- 1 day ago
The Benson Murder Case is a 1930 American pre-Code crime film directed by Frank Tuttle and written for the screen by S. S. Van Dine and Bartlett Cormack. The film stars William Powell, William "Stage" Boyd, Eugene Pallette, Paul Lukas, Natalie Moorhead, Richard Tucker and May Beatty. The film was released on April 13, 1930, by Paramount Pictures, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by S. S. Van Dine.
Foppish amateur sleuth Philo Vance (William Powell) takes on a surprise murder investigation when ruthless stockbroker Anthony Benson (Richard Tucker) is found dead at an impromptu party in his lavish country estate which Vance himself attended. As Vance follows the trail of deception, he encounters a cast of shady suspects including the likes of notorious gambler Harry Gray (William 'Stage' Boyd), enigmatic actress Fanny Del Roy (Natalie Moorhead), and mysterious gigolo, Adolph Mohler (Paul Lukas). With the help of tough-talking Sgt. Ernest Heath (Eugene Pallette) and sharp-witted District Attorney John F. X. Markham (E. H. Calvert), Vance navigates a dangerous web of lies, greed, and betrayal to determine who killed Benson.
Credits:
William Powell as Philo Vance
William "Stage" Boyd as Harry Gray
Eugene Pallette as Sgt. Ernest Heath
Paul Lukas as Adolph Mohler
Natalie Moorhead as Fanny Del Roy
Richard Tucker as Anthony Benson
May Beatty as Mrs. Paula Banning
E.H. Calvert as Dist. Atty. John F. X. Markham
Mischa Auer as Albert Brecker
Guy Oliver as Captain Hagedorn (uncredited)
Foppish amateur sleuth Philo Vance (William Powell) takes on a surprise murder investigation when ruthless stockbroker Anthony Benson (Richard Tucker) is found dead at an impromptu party in his lavish country estate which Vance himself attended. As Vance follows the trail of deception, he encounters a cast of shady suspects including the likes of notorious gambler Harry Gray (William 'Stage' Boyd), enigmatic actress Fanny Del Roy (Natalie Moorhead), and mysterious gigolo, Adolph Mohler (Paul Lukas). With the help of tough-talking Sgt. Ernest Heath (Eugene Pallette) and sharp-witted District Attorney John F. X. Markham (E. H. Calvert), Vance navigates a dangerous web of lies, greed, and betrayal to determine who killed Benson.
Credits:
William Powell as Philo Vance
William "Stage" Boyd as Harry Gray
Eugene Pallette as Sgt. Ernest Heath
Paul Lukas as Adolph Mohler
Natalie Moorhead as Fanny Del Roy
Richard Tucker as Anthony Benson
May Beatty as Mrs. Paula Banning
E.H. Calvert as Dist. Atty. John F. X. Markham
Mischa Auer as Albert Brecker
Guy Oliver as Captain Hagedorn (uncredited)
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:03The End
00:00:36The End
00:01:02The End
00:01:41The End
00:01:49The End
00:02:16Come on, come on, get a move on.
00:02:18Yes?
00:02:19Well, well.
00:02:20She says she can't cover me.
00:02:21I tell Joey to sell him out.
00:02:23Best of the company?
00:02:24Yes, I will.
00:02:26Oh, I am so sorry.
00:02:29Oh, shut up.
00:02:31No.
00:02:32Oh, I don't know.
00:02:33Oh, Marla, I must see you.
00:02:35All right, all right.
00:02:36Oh, Mr. Manson.
00:02:38Yes?
00:02:38We're all cleaned up now, except for that one big account.
00:02:42Oh, you mean Greg?
00:02:43Yes, sir.
00:02:44What is he saying to us now?
00:02:46$380,000.
00:02:47You tried to notify him?
00:02:48All day yesterday and today.
00:02:50Well, try...
00:02:51Oh, never mind.
00:02:52Sell him out.
00:02:53Sell him out.
00:02:54Well, you heard me.
00:02:56Close him out.
00:02:57All right, Miss Leslie.
00:02:59Get those smaller packages out of the state and bring them to my office.
00:03:02Yes, sir.
00:03:07Well, I tell you, it is most necessary.
00:03:10I get the package.
00:03:10All right, all right.
00:03:11In a minute.
00:03:12Miss Leslie.
00:03:14Oh, thank you.
00:03:15Well, here they are.
00:03:17And you're a note to me, too.
00:03:18Pay the note and you get back to pay.
00:03:20The note's due tomorrow.
00:03:21Well, I cannot pay.
00:03:23Oh, then you don't get this or this.
00:03:25Then you cannot pay the note.
00:03:26Oh, Tony, are you not, my friend?
00:03:27Sure.
00:03:28If I weren't, you wouldn't forge my name to this check, would you?
00:03:31Oh, well.
00:03:32Yes?
00:03:33All right, tell her I'll see you in a minute.
00:03:35Well, I must have a description.
00:03:37Try and get it.
00:03:38If you don't give it to me, I...
00:03:39Now, listen.
00:03:40You won't do anything.
00:03:41Who do you think I am?
00:03:42One of your faded widows?
00:03:43And I'm not very afraid of male left-door.
00:03:46Well, well, isn't he?
00:03:48Hearing men fight over something besides me for a cane.
00:03:50Miss Delroy, Mr. Morris.
00:03:52Hello, Delphi.
00:03:53Hello, Fanny.
00:03:54He knows you, too?
00:03:56What are you all at Twitter about, anyway?
00:03:59You borrowed these from your meal ticket, didn't you?
00:04:02And she's in Paris, isn't she?
00:04:04Well, you'd better pay me somehow and return her before she gets back, hadn't you?
00:04:10Yes?
00:04:10What did he mean, your meal ticket in Paris?
00:04:14Where did you think I picked what I gave you?
00:04:16From the three...
00:04:17Mrs. Banning is?
00:04:19Who?
00:04:19Tell her I'll see her in a minute.
00:04:21Well, old boy, your meal ticket's back.
00:04:23Perhaps she brought you a Parisian doctor.
00:04:25Oh!
00:04:29What is this?
00:04:30What's that Dowager's Delight got that I haven't?
00:04:34When you're a big boy, maybe I'll tell you.
00:04:36Yes?
00:04:37Well, let me tell you something.
00:04:40Darling, we sold you out of the market this morning.
00:04:43You hadn't got a dime.
00:04:45You...
00:04:45You didn't.
00:04:47Yes, but as dear as my own, why didn't you cable me?
00:04:50You were coming.
00:04:50My dear, darling, I did cable.
00:04:52You just must have been out.
00:04:54Oh, I was hunting in the mountains.
00:04:56And I was dying for you to come back to me.
00:05:00What did you come here for, Paolo?
00:05:02Do not tell me you've lost in the market.
00:05:04My dear boy, I don't know.
00:05:05I only heard of his crush when I arrived this morning.
00:05:08I was being nearly frantic.
00:05:10But of course, Tony Benson would carry me.
00:05:12Oh, yes, yes.
00:05:13Where is Tony?
00:05:14Oh, wait, wait.
00:05:17Tony Benson, you're a cold smell.
00:05:19Hard cold.
00:05:21No wonder I can't go for you.
00:05:23You could have given me another day to cover.
00:05:24You didn't answer one of our margin calls.
00:05:26Oh, I was going to bring you my pearls, but...
00:05:29Say, what's in that box?
00:05:30Now, now, now, now.
00:05:32Oh, Tony, darling.
00:05:33I simply must know what's happened to my account.
00:05:36You carried me, of course.
00:05:37No, you were a little overweight.
00:05:40Tony!
00:05:41Oh, Mr. Gray, excuse me.
00:05:43We tried to get in touch with you.
00:05:44I've been out of town.
00:05:45I was going to mail these to you.
00:05:47You said you were the last account we had that wasn't covered, so...
00:05:51I understand.
00:05:53Mr. Gray, would you mind waiting in the waiting room?
00:05:55There's someone in Mr. Benson's office.
00:05:57All right.
00:05:59Yes, I sold you out.
00:06:00All of you.
00:06:01All except Adolf, who wasn't even in.
00:06:03No, it's something else your dear Adolf owed me for.
00:06:07Not the market.
00:06:08Yes, and I'm going to...
00:06:09Never mind.
00:06:10Oh, they're busy, Tony.
00:06:11No, come in, Harry.
00:06:12The dog seems to be arriving.
00:06:14It looks as if one has already arrived.
00:06:16I'll come back when you're alone.
00:06:17All right, Harry.
00:06:18I have nothing more to say.
00:06:21You are not a gentleman, Mr. Benson.
00:06:23You're a...
00:06:24I know.
00:06:25I'm a mess.
00:06:26Well, is it my fault that you're on the high seas when the market breaks?
00:06:30I've a good mind to...
00:06:31You won't do anything.
00:06:32Marla said he would, but he won't.
00:06:34None of you will.
00:06:35Oh, I suppose if you could, I'd be across by now.
00:06:38Well, you were called on for margins, weren't you?
00:06:40You wanted to have your cake and eat it, too.
00:06:42Easy money, quick profit.
00:06:43Well, you gambled and you lost.
00:06:46Yes, you lost.
00:06:47Mr. Benson...
00:06:47You lost, I tell you.
00:06:48Don't you, I haven't done anything to say to this person.
00:06:51The way he talked.
00:06:52With what I've got on him...
00:06:53Oh, go on.
00:06:54Get out of here, all of you.
00:06:55Go on.
00:06:56Go on.
00:06:57Get out.
00:06:57Leave me alone.
00:06:58Come on, I'm all in.
00:06:59Come on, Mr. Benson.
00:07:01Get my chauffeur at the garage.
00:07:03Tell him to meet me at the club.
00:07:05Pick the clock.
00:07:05Yes.
00:07:07I'd like to spend the night at my place up the river, and I don't want to be disturbed.
00:07:11All right.
00:07:14Yes, come in, Harry.
00:07:17Even the heavens seem to be crashing.
00:07:21Say, Harry.
00:07:23Why don't you spend the night with me at my place up the river?
00:07:26That's not a bad idea.
00:07:27We can meet at the club at six o'clock, and have a steam and a rubdown before we go.
00:07:32I'm nervous.
00:07:33I don't blame you.
00:07:34After that gang that was just in here.
00:07:37They don't like you, do they?
00:07:38Well, maybe not.
00:07:44You know, Harry, I'm sorry I had to sell you out.
00:07:48But then you big shots are used to taking it on the chair.
00:07:52Not twice in succession.
