- 1 week ago
The Bishop Murder Case is a 1929 American pre-Code mystery film directed by David Burton (credited for stage direction) and Nick Grinde (credited for screen direction) and starring Basil Rathbone, Leila Hyams and Roland Young.
Ten years before assuming his role as Sherlock Holmes in a series of 14 films, Rathbone essayed the character of S.S. Van Dine's detective Philo Vance in this single outing.
Storyline:
Quick witted private investigator Philo Vance (Basil Rathbone) is in search of a cryptic killer. The body of Joseph Cochrane Robin {"Cock Robbin"} is discovered pierced by an arrow, with a note that contains a snippet of the nursery rhyme "Who Killed Cock Robin", which is curiously signed The Bishop. Vance is on the case, but the pressure to uncover the Bishop's identity heats up when more bodies begin to turn up with nursery rhymes attached.
Credits
Basil Rathbone as Philo Vance
Leila Hyams as Belle Dillard
Roland Young as Sigurd Arnesson
Alec B. Francis as Professor Bertrand Dillard
George F. Marion as Adolph Drukker
Zelda Sears as Miss Drukker (shown as "Mrs. Otto Drukker" in the credits)
Bodil Rosing as Grete Menzel
Carroll Nye as John E. Sprigg
Charles Quatermaine as John Pardee
James Donlan as Sgt. Ernest Heath
Sidney Bracey as Robin Pyne
Clarence Geldart as D.A. John F.X. Markham
Delmer Daves as Raymond Sperling
Nellie Bly Baker as Beedle
FYI:
Although modern sources often refer to this as a 1930 production, it was completed in 1929, and premiered in San Antonio, Texas on 31 December 1929, but not released nationally until early 1930.
Several times Sigurd Arnesson (Roland Young) sarcastically calls Philo Vance (Basil Rathbone) "Sherlock Holmes". Nine years later, Rathbone would take the role of Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) (and 14 sequels), and it became his iconic role.
Ten years before assuming his role as Sherlock Holmes in a series of 14 films, Rathbone essayed the character of S.S. Van Dine's detective Philo Vance in this single outing.
Storyline:
Quick witted private investigator Philo Vance (Basil Rathbone) is in search of a cryptic killer. The body of Joseph Cochrane Robin {"Cock Robbin"} is discovered pierced by an arrow, with a note that contains a snippet of the nursery rhyme "Who Killed Cock Robin", which is curiously signed The Bishop. Vance is on the case, but the pressure to uncover the Bishop's identity heats up when more bodies begin to turn up with nursery rhymes attached.
Credits
Basil Rathbone as Philo Vance
Leila Hyams as Belle Dillard
Roland Young as Sigurd Arnesson
Alec B. Francis as Professor Bertrand Dillard
George F. Marion as Adolph Drukker
Zelda Sears as Miss Drukker (shown as "Mrs. Otto Drukker" in the credits)
Bodil Rosing as Grete Menzel
Carroll Nye as John E. Sprigg
Charles Quatermaine as John Pardee
James Donlan as Sgt. Ernest Heath
Sidney Bracey as Robin Pyne
Clarence Geldart as D.A. John F.X. Markham
Delmer Daves as Raymond Sperling
Nellie Bly Baker as Beedle
FYI:
Although modern sources often refer to this as a 1930 production, it was completed in 1929, and premiered in San Antonio, Texas on 31 December 1929, but not released nationally until early 1930.
Several times Sigurd Arnesson (Roland Young) sarcastically calls Philo Vance (Basil Rathbone) "Sherlock Holmes". Nine years later, Rathbone would take the role of Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) (and 14 sequels), and it became his iconic role.
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FunTranscript
00:00:28The
00:00:41Oh, my God.
00:01:23Oh, my God.
00:01:40Pine!
00:01:47What is it, sir?
00:01:50Oh, oh, why, it's Mr. Robin, sir.
00:01:57Pine! Young Sperling was here with him this morning. See if he's still around.
00:02:01Well, I call the district attorney.
00:02:03Yes, sir.
00:02:17Good morning, Professor. How are you this beautiful morning?
00:02:20A terrible thing has happened. A young man, a friend of my niece's, has been murdered at my house.
00:02:26Try to calm yourself, Professor. I'll get Philo Vance on this at once.
00:02:30In the meantime, give me all the details you can over the phone.
00:02:33Well, in the first place, I said I heard it.
00:02:39It's Mr. Markham, sir. He seemed rather urgent. Will you speak to him?
00:02:43Certainly.
00:02:48I say, old fellow, don't you ever sleep?
00:02:50There's been a murder committed, Philo. At the home of Professor DeLard.
00:02:54Professor DeLard? That interests me, Markham. Lead on.
00:02:59A man named Robin was killed with a bow and arrow.
00:03:04Robin? Killed with an arrow?
00:03:07Oh, my dear fellow, confess. You've been on a wild chase with Mother Goose.
00:03:10No, that's the story.
00:03:12A fairy tale in terms of blood, eh?
00:03:15All right, Markham.
00:03:17I'll meet you there in half an hour.
00:03:23Dark suit, dark hat, dark tie.
00:03:26And, um, bring me some more hot coffee.
00:03:29Very good, sir.
00:03:30Uh, Yama, look at my reference shelf.
00:03:33Well, bring me, um, Dr. Elmer's book on archery.
00:03:38The home book of verse.
00:03:40And the German dictionary.
00:03:42Very good, sir.
00:03:44Hmm.
00:04:02What do you know about this, officer?
00:04:03The body's in the yard, sir. Sergeant Heath has been charged.
00:04:06Says he has a case practically solved, sir.
00:04:08Come on, then.
00:04:16I've converted this old garden into an archery range.
00:04:19Oh, yeah.
00:04:20Mr. Lott is quite familiar.
00:04:23Oh, yes.
00:04:23I think they find this very handy to do.
00:04:25Good morning, Hayes.
00:04:26Good morning, sir.
00:04:27Hello, Mr. Mack.
00:04:28Good morning, sir.
00:04:29Oh, sorry they troubled you, Mr. Markham.
00:04:31It's an open and shut case.
00:04:33Why, I've got it practically solved right now.
00:04:36First degree murder.
00:04:38How nice for you, Sergeant.
00:04:39But, uh, as long as I'm here, you don't mind if I take a little look around, do you?
00:04:43No, go as far as you like.
00:04:45Thank you, Sergeant.
00:04:46Oh, stay here, Mr. Markham.
00:04:54Uh, Sergeant.
00:04:55Yes, Mr. Vance.
00:04:56How about the boo that barbed the taro?
00:04:58Well, that was our one best bet.
00:05:01One of the servants picked it up in the alley here and carried it into the archery room and gummed
00:05:06up the fingerprints.
00:05:07What have you done about Sperling?
00:05:09Oh, we got his address.
00:05:10He lives up Westchester way.
00:05:12A couple of my men are bringing him here now.
00:05:14Very good.
00:05:15Oh, um, officer.
00:05:16Yes, sir.
00:05:18Would you mind illustrating a point for us?
00:05:20Not at all, sir.
00:05:20Now, when I touch you with my stick, I want you to fall over backwards as if you've been hit
00:05:26in the heart with an arrow.
00:05:27Yes, sir.
00:05:28Now stand just where you are.
00:05:29That'll do.
00:05:30Ready?
00:05:31Yes, sir.
00:05:36Sergeant.
00:05:40You will notice that the first instinct of a man shot in a vital organ is to draw in his
00:05:47arm towards the wound.
00:05:49His legs are doubled up.
00:05:53You will also notice that his hand has fallen at his head.
00:05:59Now, Sergeant.
00:06:01In Robin's case, the arms and legs are straightened up.
00:06:06And his hat not only lies at his feet, but is a good foot and a half away from him.
00:06:15All right, officer.
00:06:16That will be all.
00:06:18Now, we're wasting our time, Mr. Markham.
00:06:21What's the good of all these theories?
00:06:24Sperling's the boy we want.
00:06:25And when my men bring him in, the case will be closed.
00:06:29Sperling was probably in love with a delight girl.
00:06:33Cut her scrap with Robin, grabs a bow and arrow, follows Robin outside, shoots him through the heart and beats
00:06:40it.
00:06:40Sergeant.
00:06:41You're much too trusting for this deceitful world.
00:06:44If everything happened as neatly as that, the knife would be very sinful.
00:06:48And, uh, very dull.
00:06:50Yes, but by the way...
00:06:51Now, wait a minute, Markham.
00:06:54Don't ignore the facts that Robin was facing the arrow and therefore would have had time to cover himself.
00:07:02Oh, by Jove.
00:07:04I've overlooked something.
