The Case of the Howling Dog (1934) User Reviews

Unusual film in the Perry Mason series

[chall-5 · 8/10 · 8 December 2005]

Wow, can't top the "Lightning" review, but here's more about the movie itself. I believe this was the first in a series of Perry Mason films starring Warren William.

What's odd is that this film has no other cast members in common with the subsequent films and in fact the whole tenor of the movie is quite different. In this film Perry has a huge office and staff of detectives. He makes no quips. Has no comic-relief sidekick. And the mystery itself is actually quite good.

Later films gave him a goofy detective sidekick ("Spudsey"), made more of the romance between Della Street and Perry, and had much less mystery in the plots. The appeal of these movies is Perry's string of one-liners he gives to the police, witnesses, etc.

But give this first film a look. There's no comic relief, but the plot is very involved and interesting.

Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason Comes To Life

[krorie · 7/10 · 2 December 2005]

This is the first of the Perry Mason movies. Warren Williams brought the famous lawyer to life in much the same way that Raymond Burr would breath life into the Erle Stanley Gardner character for television in 1957. Surprisingly the first incarnation of Perry Mason is not that far from the later television creation. In the first movie as in the first television episodes Perry is a conniving shrewd barrister who not only bends the law but at times uses tricks that may actually be illegal. The Warren William incarnation would change with his next three films with Perry becoming a womanizing boozer. In "The Case of the Lucky Legs" Warren Williams' Mason has trouble staying sober long enough to do his job. After Warren Williams left the role, Ricardo Cortez and Donald Woods tried the part on for size and did fairly decent portrayals of the sharp-witted counselor. Television's Perry Mason also changed with time, but rather than going in the direction of playboy souse, being the McCarthy era, Raymond Burr's portrayal made Perry a scholarly type who won his case through sheer knowledge of the law and thorough investigation procedures.

The first Perry Mason movie, "The Case of the Howling Dog," is possibly the best in the entire series. It was remade for television, turning out to be one of the best in the Raymond Burr series. Much of this is owed to the cleverness of the original book written by mystery writer Erle Stanly Gardner, but Warren Williams and later Raymond Burr should also be given credit for making the whole thing work.

Warren Williams is ably assisted by a covey of fine actors and actresses including Mary Astor who would later make a permanent mark on movie history playing Brigid O'Shaughnessy in John Huston's classic "The Maltese Falcon." Della Street is there to aid Perry with a hint, as with the later TV series, of a romantic connection between the two. The character of Paul Drake does not appear but would appear in the next film, "The Case of the Curious Bride," as Spudsy Drake, played by the fine character actor Allen Jenkins, who plays Det. Sgt. Holcomb in the first film. Unlike William Hopper's TV Paul Drake, Spudsy is more of a comical sidekick for Perry, more in line with William Katt and William Moses' Paul Drake in the made for TV Raymond Burr Perry Mason movies. Also missing from the Warren Williams Perry Mason's are Hamilton Burger and Lt. Arthur Tragg. In their places we find Det. Sgt. Holcomb and District Attorney Claude Drumm, ably played by Grant Mitchell.

The case this time is extremely complicated. The viewer has to follow the events concerning the Cartwright's and the Foley's very carefully, especially in the beginning. Talk about wife swapping! Gradually Perry and his associates are able to unravel the mystery but wait, there is a twist at the end that you don't want to miss just when you think the whole thing has been worked out and the guilty person exposed by Perry.

Warren Williams not only plays Perry with gusto but adds much humor to the goings on. If you think Raymond Burr is the definitive Perry Mason, seeing this film may change your mind.

Too bad they weren't all like this!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 3 July 2009]

Having seen one of Warren Williams' other Perry Mason films, I wasn't all that excited about seeing his first from the series, THE CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG. However, to my surprise, this film was exceptional for a B-detective film--with a very good plot, characters and acting. It was very different from the later "lady killer" Perry Mason films--and frankly, making Mason competent and not just a perv chasing skirts was a good idea.

The film begins with a very convoluted encounter Mason has with a really bizarre client who is whining about some "barking dog". None of it makes much sense, even to Perry and the viewers are supposed to be confused. Later, however, all this actually makes a lot of sense. And in an interesting twist, Perry is very willing to help a woman beat a murder rap--even when she really is guilty! This isn't as bad as it sounds, as she has very good reason to kill the jerk!

Warren William's character is more subtle and competent than in the later films. In later films, helping out clients is far less important than cooking and bedding women! A very good example of a well-made B movie.

Actor makes his film debut, plays the title role AND a dual role and isn't listed as a cast member?

[horn-5 · 21 August 2005]

What a bummer. But that's what happens to "Lightning" in what could be called "The Case of the Uncredited Dog." Lightning got the title role in this film because, among his other attributes, he was a "natural howler" and at the lift of his trainer's hand, would lift his head and howl like a coyote. The story, as we all know, tells of a dog's great devotion to his mistress. His mistress is murdered and the dog howls so mournfully that the neighbors are not only disturbed but begin to suspect that something is amiss in the neighborhood. The killer panics, kills the dog and brings in a non-howling ringer.