00:07:53Twice?
00:07:54The big great walked off with a hundred and eighty grand of mine last week.
00:07:57He did?
00:07:58Yes.
00:07:59He high-carded me.
00:08:01Oh.
00:08:03Harry, why don't you quit that racket?
00:08:06I like it.
00:08:12Harry.
00:08:14You're not sore at me, are you?
00:08:16I haven't made up my mind yet.
00:08:18Yes.
00:08:45Three thousand, you're in me.
00:08:47Yes.
00:08:48Three thousand, you're in me.
00:08:48Three hundred grand.
00:08:50I've got the jump.
00:08:54No wonder.
00:08:55After what you did to me today.
00:08:58Oh, well.
00:09:00Those crybabies at the office got on my nerve.
00:09:03Well, I put a couple of twos and twos together.
00:09:06Watching Delroy and Marlore.
00:09:09Oh.
00:09:10Let's go to bed, eh?
00:09:12Oh, I left my bag at your club.
00:09:14I'll phone for you.
00:09:16You'll have to rough it, though.
00:09:17I let the servants call for the winner.
00:09:28What was that?
00:09:30Backfire, I guess.
00:09:31Oh, Markham's car, maybe.
00:09:35Who's?
00:09:36Markham.
00:09:37The district attorney.
00:09:38You know him, don't you?
00:09:39Well, we've had a couple of talk.
00:09:42What's he doing here?
00:09:43He's got a place next to mine.
00:09:44He's up here resting for the campaign.
00:10:19Hello, Fanny.
00:10:21Adding a little burglary to your other accomplishments, eh?
00:10:25I want that jewel case from all I gave you.
00:10:28Oh-ho!
00:10:30So he borrowed them from you and not Paula Banning, eh?
00:10:33Well, what do you think of that fellow?
00:10:35Hurry, Benson.
00:10:36I was going to give those pearls to you to cover my account until I couldn't find them.
00:10:40Hurry what?
00:10:42That jewel case is in my office safe, where it'll stay.
00:10:44Oh, no, it isn't.
00:10:46I saw it in the pocket of your coat as you left today.
00:10:49That's right.
00:10:50I forgot.
00:10:51I was upset.
00:10:53They're in my coat pocket downstairs.
00:10:56Oh, I'm sorry.
00:10:58Excuse me, people.
00:11:16Don't move.
00:11:17Oh!
00:11:22What do you mean, frightening me like that?
00:11:27Will you have a drink?
00:11:28What?
00:11:30It's with yourself.
00:11:32Tony!
00:11:35Who's that?
00:11:37It's Ray.
00:11:39I'll get rid of it now.
00:11:48Friend of yours, huh?
00:11:50Tony, I want to...
00:11:51Excuse me, please.
00:11:51My coat.
00:11:52You were leaving, perhaps?
00:11:55What?
00:11:56Oh, not at all.
00:11:58What was the noise out back?
00:12:00Window blew shut.
00:12:01Must have been open.
00:12:02Tony, I must plead for my poor darling.
00:12:05He had no idea he was doing anything wrong when he signed that check.
00:12:09You were such friends.
00:12:10I shouldn't have left him.
00:12:12Then you better pay his note to me.
00:12:14Oh, dear Tony, I haven't 10,000.
00:12:16I tell you, I've lost everything.
00:12:18And the banks won't advance me another cent.
00:12:22What are you doing here?
00:12:25Not my dear Anthony, that it's difficult to guess.
00:12:28Oh.
00:12:28Mrs. Pott.
00:12:30Pott?
00:12:31Yes.
00:12:32Calling the cattle black.
00:12:34You girls ought to get together on Marla.
00:12:37Paula, who do you suppose he was running around with while you were in...
00:12:45Paula, I think you better go upstairs.
00:12:47Woman, but Pott.
00:12:52Shh.
00:12:55Shh.
00:12:57Shh.
00:12:58Shh.
00:12:58To you.
00:12:59What's yours?
00:13:01Fanny, to you.
00:13:05Tony.
00:13:07Let's have a party.
00:13:09Hmm?
00:13:15Are you going to give me that case?
00:13:16No.
00:13:17I would.
00:13:18Now, look here.
00:13:19Say, what is this?
00:13:20What's going on here, anyway?
00:13:21Have you got a flashlight?
00:13:22Yes, there's one over here.
00:13:23Come on.
00:13:26Here it is.
00:13:27Here, I'll go.
00:13:33I want that jewel case Marla gave you, and I'll get it.
00:13:37For what?
00:13:39Nothing.
00:13:40Oh.
00:13:41Well, we'll see about that.
00:13:43Do you think you can hang on to Marla with Paula Banning back?
00:13:46And if she finds out he's been running around with you, where will you be?
00:13:50She'll stop his allowance.
00:13:51You know, uh, he hasn't told her about your pearls.
00:13:56I'll take care of that.
00:13:58Yeah?
00:13:58Well, you'll take care of his notes somehow if you want this.
00:14:02Say, why all this frenzy about a few pearls?
00:14:06There are plenty more where these came from, aren't there?
00:14:09What about this, anyway?
00:14:11I have to sell them.
00:14:12You sold me out, didn't you?
00:14:13Oh, well, let's have a look.
00:14:26Say, I can listen.
00:14:27Now, wait a minute.
00:14:31Oh.
00:14:34I, I, I, I, I'm glad you are here.
00:14:38Tony might have misconstrued my, uh, arriving this way.
00:14:42Have you been alone?
00:14:43Well, he's certainly got plenty of company now.
00:14:45What are you people trying to do, anyway?
00:14:47Remove this guy?
00:14:48Oh, no.
00:14:49No.
00:14:50Well, let's go upstairs.
00:14:52Yes.
00:14:59I'll tell you why I won't in four words.
00:15:01I don't like you.
00:15:03As if you liked all your playmates.
00:15:08I've had to put up with a lot of you big businessmen to get somewhere.
00:15:11But now I'm there.
00:15:12I'm putting up with the ones I picked.
00:15:14And I told you a year ago I wasn't picking you.
00:15:17Your eyes are too close together, get it?
00:15:19And let this sink under that toupee of yours.
00:15:22I am going to get that jewel case of mine.
00:15:26Oh, I beg your pardon?
00:15:28Tony, this was the big noise.
00:15:31Oh, hello, Tony.
00:15:33Hello, let's go.
00:15:33Oh, Fanny.
00:15:35Dorsey.
00:15:38Is that my voice?
00:15:41Paolo, what are you doing here?
00:15:43Oh, carrying sales about me, eh?
00:15:48No, but that might be a good idea.
00:15:50When you told me he would put you in jail, I simply had to come here and throw myself on
00:15:54his mercy.
00:15:55Tony, he's my heart.
00:15:58Oh, please, be quiet.
00:15:59You know, while you've been away, he's been playing about a bit.
00:16:02Dolly, it's not true.
00:16:04Don't change the subject.
00:16:05Give him that money.
00:16:06Do you want him to put me in the jail?
00:16:08I can't let him.
00:16:09Kill him first.
00:16:10If you don't mind, I have first call on him for that.
00:16:13Well, that makes it unanimous.
00:16:16Farewell, Caesar.
00:16:18Oh, shall we say it with flowers?
00:16:21Say, what is this?
00:16:23Must be my birthday.
00:16:29Oh, Mark.
00:16:30Hello, come in.
00:16:31I just dropped by...
00:16:32Oh, I beg your pardon.
00:16:34That's quite all right.
00:16:35Come in.
00:16:41Ah, thunder and lightning.
00:16:43Enter the village.
00:16:45How are you, Mr. District Attorney?
00:16:46Hello, Gray.
00:16:47Miss Delroy, Mr. Marcus.
00:16:49And Mr. Marler.
00:16:52Excuse me.
00:16:55You'll have to put me up for the night.
00:16:56I puncture the tire.
00:16:57Plenty of room.
00:16:58Thanks.
00:17:00Gray, you must be behaving yourself.
00:17:02The newspapers haven't accused you of anything for months.
00:17:06I can't imagine what you're talking about.
00:17:08No.
00:17:11There, say, Benson.
00:17:12I want to talk to you about the market upset.
00:17:14I suppose there'll be some trouble,
00:17:15and I think you can give me the advice I need.
00:17:17Let me take you close, won't you?
00:17:19No, thank you.
00:17:19I have a friend waiting up.
00:17:21By the way, Gray,
00:17:24he'd like to meet you.
00:17:26Do you mind if I bring him in?
00:17:27Not at all.
00:17:33You know, Markham seems to be quite interested in you.
00:17:38Well, if he is, it won't do him any good.
00:17:42The follower is so upset there.
00:17:44You don't mind if she lies down for a moment.
00:17:46I shall prepare her some.
00:17:48Sure.
00:17:48We've all been too excited anyway.
00:17:51There you are, Gray.
00:18:00Philo Vance.
00:18:01Mr. Benson.
00:18:03How do you do, Master?
00:18:04Harry Gray.
00:18:05Mr. Gray?
00:18:06Not detective.
00:18:08It is.
00:18:08Only as an amateur, remember?
00:18:10Our friend Sergeant Eave insists on that.
00:18:13Vance told me that he's getting rusty.
00:18:15Nothing to sharpen his psychology on since the green burner.
00:18:18Yes, I felt rather hurt that you didn't call me in on that green business.
00:18:22Take off your coats, gentlemen, don't you?
00:18:24I'll get the mic.
00:18:26You see, Mr. Vance, down at headquarters,
00:18:29they've got an idea that I know all about these crimes.
00:18:31Oh, really?
00:18:32Right.
00:18:33You and, uh,
00:18:35oh, Vance,
00:18:37well, those killers of his,
00:18:39at least the ones I've read about,
00:18:41it seems to me they're all amateurs, too.
00:18:43Yes, so they were.
00:18:45That's why Markham thought it might be amusing
00:18:46without disturbing my status as an amateur, remember,
00:18:50for me to, uh,
00:18:51meet an authority on professionals.
00:18:54Harry, get some cups.
00:18:56We'll have coffee.
00:18:57Right.
00:18:59Won't you sit down, Mr. Vance?
00:19:02Manson,
00:19:03is the market at you?
00:19:05Well, you,
00:19:05you never heard of a bootlegger drinking his own stuff, did you?
00:19:09Strange you two should drop in here this evening
00:19:11on top of everybody wanting to murder everybody else.
00:19:14Mark it, of course.
00:19:16Well,
00:19:18we need another bottle.