00:07:06When a man is stabbed in the heart, there is almost sure to be an immediate flow of blood.
00:07:10Especially when the tip of the weapon is larger than the shark.
00:07:13Yes, that's so.
00:07:15It's, uh, it's quite possible, Sergeant, that you'll find some blood spots on the floor of the, um, uh, the
00:07:22archery room.
00:07:23Look and see, will you?
00:07:27See here, Vance.
00:07:29What's in your mind?
00:07:31Oh, numberless things.
00:07:34But they all boil down to the notion that Robin wasn't killed with a bow and arrow at all.
00:07:39Well, hang it all, Mr. Vance. You had the dope all right.
00:07:42There's a dark stain on the cement floor.
00:07:45And the coroner here says it's human blood.
00:07:47Good morning, Doctor.
00:07:48Good morning.
00:07:49Say, you fellas must have an arrangement with these people.
00:07:51Every time I have a day off, they go and get themselves murdered.
00:07:55And the nice, fancy murder you've picked out for me this time.
00:08:00Uh...
00:08:01If I were you, Doctor, I should, uh, I should examine the base of the skull for a Vance fracture.
00:08:10Why, your suspicions were right, Vance. The skull is fractured. And badly, too. Looks like he'd had a crushing blow.
00:08:19Professor and his niece are ready for you in the archery room, sir.
00:08:21All right, Sergeant. You're in charge.
00:08:23Yes, sir.
00:08:26Oh, uh, Sergeant.
00:08:27Yeah.
00:08:28Uh, just because this case looks so simple, I trust you haven't neglected to take your usual X-Men photographs.
00:08:33Why, certainly not, sir. They're being developed right now.
00:08:36Thank you, Sergeant.
00:08:38Hey, come on, you guys.
00:08:40Get busy and take these pictures.
00:08:42What's the idea? You're just spending the day here or something?
00:08:57Good morning.
00:08:58Good morning, Dave.
00:08:59Oh. Good morning, Professor.
00:09:01Oh, Martin.
00:09:02I regret that the tragedy should be the reason for this meeting.
00:09:05Yes.
00:09:05You remember my niece, don't you?
00:09:07Yes, indeed.
00:09:08Good morning, Mr. Martin.
00:09:08I want you both to meet Mr. Philo Vance.
00:09:11How do you do, sir?
00:09:11If you tell him just what you know of the tragedy, he'll be a great help to us.
00:09:16Won't you sit down, gentlemen?
00:09:18You sit down, my dear, will you?
00:09:25Well...
00:09:27I told Markham practically everything that I knew over the telephone.
00:09:32Robin and Spurling called to see Belle, but she was out playing tennis.
00:09:38I heard them talking up in the drawing room for a few minutes, and then they came on down here.
00:09:44I worked in my study for about an hour, and I thought I heard a noise.
00:09:50It sounded like a scream, but I couldn't be sure because the maid was using the vacuum in the hall.
00:09:56Then I...
00:09:59I stepped out onto the balcony, and saw the body of tall Robin.
00:10:08The rest you know.
00:10:11About that scream, Professor.
00:10:15Could you be at all sure from what direction it came?
00:10:19Why, no.
00:10:20I couldn't be sure that it was a scream that I heard.
00:10:23It might have been an automobile siren.
00:10:27We hear so many traffic noises from the drive.
00:10:30Where were the other members of your household at the time of the murder?
00:10:34The cook had gone to market.
00:10:36Belle was out playing tennis.
00:10:40Mr. Anderson, my adopted son, had left for the university.
00:10:45We phoned to him, but he wasn't there.
00:10:48So we left him a message.
00:10:49Oh, I do hope they've been able to find him by now.
00:10:51Oh, I see.
00:10:56I say.
00:10:58There's an arrow missing here.
00:11:01That's strange.
00:11:02It's been taken in great haste, too.
00:11:07This holder...
00:11:08has been badly... bent.
00:11:11Poor Carl Robin.
00:11:16Oh, we all called him that.
00:11:21We did it to tease him.
00:11:24Miss Delilah.
00:11:25Did you happen to know by any chance that Sperling in German means sparrow?
00:11:30Oh, yes.
00:11:32Yes, I know.
00:11:34Did you speak German?
00:11:35No.
00:11:36And how did you know that Sperling means sparrow?
00:11:39Well, the other day.
00:11:41Robin stepped out onto the archery range.
00:11:45Just as Mr. Sperling aimed at his target.
00:11:48Mr. Anderson was watching and called to Robin.
00:11:51Be careful.
00:11:53You're a cock, Robin, and that archer is a sparrow.
00:11:57Hmm.
00:12:00Mr. Anderson seems very well acquainted with his nursery rhymes.
00:12:03Oh, what happened?
00:12:07Just a minute.
00:12:08Where do you think you're going?
00:12:09I'm Mary Garnison.
00:12:10I live here.
00:12:11I was telephoned for.
00:12:12Of course, if you don't want me to come in, that's all right for me.
00:12:15I'm sorry, I didn't know who you were.
00:12:16Why is this house littered with policemen, who at best are hardly ornamental?
00:12:20There's been a murder, sir.
00:12:21A young man.
00:12:23They've been expecting you, so you'll get the details inside.
00:12:26A murder?
00:12:26Come on, Johnny, come on.
00:12:27Come on.
00:12:31Mother, I want to go home because I'm hungry.
00:12:34Hush, dear. Mother's busy.
00:12:36There is Mr. Anderson now.
00:12:37Eric! Eric!
00:12:38I'm so glad you're here.
00:12:41Robin's been killed.
00:12:42Robin?
00:12:44Cockrobin.
00:12:46Well, his name was against him, wasn't it?
00:12:48Please, sir.
00:12:49Don't be cynical now.
00:12:51For my sins.
00:12:52I'm sorry, darling.
00:12:53I'm Johnny.
00:12:55Oh, I know how hard this is for you, Johnny.
00:12:59What great pals you and Robin were.
00:13:01Why, I can't believe it.
00:13:06Sir Markham.
00:13:07Good morning.
00:13:07Good morning, sir.
00:13:08Mr. Vance, Mr. Anderson.
00:13:09Good morning, sir.
00:13:10How do you do?
00:13:11This is John Sprig, one of my students.
00:13:13Oh, yes.
00:13:14Robin was the best friend I had in the world.
00:13:19And I'm going to find the man who murdered him.
00:13:24Taking death tragically is one of the weaknesses of you.
00:13:28So we have a real murder mystery, have we?
00:13:31Might I be entrusted with the details?
00:13:34Well, where were Robin and Sperling when you left?
00:13:37Downstairs in the archery room.
00:13:39Is that so?
00:13:42Well, did you overhear anything they said?
00:13:45I don't listen to Keyholes.
00:13:48Well, little bright eyes.
00:13:51They ought to erect a statue to you for being the first woman who don't.
00:13:57Was there anybody else in the archery room when you left this morning?
00:14:01I thought I heard Mr. Drucker.
00:14:04But he sneaks in and out at all hours of the day and night.
00:14:08Well.
00:14:10Now we're getting somewhere.
00:14:13I wish you'd tell me all about this case and let me work it out along scientific lines.
00:14:18Is it a bargain?
00:14:19Of course, we couldn't very well promise to tell everything.
00:14:23It might be indiscreet.
00:14:24Wait a minute.
00:14:25Wait a minute, Markham.
00:14:26I really don't see any reason why Mr. Arneson shouldn't apply his scientific knowledge to this crime.
00:14:33I'm quite sure he can be depended upon.
00:14:37Oh, I'm very dependable.
00:14:40Well, that, if you think...
00:14:42Mr. Arneson.
00:14:44The first thing you can do to help us is to tell us something about the Druckers.
00:14:47We're going to interview them next.
00:14:49Well, this Drucker is a little, um, peculiar.
00:14:52Or perfectly harmless.
00:14:53She thinks the sun rises and sets in her brother.
00:14:57If I were you, I'd take Mr. Lard along with you when you go to question marks.
00:15:01Uh, Miss Drucker liked her.
00:15:02Oh, yes, yes. That's a very good suggestion, Arneson.
00:15:06Oh, Belle, darling.
00:15:07Look, uh, these gentlemen are going to interview the Druckers now.
00:15:09And I said you go along with them.
00:15:12It'd make it easier for Miss Drucker.
00:15:14Why, yes, yes.
00:15:15And now, if you can spare me for a while, I have some lecture notes I ought to edit.
00:15:21Certainly, Mr. Arneson.
00:15:26Oh, Miss Dillard.
00:15:29Oh, Miss Dillard.
00:15:29Yes?
00:15:31How good an archer is Mr. Drucker?
00:15:35Why, he knows nothing about archery.