The ringer is also played by Lightning because Lightning had the ability to howl on cue and not howl when given a don't-howl-now command. Lightning was a directors' actor if there ever was one.

But, sans a credit (despite playing the title role and a dual role), Lightning found himself none-too-much in demand---you got any film credits?---among the animal casters at Central Casting and was about to give up the Show Business when he was spotted by poverty-row producer Burton King (who had an eye for talent on the hoof or, in this case, paw)and was immediately given the LEAD and the TITLE ROLE in "When Lightning Strikes," right there on the corner of Sunset and Gower. There is a star-with-a-bone marking the lightning strike spot. His performance in this film was such that Poverty Row producer S. S. Krellberg offered him the title role in "Man's Best Friend." Well, Hollywood being then what it is now (minus the meanness), any actor who has a lead and three title roles in his brief career (not to mention the ability to play a dual role and a death scene), is going to become a hot commodity and have scripts and choice-of-role offers coming from the major studios. His choices were limited to "which dog do you want to play", type-casting stuff of that retroactive-designated, politically-incorrect era. Lightning was a good actor but he knew his limitations and wasn't one of those "looking for a role to stretch my horizons" actors whose horizons mostly far exceed their abilities.

Lightning padded over to Paramount and is the dog seen leading blind Ken Gordon (Cary Grant) around by a leash in "Wings in the Dark". While the film's leading lady, Myrna Loy, and Lightning hit it off from the first day of shooting, Louella Parsons hinted around in her Hearst newspaper columns that Lightning and Cary Grant were having rapport problems. And Lolly wasn't one not to have her facts straight. She later reported that the tension and dissension was dissolved by director James Flood when he said "Just follow the damn dog, Archie." Like most actors, Grant wasn't fond of getting upstaged. Or playing opposite a dog who had a stand-in named Cary.

RKO then came calling, gave Lightning a term contract and Lightning joined Frankie Thomas roaming around Flanders in "Dog of Flanders" in which Lightning essayed yet another title role, a record for title roles until William Boyd came along as "Hopalong" Cassidy. His role in RKO's "Two in Revolt" is thought in some circles to also qualify as at least half-a-title role consideration, but there are those who think the revolting two the title referred to was the 1st and 2nd-billed John Arledge and Louise Latimer, although the 9th-billed Lightning the Dog and 10th-billed Warrior the Horse had far more screen time.

But, shortly after "Two in Revolt" was finished, some exec at RKO decided that RKO didn't have to use real dogs in order to make dog films with dog stars and ordered Lightning off the premises. He then went to Grand National for a co-starring role in "Renfrew of the Royal Mounted" but balked at pulling a sled through the snow, and was replaced in the follow-up films of this series. Lightning retired, returned to his kennel in Toluca Lake and was seen often in the company of then-Toluca Lake residents Bing Crosby, Dick Powell and Helen Twelvetrees. He was fascinated with her name.

Bio: Born Feb., 1930. Toluca Lake, California, USA. Parents: Peter and Gretchen Dog; Siblings: four brothers born the same day; Paternal Grandfather: Strongheart the Silent; Heritage: German; Representation/Agent/Trainer: Earl Johnson

Source 1: "Dog Stars of Hollywood" by Gertrude Orr - copyrighted MCMXXXVI by The Saalfield Publishing Company, Akron, Ohio and New York, New York (both addresses thought to be in the USA-Unconfirmed)

Source 2: RKO Radio Picture's 1936 press book- "Two in Revolt"

Source 3: Movie Action Stories, April, 1936

Lots of plot, strong performances in excellent mystery

[csteidler · 7/10 · 19 June 2013]

Perry Mason runs a big operation: Windows all across the front of his office building feature his name printed in big letters. He's so successful he can't even handle every case personally. –Such is our introduction to the great lawyer before we even meet him.

Warren William is appropriately self-assured as the super-successful lawyer in this classy and well-plotted murder mystery.

The complicated story involves a very nervous-looking man named Cartwright (Gordon Westcott) who comes to Mason with questions about his will—and about a neighbor's dog that has been howling for 48 hours. We soon learn that that neighbor, Clinton Foley (Russell Hicks), had once run off with Cartwright's wife…Cartwright had sworn to get even with them both and tracked them down and moved in next door….and soon enough the man Foley is shot dead in his house.

The murder scene is particularly well done: We see Foley and his dog in the house, we see Mrs. Foley walk in, and we watch their brief confrontation. And then we hear the shots: We see Mrs. Foley's face and her reaction but not who fired the shots. A door swings shut….

Mary Astor is excellent as Mrs. Foley—her expressive face never quite giving away all she is thinking. Allen Jenkins is good as always as the skeptical police sergeant looking for answers. Warren William gives a smooth performance as the masterful investigator whose work and methods are in the interest of justice but not necessarily popular with the police.

