Original subtitles

[Music]

Yeah.

Heat.

Tell me, Van, what happened backstage?

Were you able to see the canary? No

luck, Charles.

She's about as hard to get out in a

dressing room as she is in that swing.

[Music]

If you want an idea of what I ran into

back there,

let me point out a few of her admirers.

[Applause]

[Music]

You see a man standing in a box here.

[Music]

That's Dr. Lindris.

>> Oh, and he was outside her dressing room

just now along with these other two.

I understand that the canary has her

claws in all three of them.

>> Are they rich? Oh,

>> naturally. Well,

>> then what does she want with my son? The

allowance I give Jimmy is hardly

tempting.

>> Ah, my dear Charles, our little

feathered friend in the swing, her

social ambition. She wants to be Mrs.

Jimmy Spotswood.

>> I'd do anything in my power to prevent

that, even if Jimmy still cared for her.

And I still believe that she'll listen

to dollars and cents.

>> I wouldn't be too sure of that, Charles.

As you know, I've more or less made a

hobby of crime and a criminal.

That girl is no ordinary black neighbor.

I'm firmly convinced that she'll stop at

nothing to marry Jimmy.

>> But Jimmy won't have her. I tell you, he

is really come to his senses.

>> Another girl?

>> Yes. Well, you know her, Alice.

Oh, yes, of course. A very nice girl,

too.

>> Yes, she is.

Vance, I'm afraid that I'll have to use

my own judgment in this matter. I'm

going to see this canary at her

apartment as soon as possible.

Well, very well, Charles. But, uh, act

quickly.

Oh, I know you'll smile, but you know, I

have a strange premonition.

that the canary is headed for disaster.

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

>> Evening, Mr. Spotswood.

>> Hello there.

>> Shall I announce you to Miss Odell?

>> No, don't bother. That's perfectly all

right.

>> Farewell,

>> Jimmy.

>> Alice.

>> Jimmy, you were going to see the Canary

again.

>> No, I wasn't, dear. In fact, I just

start offered to put this note under

your door to tell her so.

>> Oh, Jimmy, I'm afraid of her. Oh, she's

clever and cruel and unscrupulous.

She'll hurt us again. I know she will.

>> Nia, she can't hurt us now.

>> Hey, boy. Will you announce my name?

Never mind.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Hello, Jimmy.

>> Well, hello, Dad. Good evening, Alice.

>> Good evening, Mr. Spotswood. You know,

I'm delighted that you and Jimmy have

made it up again.

>> Thank you. You know, I'm going to try to

show you that all show girls aren't like

Well,

>> like the canary, eh?

>> Yes.

>> Yes. I want to talk to her.

Do you suppose she's home yet?

I suppose so.

No, Dad. You you're you're you're a

regular guy for helping me out this

thing. You know, if if the canary ever

came between Alice and me again, I don't

know what I'd do. I don't know what I'd

do.

It's all right, Jimmy. I'll do

everything I can.

Shall I go along with you?

>> No, I can handle this better alone. I'll

send in my name now.

Send him in, please.

Good evening, Sodell.

>> Good evening.

>> Shall we go over here?

>> Well, yes.

>> Will you sit down?

>> Thank you.

Well, I don't think we need waste any

time. Miss Odell, you know why I am

here? How much?

>> Nothing doing, Mr. Spotswood. I've

decided to marry Jimmy.

>> I'm afraid that marriage is quite out of

the question, Miss Odell.

>> Oh, you're sure about that, are you?

>> I'm positive.

>> Well, how would you like me to tell the

world about Jimmy's embezzling from your

bank?

>> What?

>> You heard me. You know, Jimmy has a

weakness for writing letters, and I have

a weakness for using.

>> If Jimmy did write you a letter, you'll

tear it up. Now, before I leave here,

>> Sure. Go ahead. Tear it up yourself. My

memory is still perfect.

>> Oh, yes. Yes, I see. Yes. Very well. You

win.

Now, what do you really want?

>> I've told you what I want. I want to be

Mrs. James Spots, and that's that.

>> Oh, haven't you any heart? Won't you

give him up, Miss Odell? For the sake of

his happiness, for the sake of the girl

whom he really loves, give him up.

