Release dateAugust 17, 1929 (1929-08-17) (U.S.) WriterHarriet Ford (play), Harvey J. OHiggins (play), William J. Burns (play), Harvey F. Thew, De Leon Anthony (titles) ProductionWarner Bros. Entertainment CastThomas Meighan, Lila Lee, John Darrow Similar moviesRelated Howard Bretherton movies
The Argyle Case (1929) is an all-talking pre-code murder horror film produced and released by Warner Bros., and directed by Howard Bretherton. The movie stars Thomas Meighan, H.B. Warner, Lila Lee, John Darrow and Zasu Pitts. The film was based on a play by Harriet Ford and Harvey J. O'Higgins.
The play was previously filmed as a silent in 1917, The Argyle Case.
Plot
A wealthy man is shot just as he reaches for the phone to call for the police. Suspicion falls on his ward (Lila Lee) as he has intended to change his will, which had left his entire estate to her, to share it equally with his nephew. The nephew, who is in love with Lee, calls in a private detective, who eventually finds it is the lawyer who is the criminal.
Cast
Thomas Meighan as Alexander Kayton
H.B. Warner as Hurley
Lila Lee as Mary Morgan
John Darrow as Bruce Argyle
Zasu Pitts as Mrs. Wyatt
Bert Roach as Joe
Wilbur Mack as Sam
Douglas Gerrard as Finley
Alona Marlowe as Kitty
James Quinn as Skidd
Gladys Brockwell as Mrs. Martin
Preservation status
No film elements are known to survive. The soundtrack, which was recorded on Vitaphone disks, may survive in private hands. The sound to four reels (Reels 3, 5, 7, and 9), out of nine reels, survives on Vitaphone disks at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.