It's well written and fast moving, too—with an ending that surprised me. Very enjoyable!

Barking up the right tree

[Spondonman · 7/10 · 17 November 2007]

Perry Mason sprang into screen life through 6 Warner Bros. films made from 1934, one year after his inception in book form by Erle Stanley Gardner. The movie series started out well, but as with so many other detective series of this type gradually petered out in quality almost film by film until fizzling out a few years later. Also it's not like Raymond Burr's Perry Mason I grew up with, Warren William has a vast organisation behind him, contrary to his future occupation as the Lone Wolf!

Complicated story of a dog's howling driving a neighbour crackers leads to a sorry and sordid tale of multiple murder - and the howling is central to the plot too. You have to concentrate to follow the history of partner-swapping (after all, some of the Foley's and Cartwright's weren't even married!) but all is wonderfully resolved by Mason by the end. William was perfect for these kind of roles, his efficient and reassuring presence of mind imparting to cast and audience from the beginning that all will be eventually all right, even if in this case only if you don't say anything without him being present! How come Mary Astor landed the part of the woman with the shady past and inability to tell the truth so often? Allen Jenkins as a flatfoot doesn't get much of a part, but at least he got a chance to show off a rather natty moustache.

Well worth watching and a pleasant opener for an attorney with a long career ahead of him.

Warren William debuts as Perry Mason

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 2 July 2009]

"The Case of the Howling Dog," made in 1934, was the first Perry Mason film, and it's from an actual Erle Stanley Gardner Perry Mason novel. One way you can tell is that it's not an easy plot to follow. Mason becomes embroiled in defending a woman (Mary Astor) for the murder of her husband. Meanwhile, her husband and the dead man's wife are missing. And then there's that howling dog.

A really excellent story, but Erle Stanley Gardner loathed what the movies did to his passionate young Depression lawyer. Perry here has a huge office and is too big to take certain cases; Della is there, but not Paul Drake or even Gertie the switchboard operator. Warren William is a clever, serious Perry, and gives the impression of a lawyer to be reckoned with. He also has occasion touches of humor, though if memory serves, there's a lot more humor in the later films.

As one who read the original Perry Mason books, the character matures and becomes less given to speeches about the law - William would perhaps have been better as the later Perry, though Gardner himself never would have chosen him. He wanted Fred MacMurray until Raymond Burr walked in to read for the role of the D.A. He then said, "That's Perry Mason." Despite some of the stilted dialogue, this is still a very good story and well worth seeing. Mary Astor is lovely as the defendant.

As one of the comments pointed out, the very talented Lightning the Dog is uncredited, but to say more would give away the plot. Let's just say Lightning is a fine actor and leave it at that.

Warren William in his first Perry Mason role...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 1 July 2009]

Warren William's version of Perry Mason is a far cry from that of Raymond Burr in the popular TV series of the '60s, but he gives it his own brand of humor and charm.

THE CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG is more complex than it would seem from an outline of the story. It begins when a man complains to Perry Mason that a howling dog is driving him insane. He's also about to settle his will, leaving his entire state to Mrs. Foley (MARY ASTOR), a next-door neighbor. These two strands of plot keep building toward a very baffling story which only begins to make sense toward the last ten minutes, when Mason starts to unravel the truth.

Intereresting tale gets good treatment. It was the first of the Perry Mason movies from Warner Bros. WARREN WILLIAM and MARY ASTOR do nicely in the leads and ALLEN JENKINS plays it straight for a change, as a detective. GRANT MITCHELL as an opposing District Attorney and RUSSELL HICKS as Clinton Foley lend strong support.

"I specialize in murder cases. My name is Perry Mason."

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 6 January 2017]

The first Perry Mason film starring Warren William has the famed attorney taking on a client who claims a neighbor is trying to drive him insane with a howling dog. It gets weirder from there as we get into a will and the neighbor having two wives, one of which supposedly runs off with Perry's client. Soon someone winds up murdered and it's up to Perry to get to the bottom of it all.

The Perry Mason series is not among my favorites of the many B detective film series of the 1930s and 1940s, but it's enjoyable enough. Warren William plays Perry as a standard tough private dick character rather than the Perry many of us know from watching the Raymond Burr TV show. He does fine but, in my opinion, William's better suited for parts where he can be playful and charming. Helen Trenholme makes for a lovely Della Street. The rest of the cast includes Mary Astor, Grant Mitchell, Gordon Westcott, Russell Hicks, Addison Richards, and Allen Jenkins playing it straight (and sporting a mustache!). Like I said, this series isn't one of my favorites but none of the movies I've seen were terrible. This first one is pretty good and definitely worth a look if you're curious about seeing a different kind of Perry Mason than you might be used to.

