The Case of the Black Cat
1936Lawyer Perry Mason is summoned to the Laxter mansion in the dead of night to write granddaughter Wilma out of invalid Peter Laxter's will, to keep her from marrying suspected fortune hunter Doug. Peter dies in a mysterious fire and Laxter's two grandsons, Sam Laxter and Frank Oafley, inherit his estate on the condition old caretaker Schuster and his cat Clinker are kept on. When cat-hating Sam threatens Clinker, Perry steps in and learns Laxter's death was suspicious and the family fortune and diamonds are missing. Schuster's found dead in his basement apartment, Laxter's nurse Louise is murdered with Schuster's crutch, and circumstantial evidence brings Doug to trial for Louise's death. Mason's investigation produces a surprise witness who turns the trial around. Written by Sister Grimm
Acted in
Ricardo Cortez
as Perry Mason
June Travis
as Della Street
Jane Bryan
as Wilma Laxter
Craig Reynolds
as Frank Oafley
Carlyle Moore Jr.
as Douglas Keene
Bill Elliott
as Sam Laxter
Nedda Harrigan
as Nurse Louise DeVoe
Garry Owen
as Paul Drake
Harry Davenport
as Peter Laxter
George Rosener
as Charles Ashton
Gordon Hart
as Dr. Jacobs
Clarence Wilson
as Mr. Shuster
Guy Usher
as District Attorney Hamilton Burger
Lottie Williams
as Mrs. Pixley
Harry Hayden
as Reverend Stillwell
Earl Askam
as Desk Officer (uncredited)
Don Downen
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Kenneth Gibson
as Clerk (uncredited)
Sol Gorss
as Poker Player (uncredited)
Harrison Greene
as Worried Client (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton
as Bailiff (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee
as Brandon - Oafley's Butler (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
as Reporter (uncredited)
John Marston
as Judge Robert Fellows (uncredited)
Edward McWade
as Keene's Apartment Manager (uncredited)
Lyle Moraine
as Reporter (uncredited)
Paul Panzer
as Poker Player (uncredited)
Ferdinand Schumann-Heink
as Mason's Driver (uncredited)
John Sheehan
as Sergeant Holcomb (uncredited)
Billy Wayne
as Poker Player (uncredited)
Claire White
as Woman (uncredited)
Tom Wilson
as Waffle Shop Construction Foreman (uncredited)
Frank Bruno
as Construction Foreman (uncredited)