The head of a drug company mysteriously disappears, after taking credit for a new anesthetic that actually resulted from the work of several doctors, and his surgeon is found strangely murde... Read allThe head of a drug company mysteriously disappears, after taking credit for a new anesthetic that actually resulted from the work of several doctors, and his surgeon is found strangely murdered by a surgical instrument.The head of a drug company mysteriously disappears, after taking credit for a new anesthetic that actually resulted from the work of several doctors, and his surgeon is found strangely murdered by a surgical instrument.
- Kenneth Martin
- (as Gordon Elliott)
- Nurse
- (uncredited)
- Nestor - Policeman and Driver
- (uncredited)
- Herbert - the Morgue Attendant
- (uncredited)
- Intern
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Kay Linaker, NOTE: The part of Nurse Sally Keating was originally intended to be played by Mary Astor. When Astor refused it, Warner Bros. signed Broadway actress Linaker to play it. As punishment, the studio forced Astor to play a supporting part in the film.
- GoofsDr. Harrigan tells Nurse Brody to take care of patient calls as he is wheeling Melady off to surgery. A close-up of the nurse call board is shown, but in the next longer shot, the pattern of lights on the board is different.
- Quotes
Nurse Sally Keating: What do you expect to find at the morgue?
Doctor George Lambert: What do you usually find at a morgue?
Nurse Sally Keating: A lot of your patients!
- ConnectionsFollowed by Murder by an Aristocrat (1936)
- SoundtracksThe Lady in Red
(1935) (uncredited)
Music by Allie Wrubel
Lyrics by Mort Dixon
Sung a cappella by Don Barclay with modified lyrics
The mystery is extremely complex for its day and time. Suffice it to say that a medicinal sleeping formula is being touted by several members of the hospital staff including the administrator, Peter Melady. That he has the completed formula works to his disadvantage since his rivals are determined to claim it for their own. Melady is preparing himself for an operation while his wife, Agnes (Anita Kerry), is in the same hospital with a broken arm. She is surreptitiously being entertained by her paramour, Kenneth Martin (Gordon "William" Elliott--maybe this is how he got his epithet "Wild Bill"). Peter Melady asks his arch rival, Dr. Harrigan, to perform the operation. This is like asking Jack the Ripper to perform an appendectomy on a lady of the evening. To make a long synopsis short, Dr. Harrigan ends up stabbed to death, Dr. Melady ends up missing in action, and an African-American winds up being taken to the morgue, leaving a covey of suspects lurking in the corridors.
The romantic angle is almost as confusing. Dr. Lambert is lusting after vivacious nurse, Sally Keating (Kay Linaker), who in turn is lusting after him. Nurse Lillian Cooper (Mary Astor) is lusting after one of the suspects in the case, plus is burdened with a secret revealed at the end of the flick. Nurse Brody (Mary Treen) lusts after a funny line. And Agnes Melady, needless to say, is still lusting after Wild Bill.
Besides Nurse Brody, humor is provided by the patients, particularly Wentworth (Johnny Arthur) as a whiner with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who is staying in the hospital for a much-needed rest but keeps being bothered by nurses, doctors, plumbers, the police, and other patients; and by Jackson (Don Barclay), a harmless dipsomaniac who drinks rubbing alcohol and runs amok.
"The Murder of Dr. Harrigan" is worthwhile for those of us who love a good mystery. This is a short entertaining programmer in the Warner's "Clue Club" series, which included the popular "While the Patient Slept."
- krorie
- Jul 18, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Clue Club #6: The Murder of Dr. Harrigan
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 7 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1