Peter Melady (Robert Strange) owns the Melady Memorial Hospital as well as being owner of a pharmaceutical corporation. Currently he is also a patient at the hospital. Melady needs an operation for a heart condition but is allergic to the usual anesthesia. He, along with others, has developed a new form of anesthesia. He calls the local paper to give them a scoop stating that he is going to be the first to try out the new drug. He sends Nurse Sally Keating (Kay Linaker) and George Lambert (Ricardo Cortez) to his home to retrieve the formula for the drug and bring it to him in the hospital. The formula is written on a piece of paper and kept in what is called a lachrymatory, or tear vial. Melady wants to keep the formula with him to protect it.
Melady’s doctor is Dr. Coate (Frank Reicher), but he wants the surgery done by Dr. Harrigan (John Eldredge). Harrigan was instrumental in creating the drug, but Melady refuses to share credit for it. Harrigan and Melady are, of course, at odds but Harrigan is the best doctor in the hospital, so Melady wants him to do the operation. Harrigan is not the only one who feels they were conned by the mogul. Others feel they deserve either credit for their contributions or are investors that believe they deserve some of the profit. Also in the hospital is Harrigan’s wife, Ina (Joan Blair) who had been injured in a car accident. Visiting her is her lover, Kenneth Martin (Bill Elliott). The hospital is full of people who either don’t like Melady or don’t like Harrigan.
Melady’s surgery is scheduled for the next day, but he wants it moved up and done that night. Harrigan wheels Melady into the elevator to take him to surgery. Later Harrigan is found stabbed to death in the elevator and Melady is missing. Police Lt. Lamb (Joseph Crehan) is assigned to the case. Lamb basically spins his wheels as Lambert solves the crime and finds more going on than anyone expected.
“The Murder of Dr. Harrigan” was released in 1936 and was directed by Frank McDonald. It is an American murder mystery film. The movie was based on the 1931 novel “From This Dark Stairway” by Mignon G. Eberhart. This is one of the films that Warner Brothers made in conjunction with Black Mask Magazine. There were 12 films in what Warner Brothers called the “Clue Club” series.
There were 7 books in Eberhart’s Sarah Keate series. In the film, the female lead is named Sally Keating and not Sarah Keate. The books frame Sarah as a nurse that solves crimes. In the film, however, Sally is being accused of a crime and her boyfriend, George Lambert is the crime solver.
At times the film is a little confusing and there is no shortage of suspects. There’s also really bad comic relief in the form of a couple patients. It’s a rather talky film but not really bad. I always enjoy seeing Ricardo Cortez in anything and the film in general was interesting. It’s worth look if you like classic paperback murder mysteries on film.
A tear bottle or lachrymatory is a small decorative glass bottle used to hold tears, the use of which dates back at least 3,000 years. Mourners would collect their tears in a small bottle and bury them with their loved ones. The purpose was to honor the deceased and express love and respect.