Warren William is Perry Mason

[rja-6 · 8/10 · 1 November 2002]

This is the movie that got me interested in the character Perry Mason and I began watching the old television series because of this film. It's a shame that Warren William didn't make more of these films because he was great in this. I like the little comic bits in the movie. I think it's a classic. I have it in my collection. Warren William was a very good character actor and it's a shame we don't see more of his films shown on tv.

The Dog Did Something In The Night

[boblipton · 6/10 · 13 September 2021]

Perry Mason as played by Warren William defends Mary Astor against murder charges. This is the frst time Perry Mason appeared on the big screen, and William William plays him like no one else: smart, fast-thinking, dedicated to his clients, and a goodly portion of the shyster in his nature. We're in the fall of 1934, and the Production code is firmly in place at the majors, but William had made his bones in the movies playing thorough rotters. There's remnants of that here, although it would grow fainter with each iteration; by the time Raymond Burr got the role for the small screen, if you could make it to his office with small change and a linty Life Saver, you weren't just not guilty. You were innocent, and the angels would weep over you.

Most of the fun is watching William sit there, doing stuff, and you have no idea why. Other than that, it's a B movie, even if Bryan Foy is not credited as a producer.

Does anyone but me think that Dorothy Tree and Rosalind Russell could be sisters?

Excellent mystery story, the first Perry Mason film

[robert-temple-1 · 8/10 · 24 November 2007]

This was the first Perry Mason film ever made, with Warren William as Mason, who is superb in the part, much better than Raymond Burr, who always annoyed me so much I could not watch the later Perry Mason films. Mason's assistant Della Street is here played by Helen Trenholme, a beautiful and talented choice, but she inexplicably left the film business after making this and one other film in 1934, and that was it. The best performance in the film is by Gordon Westcott, as a distraught client in a state of high anxiety and 'aggravated melancholia'. Unfortunately, he died not long after in a polo accident, which deprived the screen of a real talent. The direction is excellent, with lots of retreating dolly shot 'pullbacks' to add dynamism to the action. Mary Astor does well, but then when did she not? Hats off to Lightning the Dog, who is seen howling splendidly like a wolf in the initial shots of the film. I'd like to have one like that around the house, wouldn't you? Lots of character, not anybody's poodle, not a wimp. The plot of this film is wonderfully complex, a true brain-teaser. This is a Perry Mason film with serious intent, and not a pastiche. It is well worth watching.

The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing

[sol1218 · 6/10 · 27 November 2007]

***SPOILERS*** "The Case of the Howling Dog" is the film that introduced legendary defense attorney Perry Mason, originated on the screen by Warren Williams,to millions of movie goers and some twenty years later, with Raymond Burr in the title role, TV watchers.

Perry Mason, Warren Williams, is contacted by a nervous Arthur Cartwright, Gordon Westcott, claiming that his next door neighbor Clinton Foley's, Russell Hicks, German Shepard police dog Prince is driving him crazy. Prince has been howling his head off the last two nights causing Arthur to almost have a nervous breakdown. A bit taken back on what Arthur is telling him Perry is then asked to write out his will leaving everything Arthur has, and it's a lot, to Foley's wife Evelyn! It turns out that Evelyn is not exactly married to Clinton Foley she's only living with him as a mistress in his mansion.

The story get's even more complicated when later both Arthur and Evelyn, who it turns out is actually Arthur's estranged wife, disappear from sight leaving Foley to suspect that they planned this all along from the start. Perry now stuck in representing Foley's actual wife Bessie, Mary Astor, whom he dumped for Evelyn Cartwright in that legally she's the woman whom's Arthur, through Perry being his lawyer, left his estate to.

Were lead through a maze of subplots in not just the connection between Arthur and the Foley's, Clinton & Bessie, but their dog Prince who's the key to what is later to happen in the film. Bessie Foley is later on the scene at the Foley's mansion where her ex-husband Clinton and his dog are shot and killed by either Bessie or someone hiding inside the house. With Foley's housemaid and what turned out to be his lover Lucy Benton, Dorothy Tree, seen by one of Perry Mason's assistants private detective George Dobbs,James P. Brutis, running from the premises to an awaiting taxi it's assumed by everyone that she may well have shot and killed both Clinton and Prince. Telling Bessie to keep her mouth shut about her being on the scene of both Clinton Foley and Prince, a dog but a murder victim never the less, murders Perry is now committed in not only defending his client but possibly, in his defending her, covering up a crime: Murder.

The really out of the blue surprise ending is what makes "Case of the Howling Dog" so ahead of it's time in that it doesn't tie all the loose ends together. The surprise ending does in a very intelligent and realistic way show that the law despite being written in granite is not at all perfect and that there are times when bending it, like Perry Mason does in the film, is really the best way to get justice done.

P.S The movie "The Case of the Howling Dog" is such an excellent example of Amercan, or any other free and law abiding country, jurors prudence that it was remade some 25 years later in 1959 as a Parry Mason TV crime/drama episode. The story was so ahead of it's time in depicting the pitfalls and inconsistencies of the law that even then, 25 years later, it shocked the TV audience in it's totally out of the norm, for TV and the movies, surprise ending!