00:19:19Well, I'll get it.
00:19:20Oh, here are the keys.
00:19:22And by the way,
00:19:23be careful of that burglar alarm in the cellar.
00:19:27I think that burglar alarm would interest you, Mr. Vance.
00:19:30So?
00:19:31It's a rather tricky arrangement.
00:19:33Later on, I'd like to show it to you.
00:19:45It's not in his room.
00:19:47It must be still in his pocket.
00:19:49I'll get it.
00:19:50I'll make him give it to me.
00:19:52Quietly, quiet.
00:19:53Coffee will be ready soon.
00:19:56And I...
00:19:57Why can't you get money?
00:20:00Doesn't my affection for you mean so little?
00:20:02Oh, these.
00:20:05Well, to tell you the truth, darling.
00:20:09All that glitters is not gold.
00:20:13Oh, my boy.
00:20:16Oh, my boy.
00:20:17But he'll put me in the jail.
00:20:18Well, I tell you, yes, he hates me
00:20:20because of the Derwey woman.
00:20:23Well, all I did was look at her.
00:20:25Can I help if she loves me?
00:20:27But I am true only to you, my star.
00:20:30Only to you.
00:20:31But this Benzen,
00:20:32who calls him to help our friends,
00:20:34he is jealous of me.
00:20:36So,
00:20:37you will lose me
00:20:38for the jail.
00:20:42I'll...
00:20:42I'll hate him.
00:20:44We'll...
00:20:45We'll both hate him.
00:20:47Oh, my boy.
00:20:49Oh, my boy.
00:20:51Well, the most important thing
00:20:53is not to get that emblem of the check,
00:20:55the note.
00:20:55Yes, yes, yes.
00:20:58Oh, you jelly.
00:21:03That's how they kill in books, Mr. Benzen.
00:21:06But the way it's really done
00:21:07is quite different.
00:21:08I see.
00:21:10Then your thought is
00:21:10that if I had not switched with a professional,
00:21:13I might not have been so lucky.
00:21:15Is that it?
00:21:17That's it.
00:21:18No, thanks.
00:21:19Oh, I'll get you some coffee in a minute, Mr. Markham.
00:21:21Well, I've had this bottle of myself for years, Markham.
00:21:25Before prohibition.
00:21:26Naturally.
00:21:27So, if you'll excuse me,
00:21:28I'll see what the ladies are doing.
00:21:31It's very interesting to get your point of view, Mr. Benzen.
00:21:35Just how would you stack your cards against a professional?
00:21:39Well, it's my theory, Mr. Gray,
00:21:41that the only infallible method of determining human guilt
00:21:45is by analyzing the psychological factors of a crime
00:21:49and then applying them to the individual.
00:21:51The point is,
00:21:52in these cases of yours, Ben,
00:21:55the gun,
00:21:56the gun,
00:21:57that's newspaper slang for killer, Markham.
00:22:00Thanks.
00:22:00Well, what I mean to say is
00:22:02these killers you've met
00:22:05always used a lot of trick stuff,
00:22:07a lot of props.
00:22:08The professionals don't.
00:22:11From what I hear,
00:22:13they bang them neat
00:22:14and leave them where they lay.
00:22:16Exactly.
00:22:17That's one of the reasons
00:22:18they're so seldom caught.
00:22:20In other jurisdictions, I mean.
00:22:22You mean to tell me
00:22:23that you'd ignore all tangible evidence of the crime?
00:22:26Not ignore it, no,
00:22:27but neither would I accept it for gospel
00:22:31on its face value.
00:22:33Well, I'll make that coffee.
00:22:46Oh, excuse me.
00:22:50Well, why don't you go in my room
00:22:51to dry your thing?
00:22:53There's a fire there.
00:22:55Thanks.
00:22:56I want that jewel tape.
00:22:58I'll get it, you know.
00:22:59All right.
00:23:00Later on, when they,
00:23:01when they be downstairs,
00:23:04we'll talk it over, eh?
00:23:06Will we?
00:23:09I'll be back.
00:23:11Listen.
00:23:12I'm going to get that jewel tape.
00:23:15Oh, my boy.
00:23:17I'll be back.
00:23:33The jury has to depend
00:23:34on circumstantial evidence, Markle.
00:23:37They can't understand
00:23:38any other guy.
00:23:50Here's a tip.
00:24:07Well?
00:24:11Is, uh,
00:24:13Mr. Gray here?
00:24:15In the kitchen.
00:24:17Oh.
00:24:18This is his bag.
00:24:20Will you see the guest at least?
00:24:22Certainly.
00:24:34What do you suppose he had?
00:24:36Oh, this came for you.
00:24:38My bag.
00:24:40Thanks.
00:24:41What's in it, Mr. Gray?
00:24:42Pineapple?
00:24:43You know, that's newspaper slang
00:24:45for, uh, bombs, Mr. Gray.
00:24:48Thanks.
00:24:51You're back to our conversation, Vance.
00:24:54How do you think you'd come out
00:24:55with one of these
00:24:57bang-em-and-leave-em-lay killing,
00:24:59is what we were talking about?
00:25:00By a professional, you mean?
00:25:02Exactly.
00:25:03Well, it might be rather interesting.
00:25:05Have you anything in that line, Markle?
00:25:07Let's talk to Gray.
00:25:09Well,
00:25:09I, I seem to have
00:25:11quite a reputation
00:25:12in this town
00:25:13for the killing.
00:25:15Well,
00:25:16perhaps something
00:25:17could be arranged.
00:25:19Splendid.
00:25:24Vance.
00:25:31Nothing here.
00:25:33He's dead.
00:25:35Woo!
00:25:39Give me the medical examples,
00:25:40office, please.
00:25:43Somebody must have all
00:25:44had that conversation of ours.
00:25:47Yeah, it's exactly
00:25:48what was occurring to me.
00:25:49I want to speak
00:25:50to Dr. Doremus personally.
00:25:52Well,
00:25:53there you are, Mr. Vance.
00:25:55Do your stuff.
00:26:05Well,
00:26:07that's that.
00:26:08Yeah.
00:26:09Yeah.
00:26:11Yeah.
00:26:12You know I'm killing up
00:26:13like thunder
00:26:14across the Hudson
00:26:15outside the lodge.
00:26:16It's close to the cold body
00:26:18if you're kept
00:26:19wearing my steam rug.
00:26:20Hurry up with that phone,
00:26:21give me a match.
00:26:22The first to arrive
00:26:24on the steam
00:26:24is the brains
00:26:25of the homicide squad.
00:26:27Sergeant E for Edward.
00:26:29Ernest.
00:26:30Sergeant Edward Heath.
00:26:32Or as I nicknamed him
00:26:34in one of my
00:26:34more brilliant moments,
00:26:36Edward Sleuth.
00:26:37So as everybody
00:26:37would know
00:26:38he was a detective.
00:26:39How can that stuff.
00:26:42Now listen.
00:26:43Whenever I've got
00:26:44anything to give you,
00:26:46Strive,
00:26:46I'll tell you.
00:26:48Yeah?
00:26:51Who's gonna tell you?
00:26:58Anybody could have
00:26:59got up and down
00:26:59those back stairs
00:27:00without being seen.
00:27:01Where's well?
00:27:02Up going over the bedroom.
00:27:04I can't do that.
00:27:05You get outside
00:27:05and look around the ground.
00:27:07All right.
00:27:09Say, what's ailing you?
00:27:10I got sold out
00:27:12from the stock market.
00:27:13No.
00:27:14Yeah.
00:27:15I lost 90 bucks.
00:27:19Wiped out.
00:27:20By the way,
00:27:21Mr. Markampone,
00:27:23Mr. Vance
00:27:24would be here right away.
00:27:25Oh, yeah?
00:27:26Well, I'll try
00:27:27and arrange it
00:27:28so that I'll be
00:27:29just gone
00:27:30when
00:27:30I'm eager to see her.
00:27:35Oh, well.
00:27:38How do you spell clue?
00:27:40What difference
00:27:40it makes?
00:27:41There ain't any.
00:27:42Oh, I wouldn't
00:27:43say that, Sergeant.
00:27:46Oh.
00:27:47Good morning, Sergeant.
00:27:48Why, hello,
00:27:49Mr. Vance.
00:27:50No go, Sam.
00:27:51I'm afraid the blue
00:27:52in that is going to clash.
00:27:54Check that phone
00:27:55in the hall, Welf.
00:27:56Blue, Sergeant,
00:27:57is a very tricky color.
00:27:59You know,
00:28:00in spite of its commonness,
00:28:01it's quite difficult.
00:28:03That's anomalous,
00:28:04of course.
00:28:04Well, so it is.
00:28:05So it is.
00:28:06Mr. Vance,
00:28:08you know,
00:28:08pardon my obscurity,
00:28:09but sometimes
00:28:10I don't quite follow you.
00:28:12Really, Sergeant?
00:28:13No, now,
00:28:14a while ago there,
00:28:14I said there wasn't
00:28:15any clue.
00:28:16And you said
00:28:17that you wouldn't
00:28:18say that.
00:28:19Well, I wouldn't.
00:28:20Really.
00:28:21That was the Times,
00:28:22Colin.
00:28:22They want to know
00:28:23a...
00:28:23You tell the Times
00:28:24that when they get
00:28:25my name right,
00:28:26they might get a story.
00:28:27You see, Sergeant,
00:28:28I decided to
00:28:30spend the night here.
00:28:31In, uh,
00:28:32in meditation.
00:28:34So I phoned Sam
00:28:35to bring out my things
00:28:36and I, uh,
00:28:37meditated.
00:28:38Any luck?
00:28:39I've been studying
00:28:40that little derringer
00:28:41that was found
00:28:42at the top of the stairs
00:28:43there last night.
00:28:44It's rather unique.
00:28:45Yes, yes.
00:28:46And, of course,
00:28:47the lady's handbag,
00:28:48which you no doubt
00:28:49found in Benson's room there.
00:28:50Yes, I got that right here.
00:28:52Cherchez la femme,
00:28:53eh, Sergeant?
00:28:55Oui.
00:28:58I want those to come
00:28:59by telephone.
00:29:01I was to ask
00:29:02for Mr. Vance.
00:29:04Say, did you get that?
00:29:07Well, you'll go inside.
00:29:09Two dollars more, eh?
00:29:10That's the lady.
00:29:11Say, is Father Vance
00:29:13on this one?
00:29:13I don't know.
00:29:14Is he inside?
00:29:15I wish I knew.