00:15:38Oh.
00:15:43Mr. Drucker is hardly the type to be interested in archery.
00:15:47When you see him, Vance, you'll understand.
00:15:49Uh, tell me, Miss Dillard, is Miss Drucker an invalid?
00:15:53No, not exactly.
00:15:55You see, one day when they were children, she let her brother fall.
00:16:01He injured his spine and became a cripple.
00:16:03And from that day on, her entire life was ruined.
00:16:08She...
00:16:09Well, it affected her so deeply that she hasn't been able to leave her room since.
00:16:14Oh, where is Miss Drucker's room located?
00:16:17Her room is the one with the bay window.
00:16:19She sits there a great deal and watches us at archery practice.
00:16:23You know, Uncle says her condition is a sort of insanity of tenderness.
00:16:28Does Mr. Drucker reciprocate his sister's tenderness?
00:16:31Well, please, don't judge Mr. Drucker too harshly.
00:16:35He's had so much to bear.
00:16:36But we know him well and are fond of him.
00:16:38Yes.
00:16:52Oh, good morning, Doctor.
00:16:53Good morning, Mr. Lye.
00:16:55Mr. Vance?
00:16:55Yes.
00:16:56I'm Dr. Van Felt.
00:16:57Good morning, Doctor.
00:16:58This is District Attorney Markham.
00:17:00How do you do?
00:17:01Good morning, Doctor.
00:17:02I have attached a remote stethoscope to my patient to safeguard her.
00:17:05And at the same time, not interfere with your questioning.
00:17:09Any undue strain on her heart will prove fatal.
00:17:12So, if she excites herself, I'll have to stop you.
00:17:15We'll be as brief as possible, Doctor.
00:17:19I'm sorry to include Miss Drucker,
00:17:21but I'd like to get a view of the archery range from your window.
00:17:27I wanted to come right over there.
00:17:29I knew how upset you'd been.
00:17:31Dear child.
00:17:37Miss Drucker.
00:17:40As your window has such a clear view of the archery range,
00:17:43we hoped you might be able to help us.
00:17:44No. No.
00:17:46I saw no one.
00:17:47I haven't looked out of my window all day.
00:17:50Hmm.
00:17:51It's most unfortunate.
00:17:52Had you looked out of your window this morning,
00:17:54you might have seen who killed Mr. Robin.
00:17:57With a bow and arrow.
00:17:59An arrow through the Robin's breast.
00:18:06That seems perfectly natural.
00:18:08Doesn't it?
00:18:10Is your brother at home, Miss Drucker?
00:18:12My brother.
00:18:13My brother.
00:18:13What do you want with him?
00:18:15Then now, don't express yourself, please.
00:18:17We only thought that perhaps your brother might have seen someone on the archery range this morning.
00:18:22He saw no one.
00:18:24He couldn't have seen anyone because he wasn't here.
00:18:27He went out early this morning and he hasn't returned.
00:18:31Oh, but dear, Adolf was at our house this morning.
00:18:34He came to see Eric.
00:18:35No.
00:18:36No.
00:18:37Adolf went away somewhere.
00:18:40Downtown.
00:18:41He wasn't anywhere near your house.
00:18:46I know he wasn't.
00:18:49Well, I should have known it.
00:19:11Mr. Drucker, we were just speaking about you.
00:19:15Merely as a matter of form, would you mind telling us where you were between 10 and 11 this morning?
00:19:20The hour, the hour of this morning's tragedy.
00:19:31Between 10 and 11?
00:19:33Yes, Mr. Drucker.
00:19:40What did you see?
00:19:43What?
00:19:44What do you mean?
00:19:46I mean, it was about that time when I heard a scream in this room.
00:19:54You didn't.
00:19:55No.
00:19:57No.
00:19:58I didn't scream.
00:20:00I didn't scream.
00:20:02I'm sorry, gentlemen.
00:20:04But I'll have to ask you to conclude this interview now.
00:20:07All right.
00:20:07Certainly, Doctor.
00:20:08If you don't mind, I'll stay with Miss Drucker.
00:20:10Miss Delight.
00:20:13Goodbye, Miss Drucker.
00:20:18I wonder...
00:20:19I wonder if you'd mind coming with us, Mr. Drucker.
00:20:29Don't go with them, Adolf.
00:20:32Don't go.
00:20:33They're the enemy.
00:20:35They mean to hurt you.
00:20:36Adolf!
00:20:38I...
00:20:38I...
00:20:47I...
00:20:47Don't go with them, Adolf.
00:20:51Don't go.
00:21:00Oh, Mr. Drucker.
00:21:02Just what did you do when you visited the large home this morning?
00:21:07I went down in the archery room and glanced over the magazines.
00:21:14There was a chess problem in one of them and I sat down and worked it out.
00:21:21Are you, uh...
00:21:23Are you interested in chess, Mr. Drucker?
00:21:27Tremendous.
00:21:29But this...
00:21:30This particular problem was easy to solve.
00:21:36It took me less than half an hour.
00:21:40Oh.
00:21:41Then you must have been in the archery room when Mr. Robin and Mr. Sperling came there this morning.
00:21:53Yes.
00:21:56Were you under the impression, Mr. Drucker, that they'd been quarreling?
00:22:01Well, now that you mentioned it, there did seem to be a coolness between them.
00:22:09But I...
00:22:10I left the room almost immediately after they entered.
00:22:16Anyhow, you're quite sure that you heard your...
00:22:18Your sister scream at the hour of the murder this morning.
00:22:23What are you driving at?
00:22:26I tell you I heard her scream.
00:22:29I don't care whether she admits it or not.
00:22:33I...
00:22:33I was in my room at the time of the murder.
00:22:36And you can't prove anything different.
00:22:40What has her scream got to do with the murder anyway?
00:22:47Didn't she tell you she...
00:22:48She saw nothing?
00:22:54All right, Mr. Drucker.
00:22:57That will be all for the present, thank you.
00:23:04Oh, back already?
00:23:06This is Mr. John Pardee, the famous chess player.
00:23:09How do you do, Mr. Pardee?
00:23:10These gentlemen are Mr. Markham, the district attorney, and Mr. Philo Vance.
00:23:14How do you...
00:23:14I trust I'm not intruding.
00:23:16But I perceived that something unusual had happened here.
00:23:19It occurred to me I might be of some service.
00:23:22It occurred?
00:23:23My dear Pardee, I have no doubt you were hanging out the window all morning panting with curiosity.
00:23:28Oh, may I be permitted to see Professor Dillard?
00:23:32Professor Dillard had a very hard...
00:23:33Certainly, Mr. Pardee.
00:23:35I think you'll find him upstairs.
00:23:36Oh, thank you.
00:23:42Mr. Pardee.
00:23:47How good a chess player is Mr. Drucker?
00:23:51Why, he isn't really a player at all.
00:23:54Oh, he thinks he is.
00:23:56Of course, he has some understanding of the theory of the game.
00:24:00Oh, yes.
00:24:09If I can be of any assistance, I shall be very glad to see the murderer brought to justice.
00:24:40Here's a funny one, sir.
00:24:42The officer outside thought he'd take a peek in the mailbox and found this.
00:24:51Read that.
00:25:02Is there by any chance a typewriter in this house?
00:25:05No, there has been one to my knowledge.
00:25:08Thanks.
00:25:11The bishop.
00:25:13Dear me, I hope the church isn't involved in this mystery.
00:25:16That would be embarrassing.
00:25:18Some crank wrote that note, Mr. Vance.
00:25:21Don't forget, Sergeant.
00:25:24This crank of yours would have to know a good many details.
00:25:27He would have to know that Robin's middle name was Cochrane.
00:25:31That he was presumably killed by a bow and arrow.
00:25:34And that Sperling was with him, around the time of the murder.
00:25:39Well, that's what I said.
00:25:42You tell that to the sergeant.
00:25:44We got him, Sergeant.
00:25:46He beat it straight home from here.
00:25:47And was packing up when we walked in on him.
00:25:51Said he was going on a weekend trip.
00:25:54Well, young fellow.
00:25:56Thought you'd get away, did you?
00:25:59Oh, you're one of those silent lads, are you?
00:26:04Say, we'll have you talking so much,
00:26:07that Lockjaw will look like a case of state fighter's dance.
00:26:10Shall I send him to headquarters, sir?
00:26:12Perhaps Mr. Sperling won't object to answering a few questions, sir.
00:26:16Mr. Sperling, what time did you leave here this morning?
00:26:19About a quarter of ten.
00:26:21And Mr. Robin?
00:26:22I don't know what time Robin went.
00:26:24Say, look here. What's this all about, anyway?