Underrated first entry in all too brief series that became a major hit 20 years later

[eschetic · 5/10 · 4 February 2007]

The first of six Warner Brothers mountings (the first of four with Warren William as Erle Stanley Gardner's charismatic investigating attorney, Perry Mason), it is frequently held to be the least of the series, but that's probably too harsh a judgment. It still merits rediscovery by anyone fond of the famous character or stylish 30's mysteries. Warren William is a fine first draft for the character TV would take to its heart two decades later.

Many sources look at the other great detective series which were springing up in the 1930's from Dashiel Hammett's Nick & Nora Charles (in the popular THE THIN MAN series) to Earl Derr Biggers' Charlie Chan (the second longest running film series ever!) almost as fast as print authors could create new characters - THE CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG went before the cameras barely a year after Mason first hit print - and find the Warners' PERRY MASON series fairly light weight.

In truth the series only managed six episodes, with Ricardo Cortez and Donald Woods succeeding William for the final two films. This sort of programmer mystery frequently only ran slightly over an hour and would almost certainly have been done as series television two decades later. The character WAS the basis for a long running daily 15 minute radio series before CBS put Raymond Burr in the role of his career for a marathon run starting in the 1950's and inspired more than two generations of actual attorneys.

THE CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG (and the later Warners' Mason films) had the decided advantage of being drawn with some faithfulness from actual Gardner novels. That was one of the chief distinctions as well as one of the weaknesses of this "...DOG;" some confusion over wives among the wealthy and a dog that may or may not be howling in the night. A large portion of the film is given over to novel-like exposition giving the background of the characters and the dispute which will provide the courtroom fireworks in the last 15 to 20 minutes of the film where Perry Mason shows the style he is famous for.

Mason has an enormous office in this one (Raymond Burr's Mason would have been jealous) as well as the basic support staff Gardner created which would stay in various forms through all the later Perry Mason incarnations - secretary Della Street (in the Warner Brothers' series her unrequited love would eventually be returned) and Detective Trask among others.

Tall, thin Warren William with his pencil mustache (also a striking Sam Spade in the second film version of Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" called Satan MET A LADY) made a fine Perry Mason. Some commentators fault the series for allowing the writers and directors (a different one for each of the six films) to vary the "character" of Mason too much over the three years the series ran, but for the first four films the inherent dignity and intelligence of William proved a foundation almost as interesting as the firm one Burr would provide twenty years later. (Did this actor *ever* look young or innocent? William's craggy visage has even more sophisticated "danger" in it than the today better remembered Humprey Bogart!)

The style on this specific Perry Mason entry carries the substance, but the substance is good enough. Give it a look if you can.

Extra Trivia on Move (Spoiler)

[rarpsl · 9 December 1999]

Plot Spoiler Follows - Read at your own Risk *

* * * * This is the infamous "Perry has a Guilty Client" story. It is based on the FIRST Perry Mason Story and Perry is not yet the character we are used to (he is still willing to cut corners to defend his clients - a habit he loses in later books when he defended them but did not create fake evidence or tamper with existing evidence).

If you can find the movie or the book, do so and enjoy the original version of Perry Mason.

The Case of the of the First Rather Good Perry Mason Film

[BaronBl00d · 7/10 · 2 July 2009]

The Case of the Howling Dog, the first of the screen's Perry Mason movies moves quickly with pep and zip, has a rather ingenious plot line, and has Warren William give a good portrayal of the most famous lawyer of all time - real or imaginary. Warren William plays Mason in this film with an aloofness that disappears in later films where he played the same role, but in this first film it is primarily used to show us how important Mason is in San Francisco. The story has a nervous wreck of a man go to Mason to ask two questions - what can he do to stop the incessant howling from the next door neighbor's dog and what does he have to do to set up a will(with some further odd questions). Perry now has a case and we get some good old-fashioned mystery here as Mason and his corp of assistants work for their client. The end mystery's unraveling - though hardly realistic - is done with style and creativity. I have not read the Erle Stanley Gardner book, but I am sure that much of the mystery part of it is probably still intact. Beautiful Mary Astor stars as a woman in need of Mason's services. She gives her typical woman-in-peril performance with solid acting. The rest of the cast also all do fine jobs with Helen Trenholme(apparently only making two films in her career) doing a very fine job as a perky and pretty Della Street and Gordon Westcott excelling as the nervous man in a rather brief role. As first films in a detective series go, this one is a fine start to a good series. Warren William, playing the screen's Philo Vance that same year, does his level best to make two distinct characterizations which may also account for the Mason character being a bit stodgy here. In the next film he becomes much more fun and human so to speak.

No nonsense, by the book, and an absolute thrill.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 10 June 2020]

The first of the Perry Mason's made for the big screen is a very good entry that gives Warren William a serious role to sink his teeth into before they changed the characterization for the next round of films with William in one and various actors in others. "You're a cross between a saint and a devil", Helen Trenholme's Della Street tells Mason in a key scene in the film. Mason defends Mary Astor in a murder trial, playing possibly another dark lady several years before she entered dark lady immortality in "The Maltese Falcon". She is accused of marrying her estranged husband who has allegedly committed bigamy and was haunted by the howling of a dog which forecasted his death. Aster isn't exactly willing to give out all the information, and at the end, it is very clear that if this had been made a year later, the production code would have made them change the ending.

As for Trenholme as Della Street, this was only one of two films she made, having primarily been a stage actress in the 1930's. Heartache on Della is straightforward, and while there is a hint of a romance between her and Perry, it is not clear cut. While a lot of actors cut dashing figures in the 1930's, Warren William was in a class of his own because he could play shyster, criminal, ruthless businessman or Lothario, and you still couldn't help but like him. His take on Mason here is direct with only minimal wisecracks, and this focuses mainly on the case rather than an overabundance of witty lines. It is Warner Brothers at its best and brightest, no-nonsense and strictly to the point.

The plot does get a little convoluted here and there, but it certainly will make you sink afterwards. Helen Lowell is very funny as a housekeeper who is very hard of hearing, although after a while, you begin to wonder if she is pretending this only to irritate her boss. Such well-known character actors as Grant Mitchell and Arthur Hoyt round out the cast along with Dorothy Tree who is the second wife in the bigamous marriage. This speeds by at a nice pace, and even if it is lacking in an overabundance of comedy, is never dull and will keep you involved.

With inflation, a couple millionaires from 1934 . . .

[oscaralbert · 6/10 · 16 August 2015]

. . . could easily be considered the equivalent of billionaires today. So what does THE CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG tell us about America's "Better Half"? (We need to call our One Per Centers a "half," since they already have half our wealth--in their Hell-bent march toward grasping 99% of it--and that makes them a half, according to the U.S. Supreme Court's "one-dollar-one-vote" United decision.) The Rich are thoroughly immoral, Perry Mason decides, in defending a cold-blooded dog slayer who suffers none of Michael Vick's numerous penalties because "Bessie" (played by Mary Astor, a name dripping with dough) is a cute white female. So when Mr. Two Billion steals piker One Billion's wife, who does the former actually sleep with? His private secretary, of course, since Rich People are too busy hoarding their haul to be GIB. And if Mrs. One Billion complains? Why, just shoot her. Won't that tick off Mr. One Billion? So what, shoot him, too. Anyone who follows current events knows that the behavior of our Supreme Court-declared "Betters" has only gotten more lawless, sinful, and outrageous since 1934. I guess that that makes THE CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG almost refreshing, in comparison.

Warren William is always highly watchable but he's just not Perry Mason

[Paularoc · 6/10 · 4 September 2012]

I have long enjoyed Warren William's films. He could play a cad as well as the witty detective. However, for me only Raymond Burr is Perry Mason. It doesn't matter to me who best represents the Mason character in the books - Raymond Burr is Perry Mason. So I did not care as much for this movie as so many of the reviewers did. That said, the mystery itself was quite good and the ending perfectly fitting and somewhat surprising. Mary Astor was particularly good. As was the dog. Leslie Howard Adams' review of the movie with its brief history of the career of the dog Lighting was very interesting and informative and is one reason I enjoy reading others' reviews - it's a fun way to learn a bit about movie history. This movie is certainly watchable but not great.

1st

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 11 September 2021]

A disturbed Arthur Cartwright comes into Perry Mason (Warren William)'s office to write up an odd will and complains about a neighbor's howling dog.

It's the first film depicting the iconic defense lawyer Perry Mason. It's a murder mystery and courtroom drama. The start confused me with the will. While it's intriguing, I question its legal reality and it confuses matters. There is a lot of story here being squeezed into less than 75 minutes. It feels rushed but the story is fine as a murder mystery... I think. I think I understand the general case.

Earliest Perry Mason movie is a delight

[SimonJack · 9/10 · 19 October 2014]

Earle Stanly Garden wrote his first Perry Mason book in 1933, and his fourth in 1934. The latter, "The Case of the Howling Dog," would become the first made into a movie. So, this film introduced the super lawyer- detective-sleuth to movie audiences. And, Warner Brothers couldn't have chosen a better lead than Warren William to play the part.

William was cast in the first four Perry Mason movies, and all did very well. Only he among the cast remained constant. His secretary, Della Street, was the only other constant character in the first four films, but she was played by three different actresses. Gardner wrote 82 Perry Mason mystery novels in all from 1933 through 1969. The last two were published after his death. Two other early films were made in the mid- 1930s, with Ricardo Cortez and Donald Woods in the lead role. But those two were sufficient reason for Hollywood to take a break from Perry Mason films.

That is, until author Gardner hooked up with NBC for the 1957-1966 TV series, "Perry Mason." Raymond Burr had risen slowly as an actor, but this role ensured his success for life. Besides the TV series, Burr was to star in the whole new batch of full-length films made for TV. From 1985 to 1993, NBC aired 26 Perry Mason movies that starred Burr, with a cast of regular characters from the TV series that seldom changed from film to film.

