The Case Of The Stuttering Bishop (1937)

Starring Donald Woods, Ann Dvorak, Anne Nagel, Linda Perry, Craig Reynolds
Directed by William Clemens
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

Attorney Perry Mason is handed a new case by a stuttering bishop, who leads him to the discovery that the heir of a wealthy magnate is an imposter.

A departure of sorts from the other Perry Mason films of the 1930s, this installment feels more like a straight adaptation of Erle Stanley Gardner's novel, with none of the humor and wisecracks found in the Mason films starring Warren William and Ricardo Cortez, although a boastful hotel detective does provide some comic relief.  It's a well put together mystery, and Woods and Dvorak make fine leads.  The picture's not quite as entertaining as some of the other Perry Mason films, but it's a worthwhile production.