00:26:28Mr. Robin was murdered here this morning, around ten o'clock.
00:26:34Robin murdered?
00:26:37Who killed him?
00:26:39We don't know.
00:26:41Yes.
00:26:42He was shot through the heart with an arrow.
00:26:46Mr. Sperling.
00:26:50Would you let me see your right hand?
00:26:52No, no, no.
00:26:53Easy now, easy.
00:26:54What?
00:27:01All right.
00:27:02I took that hunting arrow down.
00:27:04Robin and I had an argument about it.
00:27:07And I cut my finger doing it, too.
00:27:09But that doesn't say that I killed him.
00:27:12Oh, no. No, of course not.
00:27:16Say, Mr. Sperling.
00:27:18If you left here at quarter to ten,
00:27:21what were you doing between then and eleven o'clock
00:27:23when you took the train to Westchester?
00:27:25I...
00:27:26I...
00:27:27I was sitting in the park.
00:27:29Oh.
00:27:31Twittering to the little birdies, I suppose.
00:27:33What were you doing there?
00:27:36Beating nuts to the squirrels.
00:27:39Nuts!
00:27:41Be here, Mr. Markham.
00:27:42You gonna let this bird make monkeys of us?
00:27:44Let me send them to headquarters.
00:27:45Send him in.
00:27:46And Adams.
00:27:47Check his alibi.
00:27:49Yes, sir.
00:27:53You know, Mr. Vance,
00:27:56I got nothing against theories
00:27:59except that you can't hang them.
00:28:02Mr. Armisen,
00:28:04do either Mr. Party or Mr. Drucker own a typewriter?
00:28:07Yes, they both do.
00:28:08Would it be any trouble to you
00:28:09to secure me samples of type from both those typewriters?
00:28:12No trouble at all.
00:28:13Now, see here, Mr. Vance.
00:28:14What's the good of all this hooey
00:28:16when I got the murderer right outside?
00:28:18Nevertheless, Mr. Armisen,
00:28:20I should like those samples of type,
00:28:21if you don't mind, Sergeant.
00:28:27Eric!
00:28:28Yes, sir?
00:28:29How can you sit there calmly
00:28:30and discuss books and theories and formulas
00:28:33when right outside this house
00:28:34that poor boy was murdered?
00:28:36Doesn't it mean anything to you?
00:28:38My dear, don't you see that I'm doing it for your sake?
00:28:41You must put Robin out of your head,
00:28:43cruel and unnecessary as his death seems.
00:28:46Life is cruel,
00:28:47but what can we crawling microbes do about it?
00:28:50Not that you aren't a very charming microbiome.
00:28:53I know, I'm just terribly nervous, that's all.
00:28:57If only I could do something to distract my mind.
00:29:00I wish I could take you out somewhere tonight,
00:29:02but unfortunately I promised Markham and Vance
00:29:04that I'd meet them at the service and come.
00:29:05Oh, but why would they drag you into this?
00:29:07Why can't you keep out of it, Eric, please?
00:29:10It, it frightens me.
00:29:11My dear child, Eric is quite right.
00:29:17After all, what have we to fear?
00:29:20Well, what is it?
00:29:26Oh, Drucker, what the excuse are you doing out there?
00:29:29Why, I'm looking for the blunt instrument
00:29:33that was used to bash in Robin's head.
00:29:37If I can only find that,
00:29:40I've got a theory
00:29:41that'll surprise all these experts.
00:29:46The scientific mind on us, and...
00:29:51that's what counts!
00:29:56Aha! Competition!
00:29:58Another scientific mind on the trail.
00:30:01Um, aren't you too nervous to save you any longer, dear?
00:30:04I've got a habit, excuse me.
00:30:05Certainly, my dear.
00:30:07Good night, darling.
00:30:11Oh, you... you startled me.
00:30:13You always slip into a room so quietly,
00:30:15no one ever hears you.
00:30:16Oh, my dear, you mustn't be rude to Mr. Pardee.
00:30:19Oh, I'm sorry.
00:30:20Pardon me.
00:30:22I'm, uh... a little earlier than usual.
00:30:25Good night.
00:30:26Good night, dear.
00:30:27Oh, uh, pharmacy.
00:30:29I've had that quotation type you asked me for.
00:30:32I hope it's the right one.
00:30:35Thank you, that's quite right.
00:30:38Good night.
00:30:38Good night, my boy.
00:30:41Won't you sit down, Pardee?
00:30:42Oh, thank you.
00:30:46Have you... have some coffee?
00:30:47Yes.
00:30:48Help yourself.
00:30:50I wonder why Arneson asked me for that quotation.
00:30:55He hardly looked at it.
00:30:57I really don't know.
00:31:01No, Markham, I can't quite agree.
00:31:04Well...
00:31:04Oh, good evening, Eric.
00:31:06Hello, Arneson.
00:31:06Well, the great brains are hard at work, eh?
00:31:09I've felt the vibration as I entered the room.
00:31:11Won't you sit down?
00:31:12Thanks, I will.
00:31:13Have a cigarette.
00:31:16The juvenile Sherlock Holmes, not to be outdone,
00:31:20has been collecting typewriter specimens.
00:31:22Oh.
00:31:23Good.
00:31:26Now, let's see.
00:31:36The style of the uppercase G, used in the bishop note,
00:31:40was changed before either of these typewriters was put on a marker.
00:31:46And the E, the most frequently used letter of the alphabet,
00:31:51is out of vertical alignment.
00:31:53The name of the oberisk...
00:31:54Oh, my dear.
00:31:54Good evening, gentlemen.
00:31:56Good evening.
00:31:56Pardon me, gentlemen.
00:31:57Will you have some coffee?
00:31:58Oh, thank you.
00:32:00Or...
00:32:01some...
00:32:01some...
00:32:02No!
00:32:07This was received by the world in the last mail.
00:32:10The Herald and the Times got copied too.
00:32:15Is this station number?
00:32:16Hmm.
00:32:17This was mailed from the neighborhood of the murder.
00:32:21It was also mailed...
00:32:24after you put Sperling under arrest.
00:32:26Bishop was afraid the public wouldn't get his joke,
00:32:29so he explained it to the press.
00:32:32There were things to do.
00:32:33To analyze the person with the type of mind
00:32:36who would find himself as a bishop.
00:32:40I saw several chess bulletins
00:32:43in the Delard archery room this morning.
00:32:47A bishop
00:32:48was a very important piece in a chess game.
00:32:54I wonder if that's what it means.
00:32:56No, you're wrong, Wes.
00:32:58The bishop's signature
00:32:59is undoubtedly the workings of a mind
00:33:01deranged by religious meaning.
00:33:04Isn't that your reaction on it?
00:33:05Yes.
00:33:06And no.
00:33:08I can imagine an insane mind
00:33:10would use a chess man or a church man.
00:33:14Gentlemen, I think we're all wasting our time.
00:33:17There are enough suspicious elements in this case
00:33:19to warrant our making arrest.
00:33:20And I propose to act.
00:33:22Not sit here all night and fear.
00:33:23My dear Markham,
00:33:24the people have invested you with the power of action.
00:33:27But if you insist on plunging in wildly
00:33:29and making reckless decisions,
00:33:30well,
00:33:31you don't have to make them alone.
00:33:32But I shall withdraw from the case.
00:33:37You know, gentlemen,
00:33:38this is no ordinary crime.
00:33:40And we cannot proceed in an ordinary manner.
00:33:44Mark my words.
00:33:47This is not a single murder
00:33:49that we are trying to solve.
00:33:51It is the beginning
00:33:54of a series of murders.
00:33:57Ghastly and inhuman.
00:33:59You know,
00:33:59our children and children have on record.
00:34:13Therefore,
00:34:13our girls,
00:34:13to capture their beneath the surface.
00:34:13Find one more
00:35:30Oh, hello, darling.
00:35:34Oh, Miss Bell, would you read a story to me out of my big book today?
00:35:40Weeheart, Miss Bell hasn't got much time, darling.
00:35:43Ah, just one.
00:35:45Well, maybe just one little one, huh?
00:35:48Yes.
00:35:58Oh, who said I was going to read to you, huh?
00:36:01Who said so?
00:36:02Oh, I'm going to find.
00:36:04That's it.
00:36:05We want to hear you, don't we?
00:36:07Hello, darling.
00:36:08Everybody's here today, huh?
00:36:10Yes, darling.
00:36:11Tell me now, what would you like to hear, huh?
00:36:13I'd like to hear Jack and Jill.
00:36:16Oh, all right.
00:36:17I'd like to hear little Pete Robinson.
00:36:19I'd like to hear Cinderella.
00:36:21Well, now here's one.
