A Slight Case of Murder

Infobox Film | name =A Slight Case of Murder


caption =A Slight Case of Murder movie poster
director = Lloyd Bacon
producer = Samuel Bischoff
writer = Damon Runyon (play)
Howard Lindsay (play)
Earl Baldwin
Joseph Schrank
starring =Edward G. Robinson
Jane Bryan
Allen Jenkins
Ruth Donnelly
music =
cinematography = Sidney Hickox
editing =
distributor = Warner Bros.
released = February 26, 1938 (U.S. release)
runtime = 85 min
language = English
budget =
imdb_id = 0030764

"A Slight Case of Murder" is a 1938 comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon. The film is based on a play by Damon Runyon and Harold Lindsay. The offbeat comedy stars Edward G. Robinson spoofing his own gangster image as Remy Marco.

The film tells the story of bootlegger Marco who announces he's going legit with the end of Prohibition. His fortune declines because the beer he makes tastes terrible and everyone is afraid to tell him so. Nearly bankrupt four years later, he has problems in his marriage because his wife has grown used to a high standard of living. Also, his daughter comes home with a boyfriend that turns out to be a state cop. More and more problems begin to pop up in the life of the former bootlegger.

Critical reaction

The film continues to receive positive reviews. A "Classic Film Guide" review calls "A Slight Case of Murder," "a satisfying comedy, which is enhanced by some great character work by veteran supporting players": Allen Jenkins, Edward Brophy, and Harold Huber as members of Remy's former gang gone legitimate; Margaret Hamilton as Mrs. Cagie; and Paul Harvey, who plays Dick the trooper's father who must approve of his son's pending marriage to Remy's daughter Mary. (Note: The Paul Harvey in this cast (1882-1955) was originally born Ron Paul Harvey--and is not to be confused with Paul Harvey, the radio commentator.) [http://www.classicfilmguide.com/index.php?s=other_reviews&item=83]

Featured cast

Adaptations

The story was remade as "Stop, You're Killing Me" (1952) with Broderick Crawford and Claire Trevor.

External links

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