The Case of the Black Cat

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

809

YOUR RATING

Ricardo Cortez and June Travis in The Case of the Black Cat (1936)

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Legal Drama Mystery

A bedridden eccentric millionaire, anticipating his own murder, hires Mason to help him rewrite his will, and the lawyer ends up defending the caretaker's cat.A bedridden eccentric millionaire, anticipating his own murder, hires Mason to help him rewrite his will, and the lawyer ends up defending the caretaker's cat.A bedridden eccentric millionaire, anticipating his own murder, hires Mason to help him rewrite his will, and the lawyer ends up defending the caretaker's cat.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

809

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Reportedly, Erle Stanley Gardner, the author of the books, did not approve of the casting of Ricardo Cortez as Perry Mason. He, therefore, was replaced by Donald Woods after doing only one movie. Ironically, many feel that Cortez's performance and this movie, in general, are the best of the series.

Goofs
The so-called "black" cat of the title is, in fact, a gray, brown, and white calico; hence, the original title of the novel "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat" would have been more appropriate and more logical.

Quotes
Della Street: [seated at a booth in the waffle house] Are you tickling my ankle?
Perry Mason: You think I would?
Della Street: I know you are.
[looks down and sees Clinker]
Della Street: Oh!
[picks him up, looks at Perry]
Della Street: I'm sorry, I really thought that was you.
Perry Mason: Well, it's not a bad idea.

Connections
Followed by The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1937)

User reviews32

Featured review

Cut Above Perry Mason

Very entertaining entry in the Perry Mason series. This is due mainly to the appearance of Ricardo Cortez who brings a whole new persona to the role. Affable and good-natured and with a ready smile, Cortez makes Mason seem easy-going and not dependent on alcohol as was the Warren William interpretation. William almost seemed embarrassed but Cortez is like an old shoe, comfortable in the role. Time and again he manages to come off as sympathetic in thankless roles.

"The Case Of The Black Cat" also has a very imaginative script in its favor, so much so that you won't guess the surprise twist ending. Once you see it you might feel the movie doesn't play fair by introducing hitherto undivulged information, but you will agree it is extremely clever. The cast is comprised of some Hollywood backbenchers but they are a very capable group. This picture is as good as "The Case Of The Howling Dog" which starred Warren William, which I thought was the best of the series. So you could make a pun about cats and dogs - if only I could think of one.