00:36:22Here we go.
00:36:23All right, now listen.
00:36:26I don't like that.
00:36:27Everybody must keep quiet.
00:36:29Jack and Jill went up the hill to stretch a pail of water.
00:36:33Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after.
00:36:45Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he.
00:36:52Are you looking for somebody?
00:36:54Mm-hmm.
00:36:55But he'll be here in a minute.
00:36:56But he called for his pipe, and he called for his bowls.
00:37:19Oh!
00:37:20Oh!
00:37:21Oh!
00:37:21Oh!
00:37:22Oh!
00:37:32Little Miss Muffet sat on a trumpet, eating her curds and fangs.
00:37:36When along came a spider and sat down beside her, and frightened Miss Muffet away.
00:37:43Eric, you frightened me.
00:37:45Sorry, darling.
00:37:46I'm just a clumsy brute.
00:37:47Oh, the sound got a sound.
00:37:50Oh, Professor!
00:38:03Good morning, honestly.
00:38:05Why, home.
00:38:06And Dr. Watson.
00:38:08What's this I hear about Johnny Sprig being shot?
00:38:10Well, there's nothing much to tell except that Johnny Sprigg was shot this morning
00:38:15with a little gun through the top of his head.
00:38:19More storybook nonsense.
00:38:21What a pity his parents called him Johnny. It sealed his doom.
00:38:25Brilliant student, almost a genius.
00:38:27An extraordinary thing happened last night, Arnison.
00:38:30The murderer visited the Drucker household around midnight
00:38:33and left a black bishop from a chess game at Miss Drucker's door.
00:38:38A chess bishop. Well, that clears the church, anyway.
00:38:42Just as a customary routine.
00:38:44Yes.
00:38:44Would you mind telling us where you went last night?
00:38:47After you left us at the Stuyvesant Club?
00:38:49That's easy.
00:38:50I dropped in at the theatre to see an Ibsen play, an old favourite of mine.
00:38:54When I got back, the professor was still up writing.
00:38:57Fardy and Drucker had been visiting him.
00:38:59Fardy had shown him one of his chess problems
00:39:01and he and Drucker had quarrelled about almost every position on the board.
00:39:05Fardy had gone on to his chess club.
00:39:06And at what time did you arrive home from your theatre?
00:39:10A little after midnight.
00:39:12Too late to have distributed chessmen to the neighbours.
00:39:16I'm sorry to disappoint you.
00:39:18You're not necessarily under suspicion, Arnison.
00:39:20No.
00:39:20But you can help us by answering some questions.
00:39:23Glad to.
00:39:25Are there any revolvers in this house?
00:39:28No. No revolvers, no sliding panels and no secret stairways.
00:39:33And you said that Mr. Pardee went straight from here to his chess club?
00:39:36Yes.
00:39:37And I assure you that Mr. Pardee is the last man in the world to suspect as a murderer.
00:39:42Oh, yes.
00:39:43Yes, I'm sure of it.
00:39:44But we mustn't hurt his feelings by neglecting him.
00:39:47Well.
00:39:48So, I think we'll pay Mr. Pardee a little visit.
00:39:51Yes.
00:39:51I should think that a chess expert would be of great help to you in solving the crime.
00:39:55Mr. Vance.
00:39:56Oh, I'm so glad you're here.
00:39:59Some...
00:39:59Some dreadful thing seems to be happening to everyone that comes to this house.
00:40:05I'm afraid.
00:40:06I'm afraid for all of us.
00:40:09Something keeps saying to me.
00:40:11Which of you will be next?
00:40:12My dear Mr. Lard.
00:40:14Our problem is to match normal thinking against the abnormal scheming of a criminal mind.
00:40:19Please believe me when I tell you that we're doing everything in our power to help you.
00:40:23Come along, Malcolm.
00:40:25Eric.
00:40:26Oh, if only you could take me away someplace.
00:40:29I only feel safe when I'm with you.
00:40:41Hey, did you know this young Sprague up there?
00:40:44Hey, did you know this...
00:40:46Hey!
00:40:48Did you know this young Sprague that was shot this morning?
00:40:51Yes.
00:40:52And if you ask me, they shot the wrong man.
00:40:55Hey, what kind of a...
00:40:59Turn it off.
00:41:02What kind of a guy was this, uh, Drucker with the crooked back?
00:41:06If the only thing crooked about you was your back, you'd be lucky.
00:41:11Hey, did you see any...
00:41:12Hey, did you see...
00:41:14Did you see anybody go out the front door this morning?
00:41:19It ain't what goes out of this house that counts as the trash that comes in.
00:41:24Hey, look at the box.
00:41:26Turn that thing off.
00:41:28It's about time you had some respect for the hand of the law.
00:41:31The hand of the law?
00:41:33The only thing I ever see around here is a lot of flat feet.
00:41:36Oh, is that so?
00:41:37I was...
00:41:44Oh, yeah?
00:42:05I wish you'd come down to Earth and admit that we have a good circumstantial case against Drucker.
00:42:10I'm not too sure that we have.
00:42:11Who else could have done it?
00:42:13Smurling's out.
00:42:14His alibi sounded crazy, but it was okay.
00:42:17Feeding nuts to squirrels.
00:42:19And so he was.
00:42:21He left enough peanut shells to a fed an elephant.
00:42:23Oh, that's a pretty little thing you're playing, Mr. Vance.
00:42:29One of my favorites.
00:42:31It's the Nutcracker Suite.
00:42:34By Tchaikovsky.
00:42:36Oh, Tchaikovsky.
00:42:40Uh, yes.
00:42:45I don't know.
00:42:47You may be right, Martin.
00:42:49But my chief objection to your conclusion is that the case against Drucker is too easy.
00:42:53I wish I had more cases that were too easy.
00:42:58Remember, our criminal is super sane.
00:43:00If acts are not senseless, they are hideously perfect and precise.
00:43:04Consequently, that same mind would never permit the case against him to appear as easy as our case appears against
00:43:08Drucker.
00:43:09But how are you going to reconcile Mother Goose Rhymes with a super sane mind?
00:43:13The grim humor of an intellect which says cynically,
00:43:18Behold, this is the world you take so seriously.
00:43:21Light is a child's game hardly important enough to make a joke about.
00:43:25You'll find that's a sound theory, Markham.
00:43:28Well, theory sure makes swell talking, Mr. Vance.
00:43:32But when it comes to action, give me facts.
00:43:35It ain't what you imagine that counts less.
00:43:38It's what you see.
00:43:40Right.
00:43:42Right as usual, Sergeant.
00:43:44But it all depends on what you see.
00:43:46For instance, I can see that tonight you took a young lady out to dinner.
00:43:51That you didn't have enough money to pay the bill.
00:43:54That when you told her you were coming on here, the young lady became tearful and you promised to join
00:43:59her later.
00:44:00Oh, come now, perhaps...
00:44:00All quite simple, Markham, really.
00:44:03I know that he took a young lady out to dinner because he shaved since the soft noon.
00:44:08You didn't have enough money to pay the bill, he, and wrote a check to cover it.
00:44:12For there is an ink stain on your finger and you're otherwise immaculate.
00:44:17I know that the young lady became tearful and that you wiped away her tears.
00:44:21For there is a smudge of mascara on your handkerchief.
00:44:24You promised to join her later because you've been looking at your watch ever since you arrived.
00:44:28Fear him, my dear Sergeant.
00:44:30All fear.
00:44:34Well, at least you wouldn't mind if Sergeant Heath brought Drucker here tomorrow morning.
00:44:39Then we can find out what he knows and act accordingly.
00:44:42No, no.
00:44:43Not at all.
00:44:44Not at all.
00:44:44Well, I guess I'll be going before you tell me what I did last night.
00:44:52Have something before you go, Sergeant.
00:44:53It's right there.
00:44:56Oh, thanks.
00:44:58It's too easy.
00:45:00Ha, ha, ha.
00:45:03Nevertheless, Markham, he's the finest sergeant you have at your force.
00:45:06He is.
00:45:36Oh, thanks.
00:45:47What a terrible fog over the river.
00:45:50You have. I can never remember the fog being so sick before.
00:46:02Confidentially, Professor.
00:46:06Don't you think that Pardee...
00:46:08has been acting rather peculiar of late?
00:46:13You know as well as I do...
00:46:15that Pardee was always strange.
00:46:19But he's worse than ever.
00:46:22I think he's responsible...
00:46:25for those detectives snooping around.
00:46:30I don't think so.
00:46:52The fog's getting worse.
00:46:59Good evening, Professor.
00:47:02Good evening, Professor.
00:47:16Aren't you neglecting your chest this evening?
00:47:21You shouldn't forget that practice makes perfect.
00:47:25It would hardly be of much use to practice, my dear Drutter...
00:47:29without you to hang over my chair...
00:47:31and criticize my moves as you do so brilliantly.
00:47:34Yes, well, a little criticism won't harm you.
00:47:38No, no, gentlemen, gentlemen, please.
00:47:53I wish there was some way to be comfortable around here.
00:47:57Those old dodos will stand there and dab all night.
00:48:00Well, I ain't stuck on this kind of a case, you know.
00:48:04If I was picking them, I'd like a nice, snappy love nest.
00:48:09Well, gentlemen, it's getting late.
00:48:11Good night.
00:48:12Good night.
00:48:14Well, the boys are leaving us.
00:48:17I'll pick up my man by getting to the street ahead of him...
00:48:20and seem safely off to bye-bye land.
00:48:23I'll pick up parties the same way.
00:48:26Right.
00:49:02Some kids in the park found the body about 7 o'clock this morning.
00:49:07The doctor said he must have fallen off the wall about 10 o'clock last night.
00:49:11Killed instantly.
00:49:13Has Miss Drucker been notified?
00:49:14No.
00:49:15I told them we'd attend to that.
00:49:17Drucker was our principal clue when he falls off a wall.
00:49:21A hunchback falls off a wall.
00:49:23A hunchback falls off a wall.
00:49:26Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
00:49:29Another Mad Mother Goose Ryan.
00:49:31Well, I sure got a handle to you, Mr. Bance.
00:49:34You're right.
00:49:35Here's another one of these goofy notes.
00:49:38I'm gonna wake up some morning,
00:49:40thinkin' I'm little Bo Peep and start chasin' sheep.
00:49:44To the world.
00:49:47Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
00:49:49Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
00:49:50All the King's forces and all the King's men.
00:49:53Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.
00:49:58The Bishop.
00:49:59Sergeant.
00:50:00Did your men trail Pardee and the Professor last night?
00:50:04Well, they tried to, but they lost them in the park.
00:50:07So they went back to the house to wait.
00:50:09Sure enough, the Professor shows up in about 10 minutes.
00:50:13But Pardee, he don't show up for nearly half an hour.
00:50:46The Professor is dead.
00:50:47Miss Drucker is dead.
00:50:47Mr. Cylor!
00:50:48Oh, my god.
00:50:51Her poor heart gave out.
00:50:52Some sudden shock.
00:50:56She must have known.
00:50:59If we knew the exact time, it might help us.
00:51:02I should say it was within a few minutes of her brother's death.
00:51:08Miss Menzel, what time did Miss Drucker usually go to bed?
00:51:13Ten o'clock, sir. It was the doctor's orders.
00:51:19May heaven forgive me. I spent off last night myself.
00:51:43I see it all now, Markham. Miss Drucker went to take her medicine before retiring,
00:51:48found her water car up empty, came in here to get some, was surprised by her brother's murderer,
00:51:55who then forced open this desk to obtain something of Drucker's that he knew to be of value.
00:52:01That's all, Miss Menzel. We'll return to arrangements here.
00:52:14I've asked Sergeant Heath to bring Mr. Pardee over here.
00:52:19If you don't mind, Professor, I'd like to question him before you.
00:52:22Oh, I hope nothing that I have said will cast any reflections on Mr. Pardee.
00:52:27I should be terribly distressed.
00:52:29Not at all. Merely a formality.
00:52:38Professor Denard. Good morning, Mr. Pardee.
00:52:43You have, of course, heard of Mr. Drucker's death.
00:52:47I should like to...
00:52:49Won't you sit down?
00:52:53I should like to ask you a few questions.
00:52:56What conversation did you have with Mr. Drucker in the park last night?
00:52:59Well, I...
00:53:01I went for a stroll in the park.
00:53:04I'm meeting Professor Denard and Mr. Drucker.
00:53:07I stopped for a moment, not wishing to appear rude.
00:53:11Drucker was in a beastly mood.
00:53:13I made so many insulting, sneering remarks that I... I left.
00:53:17Mr. Pardee.
00:53:20Can you explain to me why...
00:53:23why you arrived home so much later than Professor Denard?
00:53:27When you both left Mr. Drucker at the same time?
00:53:31I... I sat down by the 79th Street entrance and...
00:53:34smoked a cigarette.
00:53:37Rather a foggy night to sit on a park bench.
00:53:40Wasn't it, Mr. Pardee?
00:53:42Anyone see you sitting there?
00:53:46Rather a foggy night to depend on eyewitnesses.
00:53:50Wasn't it, Mr. Vance?
00:53:52Certainly, Mr. Pardee.
00:53:55My mistake.
00:53:58That will be all...
00:54:00for the present.
00:54:09Dear me, dear me.
00:54:10This has been a wretched business for you.
00:54:13But I think it will soon be over.
00:54:14I just heard the sad news.
00:54:16Fightful business, isn't it?
00:54:18The Drucker's wiped out.
00:54:19And more storybook nonsense to boot.
00:54:21Oh, Eric, Eric, please.
00:54:23May I be excused?
00:54:25Certainly, Mr. Certainly.
00:54:29Sergeant, he tells me that one of his men...
00:54:31saw you walking toward the park last night around 10 o'clock.
00:54:34That you didn't return for an hour.
00:54:37Just as a matter of thought.
00:54:38To please the Sergeant here.
00:54:40What were you doing in that time?
00:54:42I mailed a letter at the other end of the park.
00:54:45Yeah?
00:54:47Well, where was the letter addressed?
00:54:49So we can be sure that it gets there safely.
00:54:53China.
00:54:55China!
00:54:57Ha!
00:54:58A classmate of mine is an instructor in the University of Peking.
00:55:01Arneson?
00:55:02Yes.
00:55:03What was the scientific formula that Drucker was working on?
00:55:06Oh, a tremendously important thing.
00:55:08It would have made him famous and rich.
00:55:10He kept a notebook, I suppose.
00:55:11Yes, a very complete one and never let it out of his sight.
00:55:14The whole theory was in that little book.
00:55:17That must have been what was taken from the top drawer of the desk
00:55:20in Drucker's bedroom at 10 o'clock last night.
00:55:24Good.
00:55:25Good.
00:55:33Good.
00:55:41Well, I know.
00:55:50Did you cry?
00:55:59I've looked round half a dozen times expecting to see him there, to feel him leaning over my shoulder.
00:56:12Perhaps the fact that you disliked him so in life makes you regret his death the more.
00:56:20No one knows the intricacies of the human heart.
00:56:26Why don't you go to bed early and try to relax?
00:56:31Yes. Yes, I... I believe I will.
00:56:52Good night. Good night.
00:57:00Oh, you!
00:57:02It's raining outside, sir. Will you permit me to escort you across the street?
00:57:07Oh, thank you. It's very good of you.
00:57:41Good night, dear. Good night.
00:57:44Eric, are you sure the house is safely locked up?
00:57:48Well, of course, dear, it's all locked up. Nobody can get in. You can rest easy.
00:57:55Eric.
00:57:57Who has the key to the attic door?
00:58:01I don't know, darling. No one's used it for years. Fine, I suppose. Why?
00:58:06Well, I... I heard a strange tapping noise there last night.
00:58:12Nonsense, dear. It couldn't be anything but pigeons.
00:58:15Now, will you go to bed like a good little girl and stop imagining things?
00:58:19You're not nervous with me so near.
00:58:30I'll... I'll try not to be silly. Good night.
00:58:33Good night, darling.
00:58:50I'll meet you.
00:58:51I'll be back with you.
00:58:54Okay.
00:59:04Good night.
00:59:09I can't see you.
00:59:10Good night.
00:59:38Robin,
00:59:39Robin,
00:59:42Sprink,
00:59:45Drucker.
01:00:14Robin,
01:00:16You are now back in the main studio, and the orchestra will resume its program.
01:00:47All right.
01:00:51Robin,
01:00:51You are now back in the main studio.
01:00:56Robin,
01:01:15You are back.
01:01:22You are back in the main studio.
01:01:24Robin,
01:01:25You are back in the main studio.
01:01:26This is the house that Jack built. The Bishop.
01:01:32Well, we'll go ahead serving our warrant for Pardee's arrest.
01:01:35Don't worry about this note later.
01:01:38See the car waiting? Yes, sir.
01:01:39There's your warrant.
01:01:53What's wrong, Manny?
01:01:54Well, Mr. Vance is inside waiting for you.
01:01:57Said it explained.
01:02:09Complete relaxation is essential at a time like this.
01:02:13Lie flat on your back with every muscle at rest.
01:02:17I always thought that guy, Vance, was cuckoo.
01:02:20Two, three, three, exhale.
