The Case of the Howling Dog (1934)

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Two wealthy neighbors, who make no secret of despising one another, both claim that they're married to Bessie Foley (Mary Astor). When one of the claimants is murdered, Bessie is the prime suspect. Brilliant defense counsel Perry Mason (Warren William), whose spacious offices look like something out… More Two wealthy neighbors, who make no secret of despising one another, both claim that they're married to Bessie Foley (Mary Astor). When one of the claimants is murdered, Bessie is the prime suspect. Brilliant defense counsel Perry Mason (Warren William), whose spacious offices look like something out of the Taj Mahal, takes Bessie's case, aided and abetted by faithful secretary Della Street (Helen Trenholme). Like his later TV counterpart, Mason isn't above suppressing evidence to benefit his client, much to the dismay of district attorney Claude Drumm (Grant Mitchell) and obnoxious but efficient Sgt. Holcomb (Allen Jenkins). The solution to the mystery manages to have its cake and eat it too, but to tell more would spoil it. This initial entry in Warner Bros.' "Perry Mason" film series is also the least fascinating of the bunch, due mainly to Warren William's surprisingly somber approach to the role (he'd lighten up considerably in his subsequent "Mason" outings). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi