Cinema Revisited: The Crosby Case (1934 mystery)

THE CROSBY CASE

Directed by Edwin L. Marin. Cast: Wynne Gibson, Onslow Stevens, Skeets Gallagher, Alan Dinehart, Warren Hymer, William Collier, Sr, John Wray, Edward Van Sloan, J. Farrell MacDonald, Barbara Weeks. Running time: 60 minutes. Released March 5, 1934

Running only an hour, films like The Crosby Case were sold as effective second-features to longer, more handsomely produced A-pictures at the top of the bill. This ompact B movie from Universal just before the production code set in, gathers a group of delightful character actors from the 1930s and creates a convoluted mystery with many suspects and a lot of maneuvering before it is solved. At the time of its release, one of the trade magazines said that The Crosby Case”was “a mystery film which would make Sherlock Holmes take an aspirin before he could untangle it.”

But during the trajectory of the film’s narrative, we are allowed to enjoy the full gamut of cynical reporters, femme fatales, sneaky male leads, hard boiled cops, and a slow witted cab driver. These wonderful 1930s B movie “types” are 90% of the appeal such a film would have as late as the 21st century. Unlike movies who have pretentions beyond mere entertainment value, a movie like “The Crosby Case” is far more enjoyable than many lofty “classics.”

Director Edwin L. Marin was something of a B movie specialist, although he did helm his share of A pictures, such as MGM’s A Christmas Carol (1938). With The Crosby Case he edges close to noir, bathing each scene in a murky darkness, and avoiding any musical backdrop to the taut proceedings. The darks and greys of black and white cinematography is evident in Marin’s shot composition, keeping the narrative progressing while maintaining an effective mood. Marin would explore noir even further during the post war era with films like Race Street (1948), before settling into westerns where he was most comfortable, until his death in 1951

Wynne Gibson, appearing in the first of two Universal features for which she’d signed, is the one female among a gaggle of male suspects. Her motives are discernible but her innocence seems set. Alan Dinehart gives a capable, sturdy performance as the head Inspector on the case, while William Collier Jr. is the cynical detective. Skeets Gallagher epitomizes the fast talking reporter, Onslow Stevens is the handsome-but-mysterious lead, Edward Van Sloan is a frightened suspect who fears revealing that he is, in fact, legally blind, and Warren Hymer steals every scene he’s in as the lug who drives a cab that figures prominently in the case.

Warren Duff, who contributed to the screenplays of such timeless tough dramas as Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) and Each Dawn I Die (1939), both of which starred James Cagney, is likely responsible for such dialog as Warren Hymer telling an aggressive cab customer “I wouldn’t drive you around the block if ya had both legs broken.” His co-writer, George Kahn, was more of a story man who specialized in tight B mysteries.

In a spring issue back in 1934, the trade magazine Motion Picture Herald reported audible gasps from the preview audience when The Crosby Case revealed the culprit. Hollywood magazine praised the movie's “constant run of thrills.” The cheap sets, aggressive manner, appealing performers, and snappy dialog that define a film like The Crosby Case makes it unfortunate that such movies have become so inaccessible during an era where vintage cinema should be readily available at all levels.