Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

Last updated
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by James P. Hogan
Screenplay by Eric Taylor
Story by Ellery Queen
Based on The Devil to Pay
Produced by Larry Darmour
Starring Ralph Bellamy
Margaret Lindsay
Charley Grapewin
Spring Byington
H. B. Warner
James Burke
Cinematography James S. Brown Jr.
Edited by Dwight Caldwell
Music by Lee Zahler
Production
company
Larry Darmour Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 14, 1941 (1941-08-14)
Running time
67 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime is a 1941 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Eric Taylor. The film was loosely based on the 1938 novel The Devil to Pay by Ellery Queen. [1] It stars Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, Spring Byington, H. B. Warner and James Burke. The film was released on August 14, 1941, by Columbia Pictures. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Plot

Cast

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellery Queen</span> Detective fiction writer (joint pseudonym)

Ellery Queen is a pseudonym created in 1928 by the American detective fiction writers Frederic Dannay (1905–1982) and Manfred Bennington Lee (1905–1971). It is also the name of their main fictional detective, a mystery writer in New York City who helps his police inspector father solve baffling murder cases. From 1929 to 1971, Dannay and Lee wrote around forty novels and short story collections in which Ellery Queen appears as a character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Bellamy</span> American actor (1904–1991)

Ralph Rexford Bellamy was an American actor whose career spanned 65 years on stage, film, and television. During his career, he played leading roles as well as supporting roles, garnering acclaim and awards, including a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for Sunrise at Campobello as well as Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Awful Truth (1937).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James P. Hogan (director)</span> Director

James Patrick Hogan was an American filmmaker. The films Hogan directed include Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939) and The Mad Ghoul (1943), his last film. He died from a heart attack aged 53.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charley Grapewin</span> American circus performer and actor

Charles Ellsworth Grapewin was an American vaudeville and circus performer, a writer, and a stage and film actor. He worked in over 100 motion pictures during the silent and sound eras, most notably portraying Uncle Henry in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's The Wizard of Oz (1939), "Grandpa" William James Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941), Uncle Salters in Captains Courageous (1937), Gramp Maple in The Petrified Forest (1936), Wang's Father in The Good Earth (1937), and California Joe in They Died With Their Boots On (1941).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Lindsay</span> American actress (1910–1981)

Margaret Lindsay was an American film actress. Her time as a Warner Bros. contract player during the 1930s was particularly productive. She was noted for her supporting work in successful films of the 1930s and 1940s such as Baby Face, Jezebel (1938) and Scarlet Street (1945) and her leading roles in lower-budgeted B movie films such as the Ellery Queen series at Columbia in the early 1940s. Critics regard her portrayal of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hepzibah Pyncheon in the 1940 film The House of the Seven Gables as Lindsay's standout career role.

<i>When Ladies Meet</i> (1941 film) 1941 film by Robert Zigler Leonard

When Ladies Meet is a 1941 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson, Herbert Marshall and Spring Byington. The screenplay by S.K. Lauren and Anita Loos was based upon a 1932 play by Rachel Crothers. Made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, director Leonard also coproduced along with Orville O. Dull. The film was a remake of the 1933 pre-Code film of the same name, which had starred Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, Robert Montgomery and Frank Morgan in the roles played by Garson, Crawford, Taylor and Marshall.

<i>The Devil to Pay</i> (Ellery Queen novel) 1938 novel by Ellery Queen

The Devil To Pay is an American mystery novel published in 1938, written by Ellery Queen. It is primarily set in Los Angeles, United States. The 1941 film Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime was loosely based on this novel.

<i>Shanghai</i> (1935 film) 1935 American film directed by James Flood

Shanghai is a 1935 American romantic drama film directed by James Flood, produced by Walter Wanger, distributed by Paramount Pictures, and starring Loretta Young and Charles Boyer. The picture's supporting cast features Warner Oland, Alison Skipworth, Charley Grapewin, Olive Tell and Keye Luke, and the running time is 75 minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Burke (actor)</span> American actor (1886–1968)

James Michael Burke was an Irish-American film and television character actor born in New York City.