>> Now, what do you want me to do? Burst

out crying? Listen, Mr. Spotswood, I

know all about Jimmy and Alice, and if

he marries her, I'll tell every

newspaper in this country that he's a

dirty thief.

Oh, no. You wouldn't dare do that.

That's blackmail.

>> Sure it is. Call it anything you like,

but get this into your head that that's

what I'm going to do.

>> Well, that remains to be seen.

Good night.

Mr. Clever, please.

>> This is Mr. Clever speaking.

>> Not the Mr. Clever, the great reformer.

>> Well, this is your favorite weakness,

>> Margaret.

>> Don't get nervous, lady. I've got some

news for you.

>> Good news.

>> Yes, darling. I'm going to marry young

Spotswood.

Well, well, well.

>> May I send you my hottiest

congratulations?

>> You bet you can, but send them from

Tiffany's.

>> You heard me. And send me one of those

fancy autographs of yours on a nice fat

check.

>> I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I shall

have to refuse.

>> I'll be yourself. Big reformers who lead

double lives can't refuse.

>> Now, look here.

I'll see you dead first.

>> Listen, you'll be here after the theater

with a dough and like it.

>> The little rat.

May I speak to Mr. Louis Manx, please?

>> Quiet. Quiet. My wife.

>> Don't get excited. I just thought you'd

like to know I've sold the body down the

river. I'm going to marry Young

Spotswood.

>> Splendid.

>> Yes, darling. And I've decided that

you're the best man.

>> Best man? Yeah, the best man I know of

to kick in with a nice, handsome present

in cash.

>> Now, see here, you know I can't afford

>> What you mean is you can't afford to let

the ball and chain know what a

big-hearted Santa Claus you've been.

>> Now, look here. I've told you what I'd

do to you if you ever got to the wife.

>> Forget that bunk and be on my front

porch after the show with that Jack or

I'll get to your wife. All right.

That's Dr. Linquist speaking.

>> Oh, yes, Dr. Linquist. How would you

like to do me a little favor?

>> Why certainly, Margaret, I'd do anything

for you, you know.

>> How would you like to go jump in the

lake?

>> Oh, Margaret, don't joke with me. I'm

not in a mood for it.

>> Ah, get wise to yourself. I'm through

with you. You give me the willies.

>> I warn you, Margaret.

>> I'm desperate.

If I can't have you, no other man shall

ever have you alive.

Tony

>> in person, baby. How's my little squ?

>> I thought you were still in jail.

>> Well, I got tired of the big house, Mrs.

Scale, so I dropped in to see my little

wife.

>> I'm not your wife.

>> How come? I divorced you six months ago.

>> Yeah.

>> Listen, baby. A little thing like a

divorce don't mean anything to me. I

heard you taking those suckers down over

the phone. And I'm in and in on the

works. 5050.

>> You big crook. You're not in on this

one.

Don't. You big heel.

Say, I ought to bump you off.

>> You're doing your swing for it.

>> Well, maybe it'll be worth it. Now, get

this. I'm in on this racket.

I'll be back for my cut.

>> Yeah, try and get it.

>> Say, baby, don't bother changing the box

on this door. The lock I can't pick is

still in Yale.

Miss Odell, may I see you for a few

moments, please?

>> It won't get you anything, but come

ahead.

>> Thank you.

I have something to say to you, Miss

Odell, which I believe will make you

change your mind about Jimmy.

paper. Mister morning paper.

>> No, no, no.

>> Thanks, mister.

very well, Miss Odell. That suits me

perfectly. Take it over tonight and I'll

come for your answer in the morning.

Good night.

>> Boy, would you call me a taxi, please?

>> Yes, sir.

What's that? The Mistle Bell.

>> Mr. Odell, what's wrong?

>> Something startled me, Mr. Spotswood,

but I'm all right now.

>> Are you sure you're all right?

>> Yes, quite sure. Run along home and come

back in the morning. Oh, very well then.

I'll see you in the morning. Good night.

>> Str. Yes, sir.

Say fella,

what's bigger idea than you coming in

here late?

>> Oh, me late?

>> Yes, you laid.

>> I've been here for an hour.

>> I don't want that stuff.

>> Well, I've been here.

>> I beg you pardon, Mr. Spotswood calling

on Miss Odell by appointment.

>> She don't answer.