00:29:16Wait.
00:29:17Come on.
00:29:17You'll have it here
00:29:18since 6 a.m.
00:29:19If Vance is here,
00:29:20he's at Santa Claus.
00:29:22He must have come down
00:29:23on a chimney.
00:29:25Come on, boy.
00:29:26Well, one of those
00:29:27two dames owns this bag.
00:29:30Well?
00:29:31Mr. Vance?
00:29:32Oh, yes.
00:29:33Come in.
00:29:34You know, Sergeant,
00:29:35when Albert here
00:29:36popped in last night,
00:29:38Markham thought
00:29:39that he was Gray's man.
00:29:41Gray is?
00:29:42Oh, no, sir.
00:29:43As I explained
00:29:44to Mr. Vance
00:29:44when he called me up
00:29:45this morning,
00:29:46Mr. Benson was my employer.
00:29:48He telephoned me
00:29:49last night
00:29:49to bring Mr. Gray's bag
00:29:50from the club.
00:29:52What's your name?
00:29:53Albert.
00:29:54Brecker.
00:29:55The medical examiner's here.
00:29:57Show him up.
00:29:59And you
00:30:00stick around.
00:30:07Well, another dizzy dame
00:30:09to do some jury vamping,
00:30:10I suppose.
00:30:12I rather doubt, Sergeant,
00:30:13whether any woman
00:30:14was in this room
00:30:15with Benson
00:30:15immediately prior
00:30:16to the murder.
00:30:17That's what I wanted
00:30:18Albert for,
00:30:19to verify.
00:30:20Good morning, Sergeant.
00:30:21Right up.
00:30:22Bless my soul.
00:30:23Mr. Vance.
00:30:24Why, I haven't seen you
00:30:26since we laid
00:30:26the Green family to rest.
00:30:28Right, right.
00:30:29There was a lovely
00:30:30murder case for you, Sergeant.
00:30:32Bless my soul, yes.
00:30:34I was there.
00:30:36Well, hop it for body, Doc.
00:30:37Certainly, certainly.
00:30:38Have one of your men
00:30:39give me a hand, please.
00:30:41Surely.
00:30:41Oh, I'm sorry
00:30:43I wasn't here last night.
00:30:44Wedding anniversary.
00:30:45My wife and I
00:30:47always celebrate.
00:30:49Went to a hockey match.
00:30:52How's the election coming?
00:30:54Fair.
00:30:55Good.
00:30:58Mr. Benson kept his toupee
00:31:00beautifully, didn't he?
00:31:01He was a bit touchy
00:31:02about himself,
00:31:02if I do say.
00:31:04Bane, you mean.
00:31:05Yes, sir.
00:31:05Well, what guy
00:31:06with a list of phone numbers
00:31:07he has, wouldn't he?
00:31:09Elementary, my dear Albert.
00:31:11Elementary.
00:31:12Sergeant,
00:31:13you've been reading
00:31:13Sherlock Holmes.
00:31:15Quite right,
00:31:15my dear Watson.
00:31:16Quite right.
00:31:17Oh, well.
00:31:20Take care of these, will you?
00:31:21This was Mr. Benson's
00:31:23favorite toupee, sir.
00:31:24Fancy.
00:31:25Oh, no, sir.
00:31:26I once worked
00:31:27for a gentleman
00:31:28that had seven.
00:31:29One for every day
00:31:30in the week
00:31:30to correspond
00:31:31to the natural growth
00:31:32of his hair.
00:31:33Uh, Albert,
00:31:34do you think
00:31:35that Mr. Benson
00:31:35would have appeared
00:31:36before a lady
00:31:37in whom he was interested
00:31:38without his toupee?
00:31:40Oh, no, sir.
00:31:41He would rather have died.
00:31:43Well, he got his wish.
00:31:45The doctor said
00:31:45he was shot at about
00:31:46six feet
00:31:47and no powder marks.
00:31:48Well, suicide's out
00:31:49unless Benson
00:31:50was an acrobat.
00:31:54If you don't mind, sir,
00:31:55I'll call.
00:31:56Thank you, Albert.
00:31:58I'll see you later.
00:32:00Thank you, sir.
00:32:08You know, Mr. Vance,
00:32:09this is the kind
00:32:10of a murder
00:32:10that the public likes.
00:32:12Have you any suggestions?
00:32:14You know,
00:32:15you might have.
00:32:16You were here
00:32:16when it happened.
00:32:18But, Sergeant,
00:32:19after a night
00:32:20of meditating
00:32:20on what happened
00:32:21before the murder,
00:32:22I have suggestions
00:32:23no end.
00:32:25Oh, Burke's got
00:32:25something out front, Sergeant.
00:32:26Be right down.
00:32:28Oh, Mr. Markham
00:32:29told me about the stuff
00:32:31Harry Gray
00:32:31was saying to you.
00:32:33Like he was leading
00:32:34up to the shooting
00:32:34to kind of try you out.
00:32:36The nerve
00:32:37of that gorilla.
00:32:38What's Gray's history?
00:32:39Well, he suspected
00:32:41of a lot of things.
00:32:42Have you been convicted?
00:32:44Too smart.
00:32:46Just what is his racket?
00:32:48Well, rumor has it
00:32:49that he's a big shot
00:32:50in a bootlegging ring.
00:32:52You know,
00:32:52I still don't like
00:32:53the way he talked to you.
00:32:54Have to use
00:32:55the kitchen table.
00:32:57Killed about midnight.
00:32:59Direct fire
00:33:00into the heart.
00:33:01A weakling shot
00:33:02and never knew
00:33:03what hit him.
00:33:04Bless my soul, no.
00:33:05Well, he must have
00:33:06seen the guy.
00:33:07Come and have a look
00:33:08at the bullet.
00:33:08Most interesting.
00:33:10I'll be right with you.
00:33:12Come on, let me...
00:33:13Never mind, never mind.
00:33:15Sergeant.
00:33:16Yes?
00:33:16One of the boys
00:33:17found this in the bush.
00:33:18I had it in my hand.
00:33:19In your hat.
00:33:20In hand, Jim.
00:33:21Sure, all right.
00:33:22Come on, give us a break.
00:33:23Let's see it.
00:33:23Oh, quiet down, will you?
00:33:26What was it?
00:33:29Handbag.
00:33:30Right here.
00:33:32Gun.
00:33:32Got that, too.
00:33:33Give me that piece of paper
00:33:34I found in the wood box.
00:33:39Get that phone.
00:33:41Look at this, Mr. Vance.
00:33:42Yeah, I'll tell him.
00:33:44It's an empty jewel case
00:33:46that we found
00:33:46in a bush outside.
00:33:47Been thrown out the window.
00:33:49Last night, maybe.
00:33:50And here's the paper
00:33:51it was wrapped in
00:33:52that I found
00:33:52in the wood box
00:33:53right there.
00:33:54It's Mark Mauler.
00:33:56He may prove
00:33:57of interest to us later.
00:33:58Yeah, I'll tell him.
00:33:59But, Mr. Vance,
00:34:00with the election
00:34:00coming up Tuesday
00:34:01and the paper's
00:34:02riding us the way they are,
00:34:03I've got a house
00:34:04up in now.
00:34:06Well, what about
00:34:06that small puddle of blood
00:34:08on the second step
00:34:09from the top there?
00:34:10Doesn't that
00:34:11have any particular
00:34:11significance to you?
00:34:12Oh, Sergeant,
00:34:13they picked up Delroy
00:34:14down at the Grand Central.
00:34:15Trying to beat it
00:34:16out of town.
00:34:17Delroy.
00:34:19Yes?
00:34:20Yes?
00:34:21I'll be right down.
00:34:22Mr. Vance,
00:34:23your car is here.
00:34:25Together, we'll.
00:34:30Say, Mr. Vance,
00:34:31who did this?
00:34:32The four Marx brothers.
00:34:35Oh, hello, Vance.
00:34:43Good morning, Mr. Dress.
00:34:45Anything new?
00:34:46Well, you called my hand
00:34:47last night.
00:34:48Still stuck.
00:34:49I, uh,
00:34:50afraid I took up
00:34:51that challenge of yours
00:34:52to solve a murder
00:34:53by a professional
00:34:54too soon.
00:34:55This was no
00:34:56professional job.
00:34:58Oh, Albert,
00:34:59that door.
00:35:01Everybody there,
00:35:02including me,
00:35:03threatened to kill Benson.
00:35:04They were all
00:35:05saw it,
00:35:06that financial genius.
00:35:08What's the matter?
00:35:10Albert,
00:35:10get that door.
00:35:18You know,
00:35:18somehow I had
00:35:19the impression
00:35:19that, uh,
00:35:20Albert was
00:35:21Mr. Benson's man.
00:35:22Uh, so he was.
00:35:23I just took him
00:35:24on today.
00:35:25Oh.
00:35:25You see,
00:35:26Benson's dress ties
00:35:27were always tied
00:35:28smart,
00:35:29and Albert there
00:35:30was the boy
00:35:31who tied them.
00:35:31That's it.
00:35:32I see.
00:35:33Oh, come in,
00:35:34Frank.
00:35:35Good morning.
00:35:36Good morning.
00:35:37Those two women
00:35:38that were there
00:35:39last night, Vance,
00:35:39never get mixed
00:35:41up with women.
00:35:42They're dynamite.
00:35:43No brain.
00:35:45Yes, sir?
00:35:46Yes.
00:35:47You see,
00:35:47I don't let
00:35:48just anybody
00:35:49put a razor on me.
00:35:51Neither did Napoleon.
00:35:52Yes, I read
00:35:53about that.
00:35:54That's where
00:35:55I got the idea.
00:35:56Now, Mr. Gray,
00:35:57I wondered
00:35:57if I could get you
00:35:58to help me out.
00:36:00Sure.
00:36:01I'd better.
00:36:01Or they'll be
00:36:02indicting me again.
00:36:04If everything
00:36:05those birds
00:36:05tried to pin on me
00:36:06stuck,
00:36:07I'd have worn out
00:36:08a carload of electric chairs
00:36:09by now.
00:36:10You see,
00:36:11my business
00:36:12makes me acquainted
00:36:13with a lot of tough mugs.
00:36:15And Markham
00:36:16and that detective,
00:36:17he,
00:36:18call me in
00:36:19every time
00:36:19an automobile backfires.
00:36:21But I don't mind.
00:36:23That's their job.
00:36:24Yes, so it is.
00:36:25Well, Mr. Gray,
00:36:27something the police
00:36:27overlooked
00:36:28at the Benson Lodge
00:36:29seems to point
00:36:30to one of the guests
00:36:31there last night.
00:36:32And I thought
00:36:33perhaps you might
00:36:34know someone
00:36:34who would look
00:36:35into his room,
00:36:36his hotel room,
00:36:37for me,
00:36:37professionally.
00:36:40Well, you asked
00:36:40them all early, eh?
00:36:42Well, who?
00:36:43I know a stool pigeon
00:36:44that you might use
00:36:45as a bellhop.
00:36:46Of course,
00:36:47he'd have to have
00:36:47a package or something
00:36:48that he was delivering
00:36:50in case someone
00:36:51walked in on me.
00:36:52Oh, whatever.
00:36:52Very good.
00:36:53You wasn't looking
00:36:53for me,
00:36:54were you, Albert?
00:36:54Come on in here.
00:36:56See you, Gray.
00:36:58Oh, you're here.
00:37:00Oh, yes, Sergeant.
00:37:01I'm here.
00:37:02Well, I wasn't
00:37:02but a minute
00:37:03behind you
00:37:03on this one.
00:37:04I'm taking you
00:37:05downtown.
00:37:06Get in there
00:37:07and get ready.
00:37:07But, sir,
00:37:08please...
00:37:08Get your hat.
00:37:09What's the idea?
00:37:11You too, Gray.
00:37:12Mr. Markham's
00:37:13got some questions
00:37:14he wants to ask
00:37:15both you boys.
00:37:16All right.
00:37:17Just as soon
00:37:17as I'm through here.
00:37:19Didn't I tell you
00:37:19they tried
00:37:20to pin this on me?
00:37:21Oh, you never
00:37:22killed Benson.
00:37:23Not personally,
00:37:24you didn't.
00:37:25But when I learned
00:37:26that Albert here
00:37:27was working
00:37:27for Benson yesterday
00:37:28and for Gray today...
00:37:31Well,
00:37:31I don't have to explain
00:37:33that to you,
00:37:33Mr. Vance.
00:37:34Hurry up, Albert.
00:37:35So, Albert the murderer
00:37:37and Gray's accessory,
00:37:39huh?
00:37:40Certainly the rest
00:37:41of our little group
00:37:42won't object to that,
00:37:43will they, Mr. Gray?
00:37:44Hardly.
00:37:44I'm on my way
00:37:45to not, Sergeant.
00:37:46Exhibition of Japanese print.
00:37:48I'll see you later,
00:37:49no doubt,
00:37:49if you'll excuse me.
00:37:50Hello.
00:37:51Hurry up
00:37:52and get him washed up.
00:37:56All right.
00:37:57The bag's mine.
00:37:58I was in his room then.
00:38:00After climbing
00:38:01in the back window.
00:38:02Why?
00:38:03How did you find out?
00:38:04Well, Harry Gray
00:38:05was present, you know.
00:38:06But Gray's other.
00:38:07He was in the kitchen
00:38:08making coffee.
00:38:09I see.
00:38:10Harry Gray
00:38:10can't tangle me in this.
00:38:12Why did you try
00:38:12to leave town?
00:38:15Find out,
00:38:16if you can.
00:38:17Don't be so picturesque.
00:38:19I'm not a jury.
00:38:20Oh, you're a fool.
00:38:21If you think I...
00:38:22Why did you go
00:38:22to that house?
00:38:23To talk to Benson
00:38:24about my account.
00:38:25He sold me out.
00:38:27We quarreled.
00:38:28Then you needed money.
00:38:30No.
00:38:31Did you, uh,
00:38:32ever see that before?
00:38:36No.
00:38:38Benson was interested in you.
00:38:41Suppose we say
00:38:42that he attacked you.
00:38:43Well?
00:38:45If you'll excuse me,
00:38:46uh,
00:38:46your reputation
00:38:47is well known.
00:38:49The Bortheim suicide
00:38:51two years ago.
00:38:52The case of...
00:38:53Never mind that.
00:38:54I've liked men
00:38:55in my time.
00:38:56They've liked me.
00:38:57What of it?
00:38:59I didn't like
00:39:00Tony Benson,
00:39:01but I didn't kill him.
00:39:02If my thoughts
00:39:03could have killed
00:39:04the swine,
00:39:04he'd have been
00:39:04dead long ago.
00:39:06The rest of me
00:39:07in the reception room
00:39:08there.
00:39:09Wait, please.
00:39:14Sergeant?
00:39:15Yes, Chief?
00:39:16Get Marlow
00:39:16and Mrs. Banning in.
00:39:18Yes, and you want
00:39:19that ballot of Gray's,
00:39:20too,
00:39:20when I'm through with him.
00:39:21You know, Chief,
00:39:22there's something funny
00:39:23about...
00:39:23I never mind that
00:39:24now, Sergeant.
00:39:26Delroy seems upset.
00:39:28I don't wonder.
00:39:29You barked at her.
00:39:31You shouldn't bark
00:39:32at the ladies,
00:39:32old man.
00:39:33Oh, I'm busy.
00:39:34This is not the only
00:39:34case in New York,
00:39:35and you're not
00:39:36helping me any.
00:39:37You're more flippant
00:39:38than usual today.
00:39:39Well, this was a
00:39:39particularly flippant
00:39:41murder, Markham.
00:39:42And if you go on
00:39:43trusting clues like those,
00:39:45you'll be goodlier still.
00:39:48Have you a clue?
00:39:49I have instructed
00:39:50my lawyer.
00:39:50Get out.
00:39:51Voila.
00:39:53I can't conceive
00:39:54who would have
00:39:54good old Tony
00:39:55off of the way.
00:39:56Well, we were just
00:39:57planning our fall
00:39:58hunting trip
00:39:59for this month.
00:40:00Oh, you hunt,
00:40:00Mr. Mahler.
00:40:01Be quiet, Dolly.
00:40:01You keep off of it.
00:40:02You will have both
00:40:03of us.
00:40:03What's that?
00:40:04Oh, I love to hunt.
00:40:05I love to hunt.
00:40:07I must be the
00:40:07Sir Edward B.
00:40:08Never mind all that.
00:40:09This envelope
00:40:10with your name on it
00:40:11was found
00:40:12in Benson's desk.
00:40:13It contains
00:40:14three very
00:40:14interesting documents.
00:40:16Then it was useless.
00:40:17He didn't have it
00:40:17with him.
00:40:18What were useless?
00:40:19Please follow them.
00:40:20The first is
00:40:21a cancelled check
00:40:22of Benson
00:40:23made out to
00:40:23Adolf Mahler
00:40:24for $10,000.
00:40:26Oh.
00:40:27The second
00:40:28is a confession
00:40:30signed by you
00:40:30admitting this check
00:40:31to be a forgery.
00:40:32And the third
00:40:33is a note
00:40:34for $10,000
00:40:36made out to
00:40:36Anthony Benson
00:40:37signed by
00:40:38Adolf Mahler.
00:40:39Yes, yes.
00:40:39Oh, I should have
00:40:41mentioned those things
00:40:41before.
00:40:42You know,
00:40:43my financial
00:40:44arrangement
00:40:44were not all
00:40:46one could desire.
00:40:47I shouldn't have
00:40:48left you.
00:40:49unfortunately
00:40:49to
00:40:51protect
00:40:52Madame Stout
00:40:53Mr. Benson
00:40:54requires $10,000.
00:40:56Oh, and you
00:40:56saw you forged
00:40:57his name?
00:40:57Oh, you mean
00:40:58it would have
00:40:58been a forgery
00:40:59if he had
00:40:59made a complaint?
00:41:00Well, it's a sense
00:41:01he can't make one now.
00:41:03The forgery
00:41:03is just the same,
00:41:04Sergeant,
00:41:04but I'll take that
00:41:04up later.
00:41:05He forges Benson's
00:41:06name,
00:41:07pays him back
00:41:08with his own money.
00:41:10Marvelous.
00:41:10Well, I explained
00:41:12it to dear old
00:41:13Sonia once,
00:41:14of course,
00:41:14and offered him
00:41:15this note.
00:41:16Which falls
00:41:16due today.
00:41:17Yes, and...
00:41:18You mean to tell
00:41:19me that Benson
00:41:20accepted your
00:41:20note without
00:41:21security?
00:41:21Oh, well,
00:41:22naturally.
00:41:23Yeah, well,
00:41:24what was wrapped
00:41:25in a piece of
00:41:26paper which was
00:41:27found in the
00:41:28wood box
00:41:29with your name
00:41:29on it.
00:41:31Tony gave me
00:41:32a party
00:41:32for my birthday
00:41:33and presented
00:41:34me with a
00:41:35gold pencil.
00:41:36I have it
00:41:36signed.
00:41:37You didn't tell
00:41:38me it was
00:41:38your birthday.
00:41:39Paula, be quiet.
00:41:41You will get
00:41:41me in the
00:41:42electric chair.
00:41:42But, Tony, I...
00:41:43You will come
00:41:44with me.
00:41:45This is the
00:41:46security that you
00:41:46gave Benson
00:41:47for that note?
00:41:48Oh, so Miss
00:41:50Darrow told you.
00:41:51Who?
00:41:52Those first
00:41:53are Miss
00:41:53Darrow's, and
00:41:54she threatened
00:41:54to kill Benson
00:41:55her first.
00:41:56Delroy?
00:41:56Yes, she's a
00:41:57snagged woman.
00:41:58I'm through.
00:41:59I'm finished with
00:42:00her.
00:42:00Now you are the
00:42:01wolf to me again,
00:42:02darling.
00:42:03You think I would
00:42:04accompany you
00:42:04through your
00:42:05thordid affair?
00:42:06Oh, please.
00:42:07Miss Darrow
00:42:07loaned me her
00:42:08first, and I...
00:42:09What a lovely
00:42:10liar.
00:42:11He bought them
00:42:12for me one day
00:42:13and stole them
00:42:13the next.
00:42:14Oh, Adolf,
00:42:15that's what became
00:42:16of the money
00:42:16I sent you
00:42:17to cover my
00:42:17marble.
00:42:18No wonder
00:42:19you forged
00:42:19that check.
00:42:20Why, you...
00:42:21You!
00:42:22What were you
00:42:23doing sneaking
00:42:23into Benson's
00:42:24house last night?
00:42:25Both of you.
00:42:25Why did you
00:42:26quarrel with him?