The TV series and later movies had a completely different Mason. Not only in the character but in his routines. Most people today will remember the Mason played by Burr on TV and film. He was a clever attorney with the mind of a detective, who solved baffling cases usually with some brilliant discovery brought out in the courtroom. That is quite a different character than appeared in the first four films that starred Warren William.

In those, Perry Mason had varying degrees of an office staff, with other attorneys and with his own detectives. But his character was humorous with any number of eccentricities. He drank too much, loved gourmet cooking and did some of that himself. And, knew his way around. He was as at home on the streets as he was in the courtroom. He would push the envelope at times and walk the thin line between legal and illegal methods. And, this Mason was as much or more a detective than he was a lawyer. These cases weren't solved in courtrooms but in other dramatic venues before they went to court.

The scripts were excellent as well. Genuine humor dotted all the scenes. William carried this off beautifully without detracting from the seriousness of the crimes. But the entertainment in these early films was a splendid mix of humor, mystery, cleverness and wit of the leads and the many other characters. The exchanges between Mason and Street were always crisp and often very funny; and the various sidekicks were also adept at humor.

While neither William nor Burr fit the persona of the Mason in the early novels, Gardner explained that he was evolving the character over time. He came to favor the dramatic courtroom scenes for exposing the solutions to the crimes. Thus, the Perry Mason that most people today remember from TV and the 1980s and on movies.

The screenplays in the first four films were masterfully done to bring out the first Perry Mason character as played by William. Having watched the TV programs for years, and all of the later movies, I find these earlier films especially entertaining. "The Case of the Howling Dog" is the best of these four, but all are quite good. At one point in this film, Dellsa says to Perry: "You're a cross between a saint and a devil." Perry replies: "Mmm, hmm. How do you like it?"

Does a neighbor's dog howl? If so, why?

[JohnHowardReid · 10/10 · 16 August 2017]

Associate producer: Sam Bischoff. Copyright 22 September 1934 by Warner Bros Pictures, Inc. Presented by Warner Bros Productions and The Vitaphone Corp. New York opening at the Rialto: 17 October 1934. U.K. release: 11 May 1935. Australian release: 9 January 1935. 8 reels. 75 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Does a neighbor's dog howl? If so, why?

NOTES: First of only two films featuring long-running Broadway stage actress, Helen Trenholme. The only other picture I have for her is "The Firebird" (1934).

COMMENT: Fascinating. Based on the 1934 novel by Erle Stanley Gardner, this entry certainly gives the lie to the oft-told story that Alan Crosland's sound films were stodgy affairs and that the brilliant director of such non-talkie classics as Under the Red Robe, Three Weeks, Don Juan and The Beloved Rogue lost his skills under the burden of sound. Crosland was noted for his flashy style in the silent era, but was allegedly unable to bring this expertise to bear on talkies thanks supposedly to the cumbersome sound-boothed and blimped camera. This may have been true in the early days of recording when sound men ruled the set. But by 1934, the camera had been liberated again and directors like Crosland were free to follow their penchant for effectively dramatic panning and tracking shots which give such added impetus to such scenes as the opening in the crowded courtroom and Mason's "chance" encounter with Holcomb in the street. The first shot with its almost 360 degree pan not only shows us how tightly packed the court is, but gives an urgency to Mitchell's address — he is off- camera for most of the shot — which would be lost in a routine cut to a close-up. In the second set-up, the tracking shot clearly shows us not only that Holcomb is shadowing Mason but that the attorney knows it and thus revels in the chance to put one over the flatfoot.

The whole film is distinguished by a stylish but not over- worked camera, plus some of the most engaging performances ever presented in a Perry Mason opus. Warren William is perfect, as usual. In fact, more polished, more suave, more sharp, more quick- witted, more intelligent, more charming. He is not only the best Perry Mason ever, but here he appears at his absolute peak.

Lovely Helen Trenholme presents such an utterly charming Della Street, one can only wonder why she was not hired for the rest of the series. The other ladies are not far behind in the acting honors: ravishing Mary Astor, who has this vulnerable quality which makes her beautiful face so entrancingly sympathetic; Dorothy Tree, wonderfully mysterious.

Warren William faces some excellent competition. As the bested District Attorney, Grant Mitchell has the sort of role he can put over with polish; but watch for Allen Jenkins as the hounding Sergeant Holcomb. It's a straight dramatic part without a trace of humor which Jenkins plays with consummate authority. I also enjoyed Harry Tyler as a bamboozled cab-man, and especially James Burtis as the persistent George Dobbs, one of Mason's investigators who assists Eddie Shubert in shaking down Miss Tree.

Other characterizations that deserve mention are Arthur Aylesworth's deputy sheriff, Russell Hicks' playboy millionaire and Gordon Westcott's harried neighbor. Addison Richards brings a nice touch of teasing authority to the role of the judge.