>> Has she gone out, do you think?

>> I've been on all night.

>> And you haven't seen her go out?

>> No, sir.

>> That's funny. Do you suppose she can be

ill?

>> But we may go and knock.

>> Yes. Yes, let's do that.

Miss Odell.

Miss Odell, are you ill?

>> No.

>> What's the matter?

>> Something has happened.

>> Go get your pass key.

>> Yes. Yes.

Say fella, it's his running get the cop

and say he hits get get

the big one too.

You better let me have that.

>> What's the matter here?

>> Something's happening there. Sure. Got

to take that key and go in.

He's dead.

Police headquarters, please.

Troman Cassidy speaking. There's a woman

dead at 184 West 71st Street. It looks

like murder. Okay, Cassidy.

>> She's been dead since midnight,

Sergeant. Strangled to death. Not long,

eh?

Sergeant, the district attorney just

pulled up and he's coming right in.

>> That's great.

>> He's got that Mr. Pho with him.

>> Well, that'll be just dandy. Sherlock

Holmes on the job again, huh? Heads up,

boy.

>> Good morning, Sergeant.

>> Good morning, Mr. Markhamm.

Well, hello, Mr. Vance.

>> How are you, Sergeant?

>> Fine. Haven't seen you since the Green

Murder case.

>> Quite right.

>> Oh, good morning, Mr. Spotswood.

>> Good morning, Mr. Markham.

Well, Sergeant, what does it look like?

>> Well, chief, it's just another clear

case of robbery. All I can make out of

it. Nasty business, Charles, huh?

>> Oh, terrible. As you know, I was here

last night to make my final appeal to

her for Jimmy.

>> And when I came back this morning for

her answer,

this had happened.

>> Yes.

They'll probably want to keep you here

for a few moments, Charles.

>> Yes, I suppose they will. And by the

way, I explained to the district

attorney on the way down about Jimmy and

the girl here.

>> Oh, that's good. I'm glad you did that,

Pho. You know, if I can tell you

anything that will help.

>> Well, perhaps later, Charles. Meanwhile,

I'll have a bit of a lookabout.

>> I don't think there's anything worth you

looking at, Mr. Vance. It's a clear

case. Robbery. She put up a battle and

they wrecked the joint.

>> I see. As simple as that, eh?

>> That's it. Well, just the same,

Sergeant. If you don't mind, I think

I'll have just one little look.

>> Surely, Mr. Vance, go right ahead. Make

yourself perfectly at home.

>> Thank you, Sergeant.

>> Excuse me, Mr.

Leman. When do we sleep?

>> You get this, Sunny boy. You'll go for a

long sleep unless you button up that big

trap of yours.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Uh, Sergeant.

>> Yes, Chief. Any fingerprints?

>> Well, so far no. I'll tell you this job

was done by an expert. It's perfect.

Yes, that's just the trouble.

>> What's that? It's too perfect. Well,

that's a little over my head, Mr. Vance.

Just what do you mean by too perfect?

Well, Sergeant, what usually happens

when a heavy lamp like that is knocked

off a table?

Well, I don't know, but I'll bite. What

does happen?

>> It usually smashes, doesn't it?

>> It might.

>> Well, look at that one.

>> Well, what about it?

>> Well, simply that that lamp was placed

there to give the effect of a struggle.

>> Maybe.

>> Let me see, Sergeant.

It does look a little obvious, doesn't

it, Vance?

>> I should say so. Hey, boy. What happened

here last night after you heard Miss

Odell scream and you and Mr. Foxwood ran

down the hall to her door. Well, she

said she was all right. And I called Mr.

Spotswood a taxi cab

and you got away with it.

>> Yes, sir. That's right. What time was

this?

>> It's on the call sheet there. I gave you

about

Never mind. I I can read it.

1210.

Now, Mr. Spotswood,

where did you go last evening after you

left here?

>> I went directly to the Styverson Club.

>> That's right, Sergeant. I met Mr.

Spotswood at the club shortly after 12.

We played poker until almost daylight, I

believe, wasn't it?

>> It must have been. I know it was long

after 4.

>> Oh, yeah. You mentioned that coming down

here, Vance.

>> Right. And that'll be all for the

present, Mr. Spotswood.