<i>A Family Affair</i> (1937 film) 1937 film by George B. Seitz

A Family Affair is a 1937 American comedy film directed by George B. Seitz and based on the 1928 play Skidding by Aurania Rouverol. It was the first of 16 films now known as the Andy Hardy series, although Andy Hardy did not become the main character in the series until several more installments had been made. The film stars Lionel Barrymore, Cecilia Parker, Eric Linden, Mickey Rooney and Charley Grapewin.

<i>Disorderly Conduct</i> (film) 1932 film

Disorderly Conduct is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by John W. Considine Jr. starring Spencer Tracy, Sally Eilers and Ralph Bellamy. It was the seventh picture Tracy made under his contract with Fox Film Corporation, and the first to make a profit since his debut Up the River.

<i>Affectionately Yours</i> 1941 film

Affectionately Yours is a 1941 American romantic comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Merle Oberon, Dennis Morgan, and Rita Hayworth. It was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. Bette Davis was originally intended for the lead role but was replaced by Oberon.

Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen is a 1942 black-and-white thriller film, directed by James P. Hogan and written by Ellery Queen, the duo of Manfred Lee and Frederic Dannay.

The Man Who Dared is a 1939 American crime film directed by Crane Wilbur and written by Lee Katz. The film stars Jane Bryan, Charley Grapewin, Henry O'Neill, Johnny Russell, Elisabeth Risdon and James McCallion. The film was released by Warner Bros. on June 3, 1939.

<i>The Woman in Room 13</i> (1932 film) 1932 film

The Woman in Room 13 is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Henry King and adapted by Guy Bolton from the play of the same name. The film stars Elissa Landi, Ralph Bellamy, Neil Hamilton, Myrna Loy, Gilbert Roland and Walter Walker. The film was released on May 15, 1932, by Fox Film Corporation.

<i>A Close Call for Ellery Queen</i> 1942 film by James P. Hogan

A Close Call for Ellery Queen is a 1942 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Eric Taylor and Gertrude Purcell. It is based on the 1939 novel The Dragon's Teeth: A Problem in Deduction by Ellery Queen. The film stars William Gargan, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, Ralph Morgan, Kay Linaker, Edward Norris and James Burke. The film was released on January 29, 1942, by Columbia Pictures.

<i>A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen</i> 1942 film by James P. Hogan

A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen is a 1942 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Eric Taylor. It is based on the 1940 play A Good Samaritan by Ellery Queen. The film stars William Gargan, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, John Litel, Lilian Bond and James Burke. The film was released on May 7, 1942, by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring</i> 1941 film directed by James P. Hogan

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring is a 1941 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Eric Taylor and Gertrude Purcell. It is based on the 1931 novel The Dutch Shoe Mystery by Ellery Queen. The film stars Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, Mona Barrie, Paul Hurst and James Burke, George Zucco and Blanche Yurka. The film was released on November 18, 1941, by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Ellery Queens Penthouse Mystery</i> 1941 film directed by James P. Hogan

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery is a 1941 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Eric Taylor. It is based on the 1939 play The Three Scratches by Ellery Queen. The film stars Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, Anna May Wong, James Burke and Eduardo Ciannelli. The film was released on March 24, 1941, by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Ellery Queen, Master Detective</i> 1940 American film

Ellery Queen, Master Detective is a 1940 American mystery film directed by Kurt Neumann and written by Eric Taylor. The film stars Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, James Burke, Michael Whalen and Marsha Hunt. The film was released on November 30, 1940, by Columbia Pictures.

References

  1. "Ellery Queen, a website on detection". spaceports.com.
  2. "Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  3. Hal Erickson. "Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941) - James Hogan". AllMovie. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  4. "Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime". Catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.