The Penguin Pool Mystery

Original title: Penguin Pool Murder

1932
Passed
1h 10m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

James Gleason and Edna May Oliver in The Penguin Pool Mystery (1932)

Bumbling Detective Screwball Comedy Whodunnit Comedy Drama Mystery Romance

Shady stockbroker and abusive husband Gerald Parker is found dead in the penguin pool of a NYC aquarium after being knocked cold by his wife's boyfriend.Shady stockbroker and abusive husband Gerald Parker is found dead in the penguin pool of a NYC aquarium after being knocked cold by his wife's boyfriend.Shady stockbroker and abusive husband Gerald Parker is found dead in the penguin pool of a NYC aquarium after being knocked cold by his wife's boyfriend.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

1.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins total

Top cast20

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Edna May Oliver

Miss Withers

Robert Armstrong

Barry Costello

James Gleason

Oscar Piper

Mae Clarke

Gwen Parker

Donald Cook

Philip Seymour

Edgar Kennedy

Donovan

Clarence Wilson

Bertrand B. Hemingway
(as Clarence H. Wilson)

James Donlan

Fink

Gustav von Seyffertitz

Von Donnen
(as Gustav Von Seyffertitz)

William Le Maire

MacDonald
(as William LeMaire)

Joe Hermano

Chicago Lew

Guy Usher

Parker

Rochelle Hudson

Telephone Operator

Wilfrid North

Judge

A.S. 'Pop' Byron

Jailer Strauss
(uncredited)

Edith Fellows

Little Girl at Aquarium
(uncredited)

Chuck Hamilton

Policeman Jack - at Jail
(uncredited)

Mary Mason

Parker's Secretary
(uncredited)

Director
- George Archainbaud
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews44

Featured review

7/10

Lively vintage murder tale

Edna May Oliver plays the gawky ,spinsterish and bespectacled amateur sleuth Hildegarde Withers -the sort of person who always carries a neatly rolled umbrella irrespective of the weather-who teams up with wisecracking policeman Inspector Piper(James Gleason)to solve the murder of Gerald Brooks (Guy Usher).The title derives from the murder location -the Battery Park Acquarium. There is no shortage of suspects-from the Acquarium director (Clarence H Webb)to the ungrieving widow of the deceased (Mae Clark)and one of her lovers (Donald Cook).Together they set a trap to unmask the killer.

Oliver and Gleason work well together and they are blessed with a witty script by Willis Goldbeck as well as some pacey direction from George Archainbaud

This was the first of a series and is a good example of solid studio professionalism from its era

lorenellroy
Dec 19, 2007
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Photos16

+ 8

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The series ground to a halt when Edna May Oliver left her RKO contract in 1935. The studio tried to continue the series with different actresses but audience interest was negligible and original novelist Stuart Palmer was not happy about this attempt at all.

Goofs
After Miss Withers and Inspector Piper finish eating breakfast, she looks into the camera, or towards the crew, several times. It appears as if she is puzzled or taking direction from someone. Edna May Oliver's character repeatedly looks away from the person she is speaking with throughout the movie. This is a character trait of Miss Withers.

Quotes
Hildegard Withers: Good morning, Miss.
[no reaction]
Hildegard Withers: Good morning Miss! When you've got your disguise on, I'd like to ask you a few questions. That is, if you can talk through all that make-up.
Hildegard Withers: Do you remember handling a call yesterday afternoon to Mr. Parker, about four, just before he went out to, to be killed?
Parker's Secretary: Say, what are you - a policewoman?
Hildegard Withers: Insofar as it concerns you, I am. I'm connected with the Detective Bureau - not very pleasantly, but still connected.
Parker's Secretary: What are you trying to do, put the B on me?
Hildegard Withers: I'm trying to put nothing on you. You have enough on already. Now, if you will answer my questions, you can go right back to your artwork!
Parker's Secretary: Sure I remember a call. It was a man. He said Mrs. Parker was in trouble so I put him right through.
Hildegard Withers: Are you sure it was a man's voice?
Parker's Secretary: Well, it ain't likely a woman would be calling me "Baby", is it?
Hildegard Withers: [thoughtfully] No, not so far downtown as this.