>> Thank you, Malcolm. But if you do want

me later on, Mr. Vance has my number.

>> When right.

>> Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye. Charles,

>> I'll phone you.

>> Go right ahead, boy.

>> Joe,

or Sergeant, would you step over here

for a moment, please?

>> All right, Mr. Vance, what is it now?

>> Do you observe anything peculiar here?

>> Why, surely

the key is on the inside.

Excellent, Sergeant.

Don't you think we might go over that

knob for fingerprints?

>> Well, now uh uh

Oh, I get you, Mr. Vance.

The murderer locked himself in this

closet. When Spotswood left, he came out

and croked the canary.

No, I hardly think so, Sergeant.

If you will observe, this is the one

place in the entire apartment that

hasn't been disturbed.

Now, what does that signify? That and

the fact of the key being found on the

inside.

>> Just as I told you, the murderer was in

this closet and came out when Spotswood

left.

>> I don't think you quite get my point,

Sergeant. If the murderer had been in

here,

he would have upset this closet as he

did the rest of the apartment, wouldn't

he?

Well, yes, I guess he would.

>> Precisely, gentlemen. It was someone

else who was in that closet

while the apartment was being ransacked.

And that someone witnessed the murder

through the keyhole.

>> Splendid, Sergeant. And if you'll find

who was in that closet, I think you'll

learn from him or her who it was that

killed the canary.

>> Sergeant, get the fingerprints, will

you?

Oh, Joe.

>> Oh, Sergeant, you might check up on the

other apartments. Mr. Vance and I are

going outside.

You come here.

Yes, sir.

>> Who lives in that apartment there?

[Music]

Miss Alice.

Isn't she the dame that had the battle

with the canary the other night over

young Spotswood?

All right. All right.

Impossible to get in here. I'd say so.

What's this?

[Music]

That's odd. They prove that interesting.

What do you think?

>> I see, Mr. Leos. I see.

But you and the Canary had a fight over

Young Spotswood, didn't you?

>> Well, yes. We did have a fight. You see,

she took Jimmy away from me and got him

into trouble. But that's all over now.

Jimmy and I made it up just day before

yesterday. You didn't see young

Spotswood last night, did you?

>> Well, yes. He brought me home from the

theater.

>> Uhhuh.

So, he was hanging around here last

night, was he?

>> Yes, but he was with me until after one

of

>> Now, wait a minute, lady. Wait a minute.

You save your alibis till we get you

down to headquarters. Go slip on your

things.

>> Why? Look, you don't think that?

>> What I'm on?

Oh,

>> Mr. advance. I'm frightened.

>> Well, don't you be worried, Alice.

Just you do as the sergeant says.

>> All right.

>> You know, I'm beginning to question this

robbery theory. Mr. Vance,

you and I were right.

>> Oh, yes.

Why, I can see plainly that this murder

is all mixed up in a love bat.

>> You know, Chief, I think we'd better

round up this young Spotswood and give

him the works. What do you say?

>> Quite right, Sergeant.

>> Uh, Malcolm, I'd like you to add a few

names to that list if you don't mind.

The men I mentioned on the way up here,

Dr. Ambrose Linquist,

John Clever, and Louie Manx.

Well, young man,

what do you know about what happened at

the Canary's apartment last night?

>> Nothing. But look here, sir. That has

nothing to do with Alice.

>> Uh, on me, Miss Leforce. The papers say

the Canary was murdered before midnight.

And I tell you, we were together the

whole time. It isn't fair to hold it.

You haven't the right.

Ah, Jimmy, don't get worked up.

Everything's going to be all right.

Why not interview the others first,

Mark?

Very well, Gordon.

Take Mr. Spotswood out the other room

and hold him there. I'll talk to you

later, young man.

Bill.

Well,

who's next on the list?

Mix.

>> I'd like to make a bit of an experiment.

Martin,

have you uh pad and penciled up?

>> Yes.

There you are.

You have that newspaper handy?

>> Yes. Right here.

All righty. All right.

>> Good morning, Mr. Vance. Good morning,

Mr. Markham.

>> Good morning. Will you please take a

seat?

>> Thank you.

Sorry, Mr. Manx.

There are a few questions I'd like to

ask you.

>> Questions? What about? I don't know

anything about this. It was a great

shock to me.

