Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Walter Sloane Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

GManfred Gosh, where to start. The name Perry Mason has a cachet about it, derived in part from the 50's TV series and from the books written by Erle Stanley Gardner. I wonder what Mr. Gardner would have thought about how Hollywood wrecked one of his best-sellers with the god-awful treatment found in "The Case Of The Lucky Legs".It is presented as a comedy-mystery, accent on the comedy angle. Did audiences find this stuff funny in the mid-30's? Did they notice the many loopholes in the plot left unresolved? More importantly, did Archie Mayo, a veteran Hollywood director, mail this one in? read some other reviews for a plot rundown, but there is very little to recommend this picture to unsuspecting viewers, save for Genevieve Tobin, who plays Della Street. She, at least, emerges with her dignity intact. This picture is illogical, the plot far-fetched and as funny as a funeral cortege.

kidboots Earle Stanley Gardner was delighted when approached by Warner Bros. to film his Perry Mason books. Although he had only published his first - "The Case of the Velvet Claws" in 1933, it was a sensational best seller and he was able to give up law and write full time. Warren William was a great choice for Perry, he was at his best playing ruthless businessmen and had already played a popular detective, Philo Vance, in 1934. The first film "The Case of the Howling Dog" was a faithful adaptation of the book - but then MGM released "The Thin Man". Suddenly Hollywood was awash with witty, breezy detectives. Warner Bros. wanted to inject some humor and light heartedness into the Perry Mason series and while it made Gardner pack up his books and head for the hills, I think, "The Case of the Lucky Legs" is a bright and funny film with witticisms flowing thick and fast.Col. Bradbury (Porter Hall) comes to Perry Mason's office - he wants Mason to find Margie (Patricia Ellis) who has gone missing. The night before she won a "Lucky Legs" contest and went to Patton's apartment to collect her $1,000 prize. Patton is found dead and Margie is missing, but first Bradbury has to get past a sparkling Della Street (coyly played by an under-rated Genevieve Tobin) who trades wisecracks with him before trying to sober up Perry (Warren William) who is found on the floor in a drunken stupor!!! Paul Drake (Mason's private detective from the books) is missing, but is replaced by Spudsy (Allen Jenkins) - "I've got the dope" Perry says, "No, I've got the dope" Spudsy's wife responds. Apparently Patton has been running a "lucky legs" racket and there are plenty of people who have a motive for murder - including Thelma Bell (pretty Peggy Shannon) a former "Lucky Legs" winner who has followed him in the hope of getting her prize money. Shannon has the most dramatic role in the film and the camera showed that she had lost none of her haunting beauty. She is required to do some heavy emoting on several occasions - when she is not trading witty wisecracks with Mason. Perry - "Those are not the legs I'm looking for", Thelma - "Well, they were good enough to win me the "Lucky Legs" contest in Waynesville"!!!Patricia Ellis looks quite fetching as Margie but doesn't have much to do. Lyle Talbot plays Dr. Dorey, her fiancée and chief suspect, who is annoyed from the start by Margie making a spectacle of herself. Barton McLaine is fantastic as Detective "Bisy", who with his no nonsense gruffness seems as though he has wandered on to the set of the wrong movie. The most memorable thing about the movie is the sparkling banter and repartee between Tobin and William - "If Mr. Mason said he would meet you at 10 am - he was boasting", "Milk - that's a hot one - I'll have it cold", "no rice, no shoes, where's the curious bride", "all alone in the bridal suite - you must love yourself", "He said he'd love to talk to the lovely blonde - I guess he's been away so long, he's forgotten you're like", "here's my notebook - I left it over there when you and I..... but I forgot, this is your confession"!!!! And the fact that William seems to enjoy himself so much in a film that has so much humor and where he can play a happy drunk!!!Highly Recommended.

Neil Doyle Entertaining as a screwball comedy, but hardly the kind of mystery and suspense one expects from a Perry Mason story.From the very opening scene, the entire story is played for comedy. A criminal cheats prize winning woman out of their contest money and is soon murdered. It's up to Mason to figure out who committed the crime and why.Since the murdered man was killed with a surgical knife, we can suspect LYLE TALBOT for awhile since he plays a doctor. PORTER HALL is the man who contacts Mason and asks him to investigate the man who has run off with the prize money. PATRICIA ELLIS is the pretty blonde contest winner who wants Mason to find the crooked contest sponsor (CRAIG REYNOLDS).GENEVIEVE TOBIN is Della Street, batting her eyes at everyone as the plays a mischievous secretary with tongue-in-cheek humor. A sample of the flippant dialog: (Mason to Lyle Talbot): "All alone in the bridal suite? You must love yourself." And later, after knocking him out briefly, "Bring yourself to life. You're a doctor."Entertaining only as a comedy. The mystery is given short shrift.

David (Handlinghandel) Warren William is a heavy-drinking Perry Mason in this highly entertaining outing. Della Street is given wit, beauty, and a touch of pathos by the underrated Genevieve Tobin. The rest of the cast is superb, with no exceptions.For a movie that came out after the Code, it is quite racy. The title refers to a contest in which ladies do not show their faces but compete as to the most beautiful stems. And what a group we see! Lyle Talbot was a decent leading man during this period. He was nice looking. It's always hard for me not to think of his Ed Wood performances when I see him in these early movies, though.