Scattergood Survives a Murder

Guy Kibbee stars as Scattergood Baines in another outing, well directed by Christy Cabanne. This time it is a murder mystery: two eccentric old ladies have died, leaving their fortune to their cat, and suddenly murders begin to happen...

The Scattergood Baines series, from a series of stories by Clarence Buddington Kelland, never raises its head above its B roots, but the scripts are well written -- this one is particularly good -- and contains a wealth of character actors, including Florence Lake -- best known for playing Edgar Kennedy's wife in his series of shorts for RKO -- Willie Best as Scattergood's shop assistant, and the dependable B lead and A support, Wallace Ford. There's also a nice subplot as John Archer, new owner of the weekly newspaper, tries to make a go of it and romance Margeret Hayes.

It's all very pleasantly managed, and the mystery plot is well handled. Not a classic by any means, it times in at just over an hour and is a fine time-killer.

Scattergood Baines appeared in several short stories written by Clarence Budington Kellend. Six stories where made into short B films in the early 1940s. I have three of these films. I revisit this film often.

Guy Kibbee plays the part of Scattergood in all six films. I would describe Guy as pleasingly plump, with a cubby, cheeked moon face. Scattergood is always happy as he is kindly, he verbally pushes and prods everyone he meets into doing what is best for them (and for him). He is a mixture of Miss Marple and Mother Teresa.

The film is a murder mystery. Two old rich spinster sisters love their cat Matildy. Both sisters die as they take the cat to the vets. When their horse drawn carriage overturns. The Family gather at the Mansion for the reading of the will. After the will is read another three death's take place. Scattergood uses a local newspaper Editor and a bubbling Sheriff to manipulate events to flush out the murder.

I really enjoyed Spencer Charters portrayal of the totally confused Sheriff. It was marvellous to watch Guy Kibbee and Willie Best keep the chuckles coming. At the end of the case, Scattergood encourages the Editor and the Sheriff to take all the credit for solving the case. We know Scattergood pulled all the strings to get to the solution. Scattergood even found time to arrange a love match between the Editor and an out of town Reporter. Scattergood's last line of the film, "Love is like a raindrop. It can fall on anyone.

RKO made six Scattergood Baines films, each starring Guy Kibbee. The first film is fantastic but the later films seemed far removed from this first film in style and quality. Now I am not saying they're bad...but the early ones seem to be the best.

Two old shut-ins are killed in a horse and buggy 'accident'. Soon after, their extended family arrive hoping to be included in the will. However, they are all surprised to hear that the millions won't go to them, but the old ladies' cat! Soon after, one of the family members staying in the mansion is murdered and the cat disappears. Then, other folks start dying. And, for some inexplicable reason, Scattergood is there AND acts like he's a detective working on the case.

In most every way, this is NOT a Scattergood Baines story. He's barely in it and the story is essentially a 1940s B-mystery movie in every way....a very familiar sort of story for the time. As such, it's not bad but as a Scattergood film, it's pretty poor. Very watchable but a film which features little of what was so likable and enjoyable in the first Scattergood movie.