>> What was a great shock to you?

>> Right. I thought perhaps you were going

to ask me about the canary.

Exactly. You read my thoughts, Mr. Manx.

Did you ever see that necklace before?

>> Why? Why? Yes.

Fact is, I gave that to Canary.

Little token of esteem.

Nice girl. The Canary. I'd met her once

or twice.

A casual acquaintance. Rather an

expensive gift to give to a casual

acquaintance, isn't it?

Do you know that the canary was

strangled with that necklace?

Most remarkable.

Unfortunate, I should say. Where were

you last night? Between 11 and 1:00.

>> Between

11 and 1? Yes. Let me see

why I was home. I went to bed about

10:00. Uh, tired out. You understand?

Pardon me, Mr. Man.

>> Any comment to make, Mr. Mox? odd habit

of mine drawing triangles.

>> Mr. Maddox,

if you were in your bed last night at

10:00,

how did you manage to drop that

newspaper just outside the Canary's

apartment? And that edition isn't on the

streets until 11:00.

Well, you've caught me.

I'll tell the truth. It's always best to

tell the truth, especially when there's

no reason to lie. It was like this.

The Canary called my home at dinner time

last night. Most embarrassing.

Mrs. Manx was with me. I had a minute to

tell my wife about the canary.

She wouldn't have understood.

The canary told me that she was going to

be married and wanted to see me.

said that I should come to her apartment

at 11:00. Well, I

I couldn't argue over the phone.

The MS was listening,

so I said, "All right." So, at 11:00, I

went to the Canary's apartment. I

entered the hall by a side door and went

directly to her apartment. I was about

to enter when I heard voices inside. I

listened. There was a man in there and

he was arguing of course. Well, that was

no place for me. So, I returned home

without seeing the canary are entering

her apartment. Well, uh, that'll be all

the questioning for the president, Mr.

Manx, but I'll have to ask you to wait

in the outer office. I may want to speak

to you later on.

>> Oh, won't you let me go home?

I'll get in an awful mess with my wife.

I'm sorry. You'll have to wait. Oh, Mr.

Markhamm, I wouldn't run away. Uh,

Melfield, that'll be all.

Mr. Markhamm,

you got to help me square this with my

wife.

We will now have Mr. Clever.

>> Good morning, Mr. Clever.

>> Good morning, Mr. Markham.

>> Can I do anything for you?

>> Will you uh please have a seat? You

>> mind if I smoke a cigar? Oh,

>> please do.

Uh, Mr. Clever,

do you mind if I ask you some questions?

>> Why, of course, if I can be of any help.

Where were you last night between 11 and

1:00?

motoring up for Hudson

in the moonlight

alone,

though I don't see what that has to do

with the district attorney's office.

Well, only this, Mr. Clever.

If you were indulging in the nocturnal

beauties of nature along the Hudson last

evening,

how does it happen that this cigar band

bearing your initials

was found just outside the canary's

window at an early hour this morning?

>> Well, if I was passing the Canary's

apartment, you can't twist that into a

crime.

>> Oh, then you did pass an apartment. Why

yes, I I have nothing to hide.

It was about uh dinner time last night.

The canary foam to me. Oh, of course. My

my acquaintance with her was wholly in

my line as social reformer.

I'd hoped that she was going to leave

her immoral life and and marry and

settle down and be a good woman. And uh

you kept the appointment. Yes.

Yes and no. I was a little late.

I arrived at her apartment about a4 to

12 or thereabouts.

I waited for a minute outside her window

to light a cigar.

Then I uh glanced down to the side

entrance to the building.

And who should I chance to see but Dr.

linquest.

He was behaving in a very peculiar

manner. Seemed to me very queer,

very mysterious.

I didn't like it. So, I made up my mind

not to see the canary again.

And I turned,

walked back home. Now, that's all I can

tell you. I'm a busy man, and uh I hope

you'll excuse me. I'm very sorry, Mr.

Clever, but I'll have to ask you to wait

in the outer office. I might want to

question you again.

>> You mark my words, Markhamm.

You'll be sorry for this.

>> Well, I take my chances, Mr. Clever.

>> Charming fellow Cleaver.

>> Yeah, rather. By the way, Vance, I

didn't see you pick up this cigar ban in

front of McNary's apartment this

morning.

