A Slight Case of Murder (1938)

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(317 ratings)

Slight Case of Murder is a breakneck-paced comedy starring Edward G. Robinson as a tough but good-hearted bootlegger. When Prohibition is repealed, Robinson faces a financial crisis: His beer tastes so awful that no one wants to drink it legally. As an additional headache, Robinson is under scrutiny… More Slight Case of Murder is a breakneck-paced comedy starring Edward G. Robinson as a tough but good-hearted bootlegger. When Prohibition is repealed, Robinson faces a financial crisis: His beer tastes so awful that no one wants to drink it legally. As an additional headache, Robinson is under scrutiny from the Law, which is waiting to slip the cuffs on him for the slightest infraction. He arrives at his rented Saratoga mansion with his wife (Ruth Donnelly), daughter (Jane Bryan) and adopted son (Bobby Jordan), only to discover that a killer has left four corpses in his bedroom. Robinson and his stooges are forced to hide the bodies before his future son-in-law (Willard Parker), who happens to be a cop, tumbles to the dilemma. Based on a stage play by Howard Lindsay and Damon Runyon, A Slight Case of Murder a just as entertaining in the 1990s as it was fifty years ago (please ignore a tepid 1953 musical remake titled Stop, You're Killing Me). Surprisingly, this film was not a favorite of star Edward G. Robinson, who felt that director Lloyd Bacon rushed through the material without taking full advantage of its comic potential. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Lloyd Bacon
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 26, 1938 Wide
On DVD: Jul 18, 2006

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Outdated mildly amusing black comedy that spoofs the gangster film.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
There are probably more outright laughs in the last half of A Slight Case of Murder than in most modern comedies you'll find playing at your local multiplex....
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It works as a parody of old gangster movies; it works as a screwball comedy of the era; and it remains as funny today as when it was made.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

A Slight Case of Murder is a comedic take on the gangster movie. Edward G. Robinson plays a bootlegger who's forced to go legit once prohibition ends and has trouble keeping his business going on the up and up. He's also got a ton of problems that all come to a head the… More
A Slight Case of Murder is a comedic take on the gangster movie. Edward G. Robinson plays a bootlegger who's forced to go legit once prohibition ends and has trouble keeping his business going on the up and up. He's also got a ton of problems that all come to a head the weekend his daughter introduces her copper fiance to her gangster dad and 4 stiffs end up in the spare room upstairs at his weekend house. A Slight Case of Murder has a few amusing and funny moments but those parts aside the movie's just okay. The dialogue's kind of fun even if the story's just so so. Probably a must for fans of Edward G. but beyond that no big deal.

Cast

            Edward G. Robinson as Remy Marco

            Jane Bryan as Mary Marco

            Allen Jenkins as Mike

            Ruth Donnelly as Nora Marco

            Willard Parker as Dick Whitewood

            John Litel as Post

            Edward S. Brophy as Lefty

            Harold Huber as Guiseppe

            Eric Stanley as Ritter

            Paul Harvey as Mr. Whitewood

            Bobby Jordan as Douglas Fairbanks Rosenbloom

            Joe Downing as Innocence

            Margaret Hamilton as Mrs. Cagie

            George E. Stone as Ex-Jockey Kirk

            Bert Hanlon as Sad Sam

            Jean Benedict as Remy's Secretary

            Harry Seymour as The Singer

            Betty Compson as Loretta

            George Lloyd as Little Dutch

            Duke York as Champ

            Pat Daly as Pete Ryan

            Harry Tenbrook as A Stranger

            Wade Boteler as 3rd Policeman

            Joe Caits as No Nose Cohen

            Ralph Dunn as 2nd Policeman

            John Harmon as Blackhat Gallagher

            Ben Hendricks Jr. as 1st Policeman

            John Hiestand as Radio Commentator

            Carole Landis
            
            Bert Roach as Speakeasy Proprietor

            Myrtle Stedman as Nurse

            Loia Cheaney as Nurse

            Harry Cody as Pessimistic Patron
See full cast