Richard Federie (Walter Walker) is an elderly wealthy gentleman. He has called various members of his family together to discuss something with them. Richard has been ill so his granddaughter, March Federie (Patricia Ellis) refuses to let anyone see him until he has gotten some rest. While sitting by the fire his butler, Grondal (Brandon Hurst) brings him a telegram that just arrived. The telegram is from his estranged son, Charles. It says that he will be visiting him that night. The content of the telegram upsets the old man giving him a small stroke. Before he falls to the floor, he grabs a small green elephant statue that was sitting on the mantle.
The physician, Dr. Jay (Russell Hicks) sends for Nurse Sarah Keate (Aline MacMahon) to take care of Richard. Sarah settles into her duties. Sarah finds the elephant statue that Richard dropped when he passed out. Grondal tells her that Richard often had the statue placed where he could keep an eye on it. He places the statue back on the mantle. One by one Richard’s relatives approach Sarah to ask that she notify them immediately should he regain consciousness.
Later that night Richard’s son Adolphe (Robert Barrat) tries to steal the elephant statue but is shot. The police are called, and Detective Lt. Lance O’Leary (Guy Kibbee) arrives with Sergeant Jim Jackson (Allen Jenkins). O’Leary and Sarah have a past. One that O’Leary would like to reignite, but Sarah plays hard to get and keeps the Lieutenant at arms’ length. While trying to romance Sarah, O’Leary has his hands full with a house full of suspects that are busy lying and pointing fingers at each other. O’Leary follows the clues and is about to make an arrest when the person he suspects is also murdered.
“While the Patient Slept” was released in 1935 and was directed by Ray Enright. It is a murder mystery with old dark house elements and comedy.
The movie is based on the 1930 novel by Mignon G. Eberhart. There were 7 books in the nurse Sarah Keate canon. This was the second book of the series. Six of the Sarah Keate novels were made into movies. This movie was the first made. Several women played the crime solving nurse. This was the only one were MacMahon played the character. It is also one of twelve films labeled by Warner Brothers as being part of their “Clue Club”. The purpose of the Clue Club was as advertising to hopefully increase audience attendance.
For a mystery it was rather silly and mostly played for the comedy. That’s not really bad since the light banter between Sarah and O’Leary is fun and easy. Their relationship seems more comfortable than romantic. It’s nice and adds a lot of charm to the story.
The movie has the usual accompaniment of suspects and even a MacGuffin. The plot is a little rambling and there are a couple leaps of logic, most likely not to give anything away until the end.