>> I didn't.

>> Where did you get it?

>> From your waist basket.

>> Waste basket.

>> Clever dropped it there when he entered.

I took a chance on his not remembering

that. It seemed to work.

Well, I'll be

[Music]

very good,

Dr. Linquist.

Be good.

>> Come on, doctor. Take your hand.

>> Hey, Chafy.

We caught Dr. Linquest just as he was

leaving town. It's a lie.

>> I was on the way to a patient.

>> Would you please sit down, doctor? I'd

like to ask you a few questions,

doctor.

Where were you last night between 11 and

1:00?

>> None of your business.

>> It is some of my business. You were seen

coming out of the Canary's apartment at

midnight.

>> Not so fast, doctor. Calm yourself,

doctor.

I'm sorry.

I lost my temper.

I'm under a terrible strain.

I loved the Canary dearly

and

I'm terribly upset.

Do you know that the canary was

strangled with that necklace?

Good.

You

You don't accuse me.

But Dr. Linquist, there's really no need

for you to be excited. Now, Mr. Markhamm

here is merely trying to find out what

you know.

>> I know. No, I know. Doctor,

>> Markhamm, don't you think that we might

postpone the interview with Dr. Linquist

for a while?

>> Why? What?

Very well.

That'll be all for the present, doctor.

I'd like to have you remain in the outer

office.

Come on, doctor.

>> What was the idea, Vance? We had him

where he was about to tell us

everything.

>> Well, on the contrary, Markhamm, in his

present extremely excited condition, I

very much doubt if he would have told us

anything.

I do think, however, that if we give him

a chance to cool off a bit, he's very

likely to tell us the truth.

>> Well, perhaps you're right.

>> Good morning, Sergeant.

>> How are you, Sergeant?

>> Good morning, Chief. Hello, Mr. Vance.

Take a slant at those.

There is the Canary's jewels.

They were found in an ash can about a

block from her apartment this morning. I

guess that kind of disproves the robbery

theory.

We were right, Mr. Vance. H I say we

were right.

>> Oh. Oh, yes. Yes. Apparently, we were,

Sergeant.

>> Now it's up to us to find another

motive.

>> Yes, quite right, Sergeant.

You know, Malcolm, I've been thinking

this over all morning,

and I believe that I can come pretty

close to the psychology of the man who

committed this murder. I believe that I

can pick him out from that list of

suspects, if he's among them. However,

it will require a bit of an experiment.

>> What is in your mind?

>> Well, I'd like to use that confidence

room of yours there for a friendly

little game of poker with your suspects.

>> Well, now that's a cute idea. Well, just

what is your idea then?

>> Well, just this Malcolm, a man's true

nature always comes out in a game of

poker. Now, I know the type and the

temperament of the man who murdered the

canary. And in a game of poker, I

believe that I can come pretty close to

putting my finger on him.

>> That's a new way of catching croakkes.

>> Take it easy, s will you, please?

Well, go ahead, Vance. The experiment

can do no harm. Quite right now. I'd

like to have the sergeant's help.

>> Well, I'd be very glad to help you, Mr.

Vance, as long as you don't try to hang

the murder on me.

>> Uh, Sergeant, will you take Mr. Vance's

orders, please?

>> Okay, chief.

>> Will you get me a deck of cards and have

some poker chips handy just outside

there? That's easy.

>> Then bring in the suspects and impress

upon them that they may be detained here

for quite a while, possibly two or even

3 hours.

>> Well, that's okay, Mr. Vance, but how

are you going to get the suspects into

this poker game without it appearing

phony to him?

>> Well, Sergeant, I rather think that the

power of suggestion will take care of

that.

>> Oh, power of suggestion.

>> Exactly. Now, Sergeant, look in from

time to time and when I pull my

handkerchief from my pocket. So,

break up the game by telling them that

they are all free to go home.

Understand?

>> I get you. But when you release them,

I'll have my boys tail them.

>> Very good, sir.

>> And Mr. Vance, here's to the power of

suggestion.

Jimmy,

>> now gentlemen, you're liable to be here

for 2 or 3 hours, perhaps longer.

>> That soundsious.

>> Just make yourselves at home.

>> Well, you know, this is going to get me

an awful mess with my wife. That is of

no interest to me, sir. I'm sorry.