01:02:27Good morning.
01:02:29This radio has been running all night.
01:02:38And now, Pardee.
01:02:40How did you know about this, Vance?
01:02:43A reporter from the Times came to see me this morning and brought me the latest Bishop note.
01:02:50It occurred to me at once that John Pardee was Jack and that he'd been murdered.
01:02:55So I sent the note along to you, knowing that you'd figured it out as I had, and come along
01:02:59here.
01:03:01A little bit of simple reasoning.
01:03:02Well, that's what we thought right away, didn't we, Mr. Markham?
01:03:05Well, hardly.
01:03:06What do you make of it, Vance?
01:03:07Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face, Mr. Markham.
01:03:10Why, this guy, Pardee, wasn't murdered at all.
01:03:13He was the Bishop.
01:03:15Why, I suspected him right along.
01:03:17And yesterday, I put Pardee to watching him.
01:03:20And when Pardee found out I had him, he knew the game was up and committed suicide.
01:03:25Why, it's very simple.
01:03:27Well, I guess we can call the Bishop murder case closed.
01:03:31Now, Sergeant, what about the, uh, house that Jack built?
01:03:36Huh?
01:03:41See, it, uh, it collapsed when I barely leaned against the table.
01:03:46And yet, it didn't topple over when Pardee fell across it.
01:03:51Well, I love it.
01:03:52Don't you understand?
01:03:53The House of Cards was not built by Pardee, but by the murderer, after Pardee was killed.
01:04:00Oh, that's just what I thought.
01:04:05You say that this chess table is set up just as he left it last night?
01:04:08Precisely.
01:04:09He was the last man to touch it.
01:04:13Curious.
01:04:18These chessmen are set up just as they were the night he resigned the contest at the club.
01:04:24The Black Bishop is one move away from the checkmate.
01:04:35Well, we mustn't detain you any longer, Professor.
01:04:38No, he's had a very trying day.
01:04:40I'm sorry Mr. Arneson isn't here tonight.
01:04:44Some of the students are doing an Ibsen play, and you know Arneson's passion for Ibsen.
01:04:49No.
01:04:49The Pretenders is the play they're doing tonight.
01:04:52Oh, yes.
01:04:54I've...
01:04:55I've just been reading it over again myself.
01:04:59Oh, I...
01:05:00Am I intruding?
01:05:01Good evening.
01:05:02No, my dear, come right in.
01:05:05Mr. Vance and Mr. Markham were just leaving.
01:05:09They've been asking me if I had any opinion to give on this tragic affair.
01:05:14I feel as if we were all living in a dreadful nightmare and couldn't wake up.
01:05:23Mr. Vance, do you, as a student of human nature, share Mr. Arneson's enthusiasm for Ibsen?
01:05:29Well, I...
01:05:30I've read Ibsen a great deal, and there can be little doubt that he was a genius of a high
01:05:33order, but I...
01:05:34I think he has his superiors.
01:05:36Well, I know Mr. Arneson would enjoy talking the play over with you.
01:05:39The Pretenders, you know, is his favorite.
01:05:41Well, since you're unable to throw in a new light on this mystifying affair,
01:05:44I think, if you'll pardon us, we ought to be going.
01:05:47Good night, Mr. Arneson.
01:05:48Good night, sir.
01:05:49Good night, Professor.
01:05:50Good night, now.
01:05:53Oh, I...
01:05:54I think...
01:05:55I think I'll stay here for a while, Uncle.
01:05:57I'm...
01:05:58I'm too... too restless to go to bed.
01:06:00Well, my darling, you must remember
01:06:03that when one is young, all wounds heal,
01:06:07and in time are forgotten.
01:06:11Good night, darling.
01:06:13Good night.
01:06:16Good night.
01:06:30Good night.
01:06:38Good night.
01:06:41Good night.
01:06:43Good night.
01:06:49Good night.
01:06:59Good night, dear.
01:07:06As I see it, Markham, the Professor was trying to convey some suggestion to us without actually putting it into
01:07:12words.
01:07:15And we, we were supposed to guess.
01:07:20Yes. Yes.
01:07:25That's why he wanted to see us while Arneson was away at the Ibsen...
01:07:33Oh, what a fool I've been!
01:07:47Markham. Markham, come here. Look at this.
01:07:52Arneson. Bishop.
01:07:54That's what the Bishop meant. It had nothing to do with chess.
01:07:56He meant to tell us that Arneson was the Bishop.
01:08:00Arneson? We haven't a moment to lose. We've got to get back to that house at once.
01:08:03You're right, Markham. Now that we've been told who the murderer is, it makes us partners in crime if we
01:08:08permit innocent people to spend even another hour under the same roof with him. You'd better telephone to Heath.
01:08:12Right.
01:08:22Heath, meet us at the Dalard home at once. Bring a couple of men, will you?
01:08:27Stay.
01:08:30Retake ourselves to the car.
01:08:32Set upboxes.
01:08:33See in April time!
01:08:38Man.
01:08:39Oh, my God.
01:09:28George, go through the 69th street entrance, it's quicker.
01:09:31Yes, sir.
01:09:54Yes, sir.
01:09:56Yes, sir.
01:10:12Yes, sir.
01:10:16Yes, sir.
01:10:18Yes, sir.
01:10:35Yes, sir.
01:10:37Yes, sir.
01:10:46Yes, sir.
01:10:57Yes, sir.
01:11:03Yes, sir.
01:11:22All right.
01:11:22Nobody's coming.
01:11:25Forgive me, Professor, for breaking in on you like this.
01:11:27Why?
01:11:27What does it mean, sir?
01:11:28We haven't time to explain now.
01:11:30Every moment of delay is spelled in danger.
01:11:33Yes, yes, yes.
01:11:34Come in, gentlemen. Come in.
01:11:38Put your hats down there, will you, please?
01:11:41We want to see Mr. Armisen at once.
01:11:45Fine.
01:11:47Yes, sir.
01:11:49These gentlemen wish to see Mr. Armisen.
01:11:51Go to his room and call him.
01:11:53Yes, sir.
01:11:55Mr. Vance found what was disturbing you.
01:11:57After we left here tonight,
01:11:58he showed me his copy of the Ibsen play you referred to.
01:12:02For days that play has been on my mind,
01:12:05poisoning every thought.
01:12:07What does it mean?
01:12:08It means that you have led us to the truth.
01:12:11Professor Dillard!
01:12:12Mr. Armisen is not in his room, sir.
01:12:16Fine.
01:12:17See if Mr. Lard is in her room.
01:12:20Yes, sir.
01:12:20Please.
01:12:21I'm sorry, sir, but it's absolutely necessary.
01:12:23All right, fine.
01:12:25Yes, sir.
01:12:25Oh, can't we keep the poor child out of this terrible affair?
01:12:29Her heart is heavy enough already.
01:12:31I don't see why we should disturb Mr. Lard, then.
01:12:33After all, it's Armisen where our...
01:12:35Look here, Marcus.
01:12:36It's too late to consider anyone's feelings now.
01:12:38With the information that we have on hand,
01:12:40we must not leave a stone unturned.
01:12:42Sir!
01:12:43Sir!
01:12:45Mr. Lard's room has not been slept in.
01:12:47What?
01:12:48Then, Professor, much as I regret taking drastic steps,
01:12:51it will be necessary for us to search this house.
01:12:54Come on, Heath.
01:12:54Oh, by all means, anything.
01:12:57Anything, I will come with you.
01:12:58If you will, please.
01:12:59Oh, we get to this door.
01:13:01It's Armisen's room at the end of the corridor.
01:13:02There, isn't it?
01:13:02I'm very sorry, sir.
01:13:03I don't know what to do, please.
01:13:04Well, you, please.
01:13:04All right, now, fellas, you sit right with me.
01:13:06If you're out ahead, Mr. Vance, you'll lead the way.
01:13:07Me and my men are right behind you.
01:13:09Now, uh, which is Mr. Lard's room?
01:13:12Uh, this one here.
01:13:13Heath, take one of your men and look around there.
01:13:15Come along with me, Sweeney.
01:13:16And, uh, Mr. Arneson?
01:13:18That one there.
01:13:21Come along, Markham.
01:13:23Careful, Collins.
01:13:25Watch your step.
01:13:32It's nothing but the wind.
01:13:42He obviously isn't here.
01:13:43All right, let's get through the rest of the house.
01:13:45I could have sworn that he didn't leave the house this evening.
01:13:48Can I do anything for you, sir?
01:13:50There's nothing in that door room, sir.
01:13:51Now, where does that door lead to?
01:13:52To the attic, but it's never used.
01:13:54Who has the key?
01:13:55Pine.