What a shame that other entries in the series didn't use this superbly fluid, cleverly scripted and most entertainingly acted entry as the model for all future Masons. In this one, as enacted by Warren William, Perry is much closer to Gardner's conception. As the city's most successful lawyer, Mason presides over a huge suite of offices, chock-a-block with clients and staff. He loves the publicity and success which enables him to be arrogant, masterful, belittling and choosy. With his secretary, Della Street, he is tenderly romantic. Everyone else, he orders about. This is the Mason we like, the Mason that Warren William so persuasively brings to life.

Unheard Of For Perry Mason

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 1 July 2009]

In this very first big screen portrayal of Perry Mason he does some very unMason like things for those of us used to watching Raymond Burr operate. The Case Of The Howling Dog involves Gordon Westcott retaining Mason to write a will leaving his assets to a neighbor who is the wife of a womanizing abuser, Russell Hicks. When Hicks is later killed along with his dog and Westcott goes missing, Mason conceives his duty to defend the beneficiary Mary Astor from a murder charge.

Don't think for one minute you will see the business like Raymond Burr type of Perry Mason. Perry's quite the lady's man here and the romance between him and Helen Trenholme as Della Street is far from understated. And she's in a long line of conquests.

In fact The Case Of The Howling Dog breaks one of THE cardinal rules for those of us who see Raymond Burr in action. Can't tell you because it wouldn't be right, but think of all the Perry parameters from television and I think you can guess.

The Mason movies were good, not as popular for William as Philo Vance or The Lone Wolf, but good. Mason as a character never got real traction with the public on the big or small screen until Raymond Burr did the role.

Old, intriguing mystery

[danmiller48 · 8/10 · 25 January 2016]

The Perry Mason series of mysteries from the 1930s are some of the best mysteries one could watch. One needs to pay attention to details throughout the film to follow the twists in the plot. The movies closely follow the Erle Stanley Gardner mystery novels on which they are based. The Case of the Howling Dog holds one's interest from beginning to end as Perry Mason cleverly addresses the case of a woman accused of murder. Warren William is a pleasure to watch as Perry Mason, and Helen Trehnolme expertly plays Perry's faithful and efficient secretary, Della Street. Mary Astor also stars in this selection from the series. If you are a fan of old, intriguing mysteries, you won't be disappointed with this gem.

The Best Entry of the Warren William as Perry Mason Film Series

[JLRMovieReviews · 9/10 · 31 March 2016]

Warren William stars in the first of four films as Erle Stanley Gardner's attorney, Perry Mason in "The Case of the Howling Dog." In fact, to the best of my knowledge, I believe Warren William was the first actor to portray "Perry Mason" on film. I will be reviewing not just this film but all four films here. It opens with a man whose nerves are shot because his neighbor's dog won't stop howling. He comes to Perry Mason for help and also about the distribution of his assets in his will. Perry wants to dismiss this frivolity about the dog but finally acquiesces to help him when he is paid a fee of $10,000.00 cash up front and he finds out that the man wants to leave his money to the woman residing in his neighbor's house. The story picks up from there. Mary Astor, who has always been great in everything she does, gives good support in this lively and complicated tale of murder and dogs. I have always liked Warren William in his films with his strong and vociferous voice, as he is usually a strong force to reckon with, either a unscrupulous cad or as the law. Obviously, this is the latter. This film is the best of the four and "The Case of the Velvet Claws (the fourth with my rating of 8) comes a close second, as they center on the story and less on comic relief. My main complaint of the second two, "The Case of the Curious Bride" (rated a 7) and "The Case of the Lucky Legs," (rated a 6) is that they rely too much on comedy and paints Perry as a boob, despite his reputation as a first- class attorney. He is also seen as a bit money-hungry and superficial. Three actresses played Della Street, Claire Dodd in the second and fourth and Genevieve Tobin in the third. Ms. Tobin was my least favorite as Della, despite the fact she is a competent actress. "The Lucky Legs" (#3,) concerning a beauty pageant, was too flighty a film with little to no suspense. "The Curious Bride" has Margaret Lindsay as a past amour of Perry who now needs helps and while the film was modestly good, directed by "Casablanca" director Michael Curtiz, it was not as compelling as the first, despite the presence of Errol Flynn in a flashback as the victim in question. The last one, "Velvet Claws" is quite good with clever lines. In fact, these films are peppered with quick one-liners, but the addition of Allen Jenkins as "Spudsy," his right-hand man and his antics gets a bit tiresome. All in all, despite my dissatisfaction of too much comic relief, I think you'll be entertained. I particularly liked the twist ending of sorts in "Velvet Claws." Please discover Warren William as Perry Mason and then find his other films like "Skyscraper Souls" and "The Match King," and you'll see what you've been missing with such a prolific and dependable actor of the 1930s and early 1940s. He was very good when they used his dramatic skills to deceive and defend you.