress who appeared in over 40 films during the 1940s, mainly for Columbia and Republic Studios. Early life Merrick was born Marilyn Llewelling on ...

and

Gloria Dickson Gloria Dickson (born Thais Alalia Dickerson; August 13, 1917 – April 10, 1945) was an American stage and screen actress of the 1930s and 1940s. Early years Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Dickson was the daughter of a banker. After her father's dea ...

.Erickson p.203 It is the second in a series of Crime Doctor films made by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

Plot

Dr. Robert Ordway gets a visit from Jimmy Trotter, who he helped out during his time on the parole board, and his fiancé Ellen, to get advice on their upcoming marriage. When Dr. Ordway finds out what job Jimmy is doing, a secretary for businessman Walter Burns, he advises him to leave this job and find one with a reputable company. In the past Jimmy was accused of poisoning his boss when he worked as a secretary before. Dr. Ordway also advises the two not to get married just yet until Jimmy can find a different job. That night Dr. Ordway pays a visit to the Burns House to talk to Mr. Burns to find out why he hired Jimmy when no one else would, only to discover that Walter Burns is dead and has been poisoned. Fearing that he would be suspected of this murder, Jimmy Trotter runs from the house. While Jimmy is on the run, Dr. Trotter works with Ellen, who married Jimmy after their visit with Dr. Ordway earlier that day. Dr. Ordway follows the clues and helps the police find the real murderer of Mr. Walter Burns, helping Jimmy Trotter once again escape a prison sentence.

Cast

as Dr. Robert Ordway *

as Ellen Trotter *

as Mrs. Keppler / Evelyn Fenton Cartwright *

Barton MacLane Barton MacLane (December 25, 1902 – January 1, 1969) was an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He appeared in many classic films from the 1930s through the 1960s, including his role as General Martin Peterson on the 1960s NBC ...

as Detective Rief *

Jerome Cowan Jerome Palmer Cowan (October 6, 1897 – January 24, 1972) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Early years Cowan was born in New York City, the son of William Cowan, a confectioner of Scottish descent, and Julia Cowan, née Pal ...

as Mallory Cartwright * Reginald Denny as Paul Ashley *

Rose Hobart Rose Hobart (born Rose Kefer; May 1, 1906 – August 29, 2000) was an American actress and a Screen Actors Guild official. Early years Born in New York City, Hobart was the daughter of a cellist in the New York Symphony Orchestra, Paul Ke ...

as Mrs. Diana Burns *

Virginia Brissac Virginia Brissac (June 11, 1883 – July 26, 1979) was a popular American stage actress who headlined theatre companies from Vancouver to San Diego during the heyday of West Coast Stock in the early 1900s. An ingénue and leading lady known for ...

as Patricia Cornwall *

Lloyd Bridges Lloyd Vernet Bridges Jr. (January 15, 1913 – March 10, 1998) was an American film, stage and television actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. He was the father of four children, includi ...

as Jimmy Trotter *

Constance Worth Constance Worth (born Enid Joyce Howarth; 19 August 1911 – 18 October 1963) was an Australian actress who became a Hollywood star in the late 1930s. She was also known as Jocelyn Howarth. Early life and career She was born in Sydney, Austral ...

as Betty Watson *

Sam Flint Sam Flint (born Samuel A. Ethridge; October 19, 1882 – October 17, 1980) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 200 films, and is perhaps most familiar to today's audiences from Charlie Chan mysteries, adventure serials (notably ...

as Addison Burns *

Creighton Hale Creighton Hale (born Patrick Wills Fitzgerald; May 24, 1882 – August 9, 1965) was an Irish-American theatre, film, and television actor whose career extended more than a half-century, from the early 1900s to the end of the 1950s. Career Hale ...

as Dr. Carter *

Thomas E. Jackson Thomas E. Jackson (July 4, 1886 – September 7, 1967) was an American stage and screen actor. His 67-year career spanned eight decades and two centuries, during which time he appeared in over a dozen Broadway plays, produced two others, acted i ...

as Detective Yarnell * George Lynn as Walter Burns * Ray Walker as Mr. George H. Fenton

References

Bibliography

* Erickson, Hal. ''From Radio to the Big Screen: Hollywood Films Featuring Broadcast Personalities and Programs''. McFarland, 2014.

External links

* * * 1943 films 1943 mystery films 1940s English-language films American mystery films Films directed by Eugene Forde Films scored by Michel Michelet Columbia Pictures films American black-and-white films Crime Doctor (character) films 1940s American films English-language mystery films {{mystery-film-stub