01:13:56Pine, bring the key to the attic.
01:13:58I lost it, sir.
01:13:59Lost it?
01:14:00Very well, we'll break it up.
01:14:01Why, are you mad?
01:14:02You can't do that without a warrant.
01:14:04I'm going to search that attic if I have to spend the rest of my life in jail.
01:14:07It's all right, Markham.
01:14:07Mr. Vance must do whatever he thinks necessary.
01:14:10All right, Collins, Sweeney, break it down.
01:14:12Get to it.
01:14:39All right, hold it.
01:14:55The chimney of this lamp is still warm.
01:15:00You were certainly justified in breaking in here.
01:15:02I, I, I agree with you, Markham.
01:15:06Oh, this, this is incredible.
01:15:24Now, this lamp was put here in order to use the light somewhere in this radius.
01:15:39Now, let me see.
01:16:07All right, let me see.
01:16:27And Arneson told you there never was a typewriter in this house.
01:16:45The same type as that used in the Bishop's murder notes.
01:16:52I... I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
01:17:28I wouldn't have believed it.
01:17:38I don't understand, Margaret.
01:17:41It seems that something...
01:17:41Well, we can't accomplish anything more now.
01:17:44We'd better go downstairs and wait for Arneson.
01:17:46But my niece, you're not going to abandon the search for her.
01:17:50Why, nothing matters until we find her.
01:17:54But I warn you, if she has come to any harm to Arneson, I shall not be responsible for my
01:17:59actions.
01:17:59Please control yourself, Professor.
01:18:02We all understand how deeply you feel.
01:18:04But we cannot find your niece except through Arneson.
01:18:07Why, he is...
01:18:08And you must control yourself when you see him.
01:18:11And let us handle this in our own way.
01:18:18Very well, gentlemen.
01:18:21Take charge of the typewriter, boys.
01:18:23Yes, sir.
01:18:29Sergeant.
01:18:30Yes, sir.
01:18:34No.
01:18:39Yes, sir.
01:18:46It is certainly a harrowing experience.
01:18:49I hope for all our sakes that Arneson will come back soon.
01:18:55Has it occurred to you that he may not come back?
01:19:01What do you mean?
01:19:02Oh, I...
01:19:04I have often heard him quote Nietzsche's famous words.
01:19:08One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.
01:19:19You mean suicide?
01:19:20If he were convinced that the evidence against him was strong enough.
01:19:25Is Mr. Arneson in the habit of leaving the House of Desire tonight?
01:19:28Only during the last two weeks.
01:19:31Since then, he's been apt to disappear at odd hours.
01:19:34And reappear at even other hours.
01:19:36Yes, sir.
01:19:36Careful, careful.
01:19:43You see the words of the bishop written there?
01:19:47Do you recognize the type, Mr. Arneson?
01:19:57I thought so.
01:19:59We found the typewriter on which this was written hidden in the attic of this house.
01:20:05Well, I...
01:20:06I don't see that you have a passed-down case against anyone at that.
01:20:10After all, a typewriter isn't a thing that only fits one person.
01:20:15You've got to do better than that, Mr. Vance.
01:20:16I assure you, Mr. Arneson, that we know who is guilty.
01:20:21Really?
01:20:21Really, you almost terrify me.
01:20:24By any chance, I should happen to be the murderer.
01:20:27I should be almost inclined to admit defeat.
01:20:30But since you know who the bishop is, why all this palaver?
01:20:34Oh, Mr. Vance.
01:20:36Good evening.
01:20:38You are right.
01:20:39The girl was in the cupola.
01:20:41Not hurt, but unconscious from shots.
01:21:11And the worst of it is, Mr. Vance, she don't know who did it.
01:21:17Very good, Sergeant.
01:21:18Yes, sir.
01:21:21Well, Professor.
01:21:23It's been a very tiring night for all of us.
01:21:26And I'm sure we should be most grateful to you if you would offer us a glass of your excellent
01:21:30port.
01:21:31Oh, why, why, certainly.
01:21:33I'm not quite myself tonight.
01:21:35Thank you, sir.
01:21:38Markham.
01:21:41I hope this horrible business will soon be over, for your sake.
01:21:44You're bearing up wonderfully.
01:21:47You'd put to shame a man half your years.
01:21:53Well?
01:21:57Since when have I been a sea turtle up?
01:21:59Help yourself.
01:22:04All right.
01:22:25Mr. Markham.
01:22:26Why are you talking to Mr. Markham just now?
01:22:29I changed the wine glasses.
01:22:32The glass from which you are about to drink is the one you prepared for Mr. Arneson.
01:22:37I, uh, I trust it makes no difference to you.
01:22:43And what would you say if I told you that we had found your niece, and that in spite of
01:22:48all precautions, she recognized the man who sees her?
01:22:56And I had everything so perfect.
01:22:59It was so easy to keep myself innocent, and to throw the guilt from one to another until it struck,
01:23:06or I planned it from the beginning, on you.
01:23:09You, you who robbed me of the only things that I lived for.
01:23:13My fame as a scientist.
01:23:17The affections of my niece.
01:23:20The only creature in the whole world that I loved.
01:23:24And now, now you robbed me of the triumph of seeing you sent to the chair.
01:23:35It would have been perfect.
01:23:38Perfect.
01:23:40But for you, fools, idiots, children, all of you,
01:23:49baffled by mother goose.
01:23:53Three blind mice.
01:23:57Vance, don't let him break it.
01:24:07He's dead.
01:24:09You realize what you've done, Vance?
01:24:11This is murder.
01:24:16Here is the glass that he prepared for Mr. Arneson.
01:24:20It was the poison that fermented in his own diseased brain that killed him.
01:24:25Fear.
01:24:27Vance, I've been suffering, George. For heaven's sake, what's happened to Belle?
01:24:30No, that's all right, Arneson.
01:24:31She'll be here in a minute.
01:24:32She, er, she surprised the professor in the attic tonight.
01:24:36And he locked her up safely until he could get you out of the way.
01:24:40She was in no real danger.
01:24:42She was the one person in the world that he never would have harmed.
01:24:46But he certainly prepared us for your suicide.
01:24:49You see, he could then have explained things in his own way
01:24:51and been the only one left for her to cling to.
01:24:55Oh, yes, er, one other point.
01:24:58She didn't recognize him.
01:24:59Why?
01:25:01That was a little dramatic license on my part.
01:25:06Arneson, I owe you an apology for the way in which I treated you.
01:25:08Oh, no apology necessary, Elson.
01:25:10I knew you didn't have your eye on me.
01:25:12You gave me a terrible shock, but of course I knew that I had to play up.
01:25:16I didn't know just what you were after, but I tried to follow your cues as well as possible.
01:25:19I hope I didn't bungle the job.
01:25:21Play up?
01:25:22What do you mean?
01:25:28Pretend you are guilty. Trust me and play up.
01:25:31Well, no wonder you acted guilty.
01:25:34Tell me, Vance.
01:25:36How did you know that the professor intended to poison Arneson?
01:25:39When I followed you down the stairs just now
01:25:41and heard him preparing you so carefully for Arneson's suicide,
01:25:45I was more than ever on my guard.
01:25:46I gave him his opportunity by going to Heath at the door and watched him.
01:25:54In this.
01:25:55Of course, I knew he hated me.
01:25:57He's been losing his intellectual grip.
01:25:59For months I've been doing all his work for him and he loathed me for it.
01:26:03Then, too, he felt that I was robbing him a bell.
01:26:06But what diabolic hatred to kill four men in order to send me to the electric chair.
01:26:13Well, the four were not intentional, Arneson.
01:26:15He meant to hang only the Robin murder on you.
01:26:17But something went wrong.
01:26:18You had an alibi that he didn't reckon on.
01:26:21Sprig was the next.
01:26:22That seemed to him the perfect crime.
01:26:25He was your pupil and close friend.
01:26:26And everything went off just as he had planned it.
01:26:29But then, he made the frightening discovery
01:26:32that Drucker had seen him kill Robin.
01:26:36Miss Drucker, too, perhaps.
01:26:39That knowledge destroyed what little sanity was left in his diseased brain.
01:26:43And he killed Pardee.
01:26:44He became a killer with one obsession.
01:26:46To see you convicted of these murders and paying the supreme penalty.
01:26:51Eric.
01:26:53Belle, my poor darling.
01:26:59Well, Mr. Vance, we did it again.
01:27:02Don't think that, Sergeant.
01:27:04Why not?
01:27:05It's poison.
01:27:07And, uh, I need it for evidence.
01:27:10Well, thank you, Sergeant, for your assistance.
01:27:15Well, you're a good detective, too, Mr. Vance.
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