00:42:27I wanted to get
00:42:28that set
00:42:28confession of
00:42:29forgery.
00:42:30He threatened
00:42:31to put Adolf
00:42:31in jail.
00:42:32Mr. Markham.
00:42:33Adolf's all
00:42:34I have now
00:42:35except the money
00:42:36that makes him
00:42:37love me.
00:42:38You threatened
00:42:39to kill Benson
00:42:39yourself, didn't you?
00:42:40Yes.
00:42:41Well, who didn't?
00:42:42Mr. Markham,
00:42:44may I have
00:42:44that jewel case?
00:42:46Mr. Gray is here,
00:42:47sir.
00:42:47Oh, send him in.
00:42:48Mr. Erwani
00:42:48in the other room.
00:42:49Sergeant.
00:42:51In here, please.
00:42:59You through
00:42:59with my ballot, yet?
00:43:00We are not.
00:43:02In a minute, Gray.
00:43:06Well, Mr. Detective,
00:43:08the newspaper boys
00:43:09are certainly
00:43:09having a lot of fun
00:43:10with you
00:43:10being on the scene
00:43:12of the crime
00:43:12last night.
00:43:14They don't seem
00:43:15to take your presence
00:43:15at the scene
00:43:16of the murder
00:43:17quite so humorously.
00:43:18No one ever
00:43:19laughs at me.
00:43:20They used to
00:43:21when I was a kid.
00:43:22But I taught
00:43:23them not to.
00:43:24But you,
00:43:26Philo Vance,
00:43:27the famous
00:43:28amateur detective,
00:43:28to be in
00:43:30on the draw
00:43:31and then raised out.
00:43:32How do you stand it?
00:43:34Perhaps I haven't
00:43:35completed my draw.
00:43:37I'll see you
00:43:38in, Gray.
00:43:39Why not?
00:43:41I'm used to that,
00:43:43Markham.
00:43:46Vance,
00:43:47Delroy's nothing.
00:43:48Did you notice
00:43:49that she didn't even
00:43:49ask if her pearls
00:43:50were still there?
00:43:51No, because she knew
00:43:52they weren't.
00:43:53Because she got them.
00:43:54No?
00:43:54She tried to leave town,
00:43:55didn't she?
00:43:56Where was she going,
00:43:57you know?
00:43:57Yes, Boston.
00:43:59Oh, Vance,
00:44:00I'm tired.
00:44:00I'm tired of all
00:44:01these human passions
00:44:02and lies and...
00:44:04You don't suppose
00:44:05they'll beat us
00:44:05in the election
00:44:06Tuesday, do you?
00:44:07Solving this case
00:44:08won't lose you
00:44:09any votes.
00:44:10Well, I have solved it.
00:44:12Sergeant,
00:44:13these complications,
00:44:14Marla and Mrs. Banning
00:44:16and that fool
00:44:17valence simply obscured
00:44:18the direct evidence
00:44:18against Delroy.
00:44:20Yes, Chief.
00:44:21Sergeant,
00:44:22Exhibit A,
00:44:24B, and C
00:44:25versus Fanny Delroy.
00:44:27Label them
00:44:28for the grand jury.
00:44:29I am going to ask
00:44:30for her indictment
00:44:31this afternoon.
00:44:32On that evidence?
00:44:33Vance,
00:44:34I may not know
00:44:34Japanese art,
00:44:36but I am still
00:44:37District Attorney
00:44:38of New York.
00:44:41Defense counsel
00:44:42in the McGuire case, sir.
00:44:43You have to wait.
00:44:44Are they to be detained here?
00:44:46Sergeant,
00:44:46turn Miss Delroy
00:44:47over to the custody
00:44:48of a mason.
00:44:49Yes, sir.
00:44:50I'll have Mr. O'Brien
00:44:51over at Chief's office
00:44:52right away.
00:44:53Yeah.
00:44:54Don't make a mistake,
00:44:55old man.
00:44:57You can't afford to.
00:44:58If you'll show me
00:44:59where I am,
00:45:00I'd like to show you.
00:45:01There are some bits
00:45:02of stringy fuzz
00:45:03across the front
00:45:04of Vincent's weskit.
00:45:05You have that weskit,
00:45:06of course.
00:45:07Yes,
00:45:07in the medical examiner's office.
00:45:09What's that got to do with it?
00:45:11Have I ever let you down?
00:45:13Well, no.
00:45:14Well, suppose we take a look
00:45:15at that weskit, then.
00:45:18All right.
00:45:24Charlie Cawthorne.
00:45:25Yes, sir.
00:45:36Vance,
00:45:37this looks like a whale
00:45:38who's chased to me.
00:45:39Oh, pardon me.
00:45:40Uh, suppose you turn east
00:45:42at the next corner.
00:45:45Oh!
00:45:47That shot, Vance.
00:45:49Stop the car.
00:45:50No, no.
00:45:50My apartment.
00:45:51Quick!
00:45:51That shot was not for me,
00:45:53Markham.
00:45:53I had a silencer
00:45:54on that gun.
00:46:03What makes you think
00:46:04the bullet was meant
00:46:05for you?
00:46:07Something I said
00:46:08in your office.
00:46:09They must have been overheard.
00:46:10By whom?
00:46:12All the possibilities
00:46:13were there, weren't they?
00:46:14Well, I still think
00:46:15it's done, Roy.
00:46:17But, Markham,
00:46:18do women kill
00:46:20merely to recover
00:46:21a string of pearls?
00:46:22Well, suppose
00:46:22Besson enforced
00:46:23his attention on pearls.
00:46:25Suppose that he attempted
00:46:26to, uh...
00:46:27Can you imagine
00:46:27Besson, with his vanity,
00:46:29attempting anything
00:46:30without his toupee?
00:46:32I've got it.
00:46:33What do you mean?
00:46:34Albert.
00:46:35The minute you told me
00:46:36that Albert brought
00:46:37that handbag
00:46:37out to Gray that night...
00:46:38Gray simply went out there
00:46:39to spend the night
00:46:40with Besson,
00:46:41who was nervous.
00:46:42Well, he picked
00:46:42a swell chaperone.
00:46:44Yeah, Gray forgot
00:46:45and left his bag
00:46:45in Besson's room
00:46:46at the club.
00:46:47Besson phoned
00:46:48and Albert brought it out,
00:46:49that's all.
00:46:49And where did Albert
00:46:50go after that?
00:46:52He claimed
00:46:52that he took the train
00:46:53back to town.
00:46:54Well, that's no alibi.
00:46:56Well, he only started
00:46:57working for Benson
00:46:58six weeks ago.
00:46:59And when I photographed him,
00:47:00he nearly threw a fist.
00:47:02You know, Markham,
00:47:02because Albert refuses
00:47:04to tell the police
00:47:05the history of his life,
00:47:06Sergeant insists
00:47:07that he's a gunman
00:47:08in disguise.
00:47:09Well, he's a foreigner.
00:47:10Well, my case
00:47:11against Delroy.
00:47:13So, Sergeant,
00:47:13you tell Smithers
00:47:14to prepare the indictment.
00:47:15Yes, sir.
00:47:16Now, just a moment.
00:47:19I'm not going to let you
00:47:20make fools of yourself.
00:47:22Markham until tomorrow night,
00:47:23let me handle this
00:47:24in my own way.
00:47:25Now, if you don't,
00:47:26on the day after tomorrow,
00:47:28the morning papers
00:47:29and I, not you,
00:47:30will have solved
00:47:31the murder of Anthony Benson.
00:47:32And that's election day.
00:47:34You stopped me last night
00:47:35from proceeding
00:47:36with I saw fit.
00:47:37And I got a bullet
00:47:38in my arm.
00:47:40Delroy had the real motive.
00:47:42Motive.
00:47:43Drop a nickel in the slot
00:47:44and get a motive.
00:47:45Everybody has some motive
00:47:47for murdering somebody.
00:47:48Yeah, be careful
00:47:49somebody doesn't murder you.
00:47:50No, nobody's going
00:47:51to get him, Chief.
00:47:52I'll watch over you,
00:47:53Mr. Vance.
00:47:54Thank you, Sergeant.
00:47:55Oh, tell me,
00:47:56did that firearms expert
00:47:57of yours say
00:47:58when he would know
00:47:58about those bullets?
00:47:59Sometime today.
00:48:00Now, see him.
00:48:01And if you don't mind, Markham,
00:48:03I'd like to have
00:48:03Miss Delroy's jewel case
00:48:05brought to me here
00:48:05this afternoon.
00:48:06Right.
00:48:07Then I want
00:48:08a policewoman.
00:48:09A policewoman?
00:48:10Yes.
00:48:11Say, I can handle
00:48:12anything in this case.
00:48:14Well, very good, Sergeant.
00:48:15This is a little job
00:48:17of chambermaiding
00:48:17in a hotel.
00:48:19Oh.
00:48:22Hmm.
00:48:32This is a bullet
00:48:33that killed Benson.
00:48:34The rifling marks on it
00:48:36correspond exactly
00:48:37with the rifling
00:48:37on the inside
00:48:38of the barrel
00:48:38of that gun
00:48:39you picked up
00:48:39after the murder.
00:48:41This one
00:48:42is the one
00:48:43that hit Mr. Markham.
00:48:44The same kind
00:48:45of a bullet
00:48:45fired from the same
00:48:46kind of a gun.
00:48:47The trouble is
00:48:48that this is such
00:48:49a special nick
00:48:50that I don't understand
00:48:51how could the two of them
00:48:52exactly alike around here.
00:48:54Excuse me, Mr. Vance.
00:48:55Yes, well,
00:48:55here's the picture
00:48:56of those fingerprints
00:48:56you wanted.
00:48:57Oh, good.
00:48:58And that coffee can,
00:49:00you left it there,
00:49:01all right.
00:49:01Yes, sir.
00:49:02Stuck it back
00:49:02on the kitchen shelf.
00:49:04What gets me
00:49:05is Sergeant Heath
00:49:05said there was no explosion
00:49:07when Markham was shot.
00:49:08Now, this type of gun
00:49:09was designed in Russia
00:49:10during the Revolution
00:49:11for the protection
00:49:12of the women
00:49:13of the aristocracy.
00:49:14A few drifted to Paris
00:49:15and were copied
00:49:16to the underworld.
00:49:17But there was never
00:49:18a silencer
00:49:19manufactured for that gun.
00:49:20Ah, but there was, Captain.
00:49:22In this article
00:49:23by the late Bale
00:49:24of the Paris police,
00:49:25both the gun
00:49:26and its tiny silencer
00:49:27are described.
