The Panther's Claw

No need to recap the well-reviewed plot beyond that grabber opening scene.

Is it possible that the meekest character actor in Hollywood, Byron Foulger, is actually a slick and clever murderer. Anyway, it looks that way in Claw, even as his Digberry (great name) fumbles around with the cops in scene after scene. From the way he looks and acts, could it be that he's guilty of anything more than an overdue parking ticket. But then, it turns out in the first part he really is the Black Panther or should I say the white kitty. It's a clever premise, using addled actor Foulger as chief suspect as events unfold. In fact, he gets more screen time than even top-billed Blackmer. There should be a special place in Hollywood heaven for unheralded talents like his.

Anyway, it's a generally entertaining little flick from budget-minded PRC. Blackmer turns in a faintly bemused turn as the police commissioner and I like the way he's nagged by the lynch-minded DA (Rawlinson) that sets up an unusual and well-handled conflict. On the downside are a number of plot holes (as others point out), along with an embarrassing turn by Edwards as a hammy Italian, and Mitchell as a stereotypically silly Black of that comedic period. Nevertheless, there's enough imagination and upper-billed acting to lift this little flick beyond the strictly ordinary.

A milquetoast of a man is caught climbing out of a cemetery late one night. Its transpires that he had left 1000 dollars on a grave, in response to a letter sent to him warning of death if did not do so. When he and the copes return to the grave the money is gone. The cops haul the man in to the precinct for trespass and other charges. It transpires that the note is one of many that has been sent to a group of people in the hopes of extorting cash. Murder and mayhem follow.

Low budget PRC special is an odd mix of comedy and mystery. Its a mix that doesn't fully work since the comedy tends to over power the mystery at the most in opportune times. Part of the problem is that the very good Byron Foulger, a supporting stalwart has been pushed to the fore as our milquetoast lead. There is nothing wrong with Foulger in the lead, its just that decades of playing similar roles, usually for comic effect undercuts some of the tension.(I'm guessing this may play better on a second viewing when the flaws might be forgiven or at lest accepted). I know the film was also hurt for me by the cheapness of the sets which included numerous rear screen projections which result in a couple of screens where people just seem to be standing in front of a wall instead of being somewhere.

Worth a look in an undemanding mood.

I was very happy to be able to buy this movie and watch it last weekend. I last saw this movie over 30 years ago. I remember it being good, and I was not disapponted. It has a fairly good mystery, but what makes this movie special is that it's very funny. It has several scenes which I think are classic. The line up scene is hilarious. Byron Foulger gives a great comedic performance.

When people start getting letters instructing them to leave money in public places ( or else!), the police get them together to figure out how to catch "the panther". Sydney Blackmer is Commissioner Colt, and the cops spend a LONG time bugging Mister Digberry (Byron Foulger), even putting him in a police line-up, when there is no witness. They realize he is yet another citizen falling for this scheme, like opera singer Nina Politza, played by Gerta Rozan. Check out Rozan's trivia on imdb... she had an interesting response when her part was cut from a film. The story is pretty slow, light-weight and linear. no surprises, no depth to the characters. Another very long scene between the singer and Enrico Lombardi, a minor, upper-class character who may or may not be involved in any of this. They seem to spend a lot of time on scenes that aren't important to the plot; they should have spent more time on developing the plot rather than filming all these minor scenes that have nothing to do with the story. As usual, in the old black and white films, the police are chasing their own tail rather than find the right suspect. Rick Vallin and John Ince play supporting roles as coppers. Ince was one of the three Ince brothers, all successful stars in holly-weird. Picture quality is just terrible, but it'll do. Directed by William Beaudine, who had directed a bunch of the Bowery Boys films. this one is very okay. meh.

Byron Foulger stars as Everett Digberry, a mild-mannered wigmaker for theatrical folks who, in the film's opening scene, is picked up by the cops climbing out of a cemetery late at night. Taken downtown, he finds a number of acquaintances in the commissioner's office; all of them, like him, have received mysterious letters demanding money and signed only with a panther's paw print.

Sidney Blackmer investigates as police commissioner Thatcher Colt with suavity and humor. He is ably assisted by Ricki Vallin as Anthony Abbot. (Somewhat bizarrely, the original story is also credited to "Anthony Abbot," the pen name of a mystery writer who was not the first to insert "himself" into a story.)

The mystery plot holds interest but doesn't create a huge amount of suspense, although it does take a few interesting turns, including one major shift that arguably renders the film's title misleading (but catchy!).

I would like to know, having watched these characters spend no little time looking over wigs, if Mr. Digberry is correct when he tells the commissioner, "One wigmaker can usually tell another's knot."