>> What's the idea, Mr. Vance?

>> Well, what are they going to do with

Alice?

>> Now, Jimmy, don't you worry. Nothing's

going to happen to Alice.

>> Say, Mr. Vance, you know, this is going

to get me in an awful mess with my wife.

Martha's a My wife's a wonderful woman

and all that, but sometimes she just

doesn't understand me. The last time I

was a little indiscreet, it cost me a

fur coat.

I hate to think what this is going to

cost.

So, don't you think if you put All

right, beg your pardon. I'm sorry,

>> Mr. Vance. You haven't got an extra pack

of cards, have you?

>> I'm sorry, Mr. Mox, but you're welcome

to these.

>> Oh, no. Well, no, thanks. Just the same.

I uh I wish we could play a little

cards.

>> Say, that's a good idea. How about

poker?

I'm agreeable. What about the others?

Uh, Dr. Lenquist.

>> Anything to pass the time, Mr. Clever?

>> Well, as a rule, it's against my

principles, but I suppose on an occasion

like this one, one can relax.

Just draw up chairs, gentlemen.

Thank you, Sergeant.

How about some poker chips? Surely

>> chief.

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Spotswood is here. Have him in.

>> Come in, Mr. Spotwood. Good morning, Mr.

Spotswood.

>> Good morning, Markhamm. Good morning. I

see Markhamm. What are you holding Jimmy

for? Surely you're not accusing him.

>> No, no, of course not. We're simply

trying to find out what he knows. That's

all.

>> Oh, yes. Yes. Where is he now?

>> My in the other room there with Vance.

>> May I see him?

>> Why certainly

Vance? Mr. Spwood is here.

>> Oh, hello, Dad.

>> Oh, hello, Jimmy.

>> Good morning, Charles.

>> Good morning, fellow. But

>> Dad, what are you doing here?

>> I came to be with you, Jimmy. Why are

you in detain?

>> Oh, by all means. We've just started a

little game of poker here. Charles,

would you like to join?

>> Come on, Dad. Sit and take a head.

>> Well, all right. I'll sit in.

>> That'll be fine. I suppose you take that

chair, Charles.

>> Thank you,

>> gentlemen. This is Mr. Spotswood.

>> Mr. Manx.

>> Mr. Manx. Dr. Linquist.

>> Doctor and Mr. Clever.

>> Mr. Clever.

>> How do you do?

>> Shall it be jackpots, gentlemen?

>> Why yes, anything.

>> Well, yes. The Mrs. And I usually play

jackpots.

[Applause]

>> Pardon? Three. Mr. Vance, please.

>> Thank you.

>> Two, please.

So, it's between you and me, Mr. Clever.

>> Yes. H.

Albert Whiteman.

>> Oh. Uh,

so you're calling me?

>> Yeah. Well,

just openers, pair of jacks,

>> three aces.

>> Oh,

so you called a one chip bet with three

aces.

[Applause]

Open. I am out.

>> Dealer passes.

How many Mr. V?

>> Two cards, please.

Mr. Manics, I think I'll play these.

>> I'll check the bet to you, Mr.

calling

9

8

7

6 5 and they're all spades.

>> You bet on a sure thing, Mr. Manx.

I open for one.

I'll stay.

Oh, let's make it a little more

interesting.

10 more.

Well, that lets me out.

I'm out

and me.

I'll stay with you, Charles.

Cards, gentlemen.

Three for me. One, two, three. Mr.

Spotswood.

>> I have plenty.

A white stack, Charles.

Two white stacks.

up. Two chips, Charles.

Oh, you want me to do the betting, eh?

All right.

I am afraid I am overcome by curiosity.

What have you?

Two deuces.

They're good.

there. What?

Why the philanthropy fellow?

Well, I had ace high.

>> Pardon me, Mr. Lance. Could I speak to

you a moment?

Excuse me, please.

You've traced the fingerprints down. And

this is the bird that was in the closet

and saw the canary murdered.

>> Gentlemen,

here is the man who was in the canary's

clothes closet and who witnessed her

murder.

>> Well, I shouldn't like to be the man he

saw.

>> Thank goodness he didn't see me through

the keyhole.

So that man witnessed a murder.

>> Singularly unattractive