00:49:29You might keep
00:49:30that copy for your files.
00:49:32And, Captain,
00:49:33if there should be
00:49:33a call for me,
00:49:34I'll be at the reference
00:49:35room at the time.
00:49:36I'll let you know.
00:49:37Goodbye.
00:49:38Goodbye.
00:49:42But for strength
00:49:43of composition,
00:49:44Mr. Vance,
00:49:45and for unusual
00:49:46delicacy of line,
00:49:48I would...
00:49:48Oh, Stan.
00:49:49Pardon me.
00:49:50Yes, sir.
00:49:50Is Mr. Markham all right?
00:49:51Well, no, sir.
00:49:52Sergeant Heath
00:49:53is with him.
00:49:57As I wish
00:49:57saying, Mr. Vance,
00:49:58I could do no better
00:49:59than to recommend
00:50:00to you
00:50:00these three very
00:50:01choice examples
00:50:02of the Yuki Oye
00:50:04school.
00:50:05Now, these,
00:50:05Mr. Vance,
00:50:06are a rare opportunity.
00:50:07If you don't
00:50:08take advantage of it,
00:50:09sir,
00:50:09I assure you
00:50:10you'll regret it
00:50:11and you'll...
00:50:11Hey, hey.
00:50:12Who are you?
00:50:13Who am I?
00:50:14Who are you?
00:50:15Oh, pardon me, Sergeant.
00:50:16This is my print dealer.
00:50:18He's not dangerous.
00:50:20Oh.
00:50:20If you would
00:50:21step aside, please.
00:50:23Mr. Vance,
00:50:24these three...
00:50:25I'd better take
00:50:26that door,
00:50:26Mr. Vance.
00:50:27You know,
00:50:27we can't be
00:50:27too careful today.
00:50:29All right, Sergeant.
00:50:30Oh, by the way,
00:50:31you haven't forgotten
00:50:31that jewel case,
00:50:32have you?
00:50:33Right here.
00:50:36Of course,
00:50:37Mr. Vance,
00:50:38I don't want
00:50:38to force these
00:50:39apart of you.
00:50:40I have in the portfolio
00:50:41something that might
00:50:42interest you
00:50:42still more.
00:50:43If I can only
00:50:44find it here,
00:50:45it was something
00:50:46I was particularly
00:50:46anxious to bring
00:50:48to your attention.
00:50:49Ah, yes.
00:50:50Here we have it.
00:50:50These three
00:50:51from the Wright
00:50:52collection,
00:50:53Tokubai,
00:50:55Narinovi,
00:50:56and Hiroshige.
00:50:57Commonly referred
00:50:58to, you know,
00:50:59as the three
00:51:00Hiroshiges.
00:51:01Oh, but...
00:51:02Did you get it?
00:51:03Yes, sir.
00:51:03All the sacks
00:51:04were tied up
00:51:05with a cord
00:51:06like that,
00:51:06except in one.
00:51:07And that one?
00:51:08Well, somebody
00:51:09must have cut it off,
00:51:10like you said.
00:51:11Say, what are you
00:51:11bent up to?
00:51:12It's all right, Sergeant.
00:51:12I'll explain later.
00:51:13Oh, but...
00:51:14Will you stand by
00:51:15at Mr. Markham's
00:51:15office, please?
00:51:16Yes, sir.
00:51:17Sergeant,
00:51:18we're getting warm.
00:51:20What do you mean
00:51:20we're getting warm
00:51:21from that?
00:51:22Mr. Vance,
00:51:23may I not
00:51:24call your attention
00:51:24to these very...
00:51:25Oh, uh...
00:51:27I'll take the
00:51:28Hiroshige.
00:51:28Three thousand,
00:51:29you said, huh?
00:51:30Right, thank you.
00:51:31Correct.
00:51:33Pardon me.
00:51:35Three thousand bucks
00:51:36for those chromos?
00:51:38What's the psychology
00:51:39in that, Mr. Vance?
00:51:40Sergeant, we're hot.
00:51:42Then will you please
00:51:43let me in
00:51:44on this string
00:51:45bonfire business?
00:51:47You'll observe, Sergeant,
00:51:48that this twine burns
00:51:49slowly but surely.
00:51:52Oh, would you
00:51:52take that, please?
00:51:54Yeah, no, he.
00:51:57Oh, she has.
00:51:59Good.
00:52:01Yes, Sergeant?
00:52:02Mrs. Banning's confessed.
00:52:03Slowly but surely.
00:52:09It was to protect Adolph.
00:52:11I went to Benson's room.
00:52:12I pleaded with him.
00:52:14He had that jewel case,
00:52:15so I thought he must have
00:52:17Adolph's confession of forgery
00:52:18and his note, too.
00:52:21Benson laughed at me.
00:52:22There was a gun on the table,
00:52:24so I...
00:52:25I shot him.
00:52:27He went to the door
00:52:28to call,
00:52:29and then he fell.
00:52:31And where was Mr. Marlowe?
00:52:33In one of the guest rooms.
00:52:35Oh, I swear to you,
00:52:37Mr. Marlowe is in open.
00:52:39Now, Mrs. Banning.
00:52:40Yes?
00:52:42Have you a hairpin?
00:52:45What?
00:52:46A hairpin.
00:52:48Well, yes.
00:52:50May I have it?
00:52:57Sergeant Heath's on the wire,
00:52:58Mr. Vance.
00:52:59Is there anyone
00:53:00in the reception room?
00:53:01No, sir.
00:53:01I'll take it there.
00:53:08Hello.
00:53:11Oh, yes.
00:53:12Oh, just a minute.
00:53:14What are you doing up?
00:53:16You think I can lie
00:53:17around your apartment
00:53:17with the newspapers
00:53:18panning me about
00:53:19this Benson crime?
00:53:20Where's Sergeant Heath?
00:53:21I can't find him anywhere.
00:53:23I have him on the wire.
00:53:24He's doing something for me.
00:53:26Oh.
00:53:27Also for you.
00:53:28Oh.
00:53:31Yes, Sergeant.
00:53:33Yes.
00:53:36All right.
00:53:37Arrange it for
00:53:39six sharp.
00:53:40And you'd better
00:53:41set that clock out there
00:53:42and your watch
00:53:43with mine.
00:53:44I make it just
00:53:444.33.
00:53:47Right.
00:53:49Mr. Vance,
00:53:50if you're through with me,
00:53:52well, I haven't had
00:53:53any lunch yet,
00:53:54then...
00:53:54Oh, I'm terribly sorry,
00:53:56but...
00:53:56Suppose you eat first
00:53:57and then pick up
00:53:58that policewoman
00:53:59whose chamber
00:54:00made him for us
00:54:00at that hotel, will you?
00:54:01All right.
00:54:02Good.
00:54:05What do you think
00:54:05of her confession?
00:54:08Well, more confession
00:54:09of love
00:54:09than a confession
00:54:10of guilt.
00:54:11Don't you think?
00:54:12You mean that she's
00:54:13trying to protect Mahler?
00:54:14Well, whatever.
00:54:16Mr. Gray is here, sir.
00:54:18Send him in.
00:54:21How do you do?
00:54:23Oh, hello.
00:54:24How are you, Gray?
00:54:25When are you going to
00:54:26play that hand
00:54:27you've been bragging about?
00:54:29Tonight.
00:54:30Would you like to, uh...
00:54:31Step in on the game?
00:54:33Table states?
00:54:34Anything you say.
00:54:35Oh, you say.
00:54:37This will be your party.
00:54:39I don't think so.
00:54:41Markham,
00:54:42I'd like to have
00:54:43all our little group
00:54:44at Benson's Lodge
00:54:45in one hour.
00:54:46And suppose we take
00:54:48along a photograph
00:54:49of Adolf Mahler's
00:54:50fingerprint.
00:55:01I understand this.
00:55:02I don't think yet.
00:55:04Mahler,
00:55:05you mean to tell me
00:55:06that you were just
00:55:06sitting up there alone
00:55:07when the gun went off?
00:55:09How do you know
00:55:10it was a gun?
00:55:10Oh, this is going to be
00:55:12an interesting hand.
00:55:13Well?
00:55:14What I said was
00:55:15that I was not
00:55:16with Mrs. Bennet.
00:55:17I don't want to know
00:55:18where you are not.
00:55:19I want to know
00:55:20where you were.
00:55:24I have a gentleman.
00:55:26Oh, Mrs. Delroy?
00:55:28Yes?
00:55:30He was with me.
00:55:32Remarkable fellow,
00:55:33Mahler.
00:55:33Oh, come on.
00:55:34We're not getting
00:55:34any place at the old man.
00:55:36You'll have your murder,
00:55:36Remarkable,
00:55:37by six o'clock.
00:55:39I can't stand
00:55:40much more of this.
00:55:42If you've got
00:55:42anything on me,
00:55:43say it.
00:55:45This is a rather
00:55:46unusual jewel case
00:55:48of yours,
00:55:48Mrs. Delroy.
00:55:49Who would you...
00:55:50You know, Markham,
00:55:51Mrs. Delroy
00:55:52has a better motive
00:55:53for keeping Anthony Benson
00:55:54permanently quiet
00:55:55than any of them.
00:55:56Please.
00:55:57I would like to go.
00:55:58You'll keep quiet.
00:56:00And you, Albert,
00:56:01hiding your path
00:56:02from the police.
00:56:03I was afraid.
00:56:04I don't blame you.
00:56:06Albert's wife
00:56:06is looking for him.
00:56:08He left her
00:56:09in Chicago recently
00:56:10without giving notice,
00:56:11you might say.
00:56:12How much longer
00:56:12is this comedy
00:56:13going to last, Vance?
00:56:14In ten minutes,
00:56:15Markham,
00:56:15it won't be comedy.
00:56:16For one of you,
00:56:17it isn't now,
00:56:19is it?
00:56:20But why give me
00:56:21a ringside seat
00:56:22to the Seance?
00:56:23If any of you comics
00:56:24have got an idea
00:56:25that I had anybody
00:56:26bump Benson off...
00:56:27You certainly had
00:56:28motive enough,
00:56:29didn't you?
00:56:31What motive?
00:56:32Simply matter-of-fact
00:56:33revenge for having
00:56:34sold you out
00:56:34on the market.
00:56:35You,
00:56:36the illustrious
00:56:37Harry Gray,
00:56:38the big shot.
00:56:40Vanity and arrogant,
00:56:42Markham,
00:56:43usually motivate
00:56:44the behavior
00:56:44of the intelligent gunman.
00:56:46Gunman?
00:56:47Look here.
00:56:48But you were
00:56:48with us here
00:56:49when the shot was fired
00:56:51and the body fell.
00:56:52And just before that,
00:56:54I was in the kitchen
00:56:55making coffee.
00:56:56That's right.
00:56:57I remember.
00:56:57I remember that it was
00:56:58very over-boiled coffee.
00:57:00Must have been on the fire
00:57:01a long time,
00:57:02was it?
00:57:05But Gray couldn't have
00:57:06made the coffee
00:57:07that night.
00:57:08I made it for Paula.
00:57:10I wouldn't call me a liar
00:57:11if I were you.
00:57:12Aye,
00:57:13Adolf Mahler made the coffee.
00:57:14And if Mahler did make it,
00:57:16Markham,
00:57:16Mr. Gray was off of this room
00:57:18some five minutes.
00:57:19Doing what?
00:57:21You're dealing.
00:57:21Don't ask me.
00:57:22I'm not.
00:57:23I'm telling you.
00:57:24Mr. Gray didn't make
00:57:26the coffee that night,
00:57:26you know.
00:57:27Who says I didn't?
00:57:28This photograph
00:57:30of the only fingerprints
00:57:31on that freshly unwrapped
00:57:32can of coffee.
00:57:33And this one
00:57:34of your prints,
00:57:35Mahler,
00:57:36prove even to a jury,
00:57:37Markham,
00:57:38that only he
00:57:38touched that coffee can.
00:57:39Oh, stop it.
00:57:41When they took
00:57:42the prints of my fingers
00:57:43this afternoon,
00:57:43I knew you had suspected me.
00:57:45If you are going
00:57:45to accuse me,
00:57:46do it.
00:57:47Oh, this is getting tricky.
00:57:49Oh, two-handed poker
00:57:51isn't so very tricky,
00:57:52do you think?
00:57:53Mr. Gray,
00:57:54just what were you doing
00:57:55while Markham and I
00:57:56sat here that night
00:57:57and Albert came in
00:57:59so mysteriously
00:58:00with your handbag?
00:58:01You tell me.
00:58:04Charm.
00:58:05You crept up
00:58:06those back stairs,
00:58:07tapped on Benson's door.
00:58:09He was changing his collar.
00:58:10You remember, Markham,
00:58:11how it bothered him?
00:58:13Walked in
00:58:13and shot him dead
00:58:15with one of those
00:58:16imported derringers
00:58:17and silencers of yours.
00:58:19Silencers?
00:58:20That's a hot one.
00:58:22You heard the shot
00:58:23while I stood here with you.
00:58:24The shot that killed
00:58:25Benson was silent.
00:58:27No one heard it.
00:58:29Just as no one heard
00:58:30the shot which you
00:58:30fired at me, Gray,
00:58:32and which wounded
00:58:32Mr. Markham.
00:58:34Here at the lodge,
00:58:34however,
00:58:35you arranged for a second
00:58:36shot to explode
00:58:37as Benson's body
00:58:38came tumbling
00:58:39down those stairs.
00:58:40And I suppose
00:58:41the body waited up there
00:58:43for the second shot.
00:58:44Exactly.
00:58:45You arranged that, too.
00:58:49Just as I had.
00:58:58The dummy.
00:58:59A bird.
00:58:59Yes, sir.
00:59:01Supported at the head
00:59:01of the stairs
00:59:02by a piece of twine
00:59:03of the same kind
00:59:04that Mr. Gray
00:59:05cut from a sack of liquor
00:59:06in the basement
00:59:06that night.
00:59:08The twine was caught
00:59:09under Benson's body
00:59:10and looped around
00:59:10a newel post
00:59:11at the head of the stairs.
00:59:12I knew that the body
00:59:14must have been there
00:59:14for several minutes.
00:59:15How did you know?
00:59:16Because if Benson
00:59:17had been shot
00:59:18immediately prior
00:59:19to his tumbling
00:59:20down the stairs,
00:59:21there couldn't possibly
00:59:22have been that puddle
00:59:23of blood on the second
00:59:24step from the top,
00:59:25could there?
00:59:26Very interesting.
00:59:27But where were
00:59:28all these people
00:59:29while I was doing
00:59:29this Houdini stuff?
00:59:31Do you think
00:59:31I'd take a chance
00:59:32of being walked in
00:59:33on like that?
00:59:34But what chance
00:59:35were you taking
00:59:35after you saw
00:59:36that Mrs. Banning
00:59:37was resting
00:59:38on the bed
00:59:39in her room?
00:59:40How did you lose it?
00:59:42Your hairpin,
00:59:43Mrs. Banning.
00:59:44It exactly matches
00:59:46this one,
00:59:47which I found
00:59:48on your pillow
00:59:49up there that night.
00:59:50From the impression
00:59:51of your figure
00:59:52on the bed,
00:59:52you must have been
00:59:53resting there
00:59:54for some time,
00:59:54weren't you?
00:59:55Yes.
00:59:56I was lying there
00:59:57on the top of the fire.
00:59:58All right.
00:59:59But what about
01:00:00Delroy and Marler?
01:00:01Miss Delroy
01:00:02has already told us
01:00:03that Mr. Marler
01:00:04was with her.
01:00:05Discussing
01:00:07of her,
01:00:07as I should think,
01:00:09Mr. Marler
01:00:09had considerable
01:00:10explaining to do
01:00:11if you'll remember.
01:00:12You listened
01:00:13outside their door,
01:00:14and what you heard
01:00:16convinced you
01:00:16that they would
01:00:17remain there
01:00:18for several minutes
01:00:19at least.
01:00:19But how could he
01:00:20have timed the shot?
01:00:21As I just did
01:00:22with the dummy.
01:00:25There's another
01:00:25of Benson's
01:00:26cartridge burglar
01:00:27alarms like this one.
01:00:28You used the one
01:00:29Benson had stuck
01:00:30in the door
01:00:31of his store room.
01:00:32You got it
01:00:33when you were down
01:00:33at the cellar
01:00:34that night.
01:00:35After you had made sure
01:00:36that you would not
01:00:36be interrupted
01:00:37by Mrs. Banning
01:00:38and the others,
01:00:39you hung the body
01:00:40and the alarm
01:00:41on that twine up there.
01:00:42Then you set fire
01:00:44to a loose end
01:00:44of the twine
01:00:45so that when the flame
01:00:46reached the nut,
01:00:47the twine broke,
01:00:48the body fell,
01:00:49and the alarm
01:00:50dropped to the floor
01:00:51where it exploded
01:00:53like this.
01:00:55You were first
01:00:56upstairs after
01:00:57the body fell.
01:00:58You quickly
01:00:58dropped the derringer
01:01:00behind a newel post,
01:01:02picked up the alarm
01:01:03and the string,
01:01:04put them in your pocket,
01:01:06and told me
01:01:07to do my stuff,
01:01:09wasn't it?
01:01:10Well,
01:01:12he meant to kill
01:01:13Benson, you see,
01:01:13but surrounding it
01:01:14with the props
01:01:15he did
01:01:15was simply
01:01:17camouflage,
01:01:18I suppose,
01:01:19to befuddle
01:01:20the amateur.
01:01:21You're going
01:01:22to have the turn
01:01:22of your sweet life
01:01:23trying to hang
01:01:24this on me.
01:01:26The policewoman
01:01:27I used as a chambermaid
01:01:28in your hotel
01:01:29has already
01:01:30hung it on you.
01:01:31She found
01:01:32Miss Delroy's pearl,
01:01:34which you stole
01:01:35that night
01:01:36after the shooting
01:01:37to divert suspicion.
01:01:38Anything else?
01:01:39Oh, yes.
01:01:42The coat you wore,
01:01:43Mr. Gray,
01:01:44it seems that
01:01:45bits of fuzz
01:01:46from the twine
01:01:47you used
01:01:47were on
01:01:48Benson's waistcoat.
01:01:50Also,
01:01:51on the inside
01:01:52of his pocket,
01:01:53the same pocket
01:01:54from which I saw
01:01:55you withdrawing
01:01:56your hand
01:01:56as I followed
01:01:57you up the stairs.
01:01:58You know that
01:01:59isn't enough.
01:02:00Do you think
01:02:00any jury
01:02:01would go for that?
01:02:03Well, if not,
01:02:04I know
01:02:05they'll go for this.
01:02:07The clever little silencer
01:02:08that fits
01:02:08your clever little gun.
01:02:10Another trophy
01:02:11from your room,
01:02:12Mr. Gray,
01:02:13also contributed
01:02:13by our policewoman.
01:02:15Is that enough?
01:02:19All right.
01:02:21You outsmarted me,
01:02:22Vance.
01:02:24I'm game.
01:02:29Hey!
01:02:30Look out,
01:02:31he's got a gun!
01:02:32Stop it!
01:02:32Stop it, Gray!
01:02:47Well, Mr. Vance,
01:02:48I told you
01:02:49I'd watch over you.
01:02:50I can, sir.
01:02:51That baby
01:02:52put three slugs
01:02:53mighty close to me.
01:02:55I'd better call
01:02:56a doc.
01:02:57Well, um,
01:02:58I'll wait outside.
01:03:00I haven't been
01:03:00feeling very bad.
01:03:01All right.
01:03:01I'll take care
01:03:02of you,
01:03:03Dolly, dear.
01:03:04Bert,
01:03:04get that coat
01:03:05and cover him.
01:03:06Yes, sir.
01:03:08That you, Doc?
01:03:10This is Sergeant Heath.
01:03:11I'm out at the Benson Lodge.
01:03:13There's been another murder.
01:03:15I mean, uh,
01:03:16shooting.
01:03:17I did it.
01:03:19Okay.
01:03:21Mr. Vance,
01:03:22may I have
01:03:23a jewel case now?
01:03:25Of course.
01:03:28And don't worry.
01:03:30No one else knows
01:03:31about your daughter.
01:03:34I was going to her
01:03:35when they caught me
01:03:36leaving town.
01:03:38If Benson had found this,
01:03:39he would have held it over me,
01:03:40threatened
01:03:41to tell my little girl
01:03:43what I am.
01:03:46Thank you, Mr. Vance,
01:03:48for not telling them
01:03:49about her.
01:03:55So it was Harry Gray,
01:03:56Mr. Vance.
01:03:58Well,
01:03:59it didn't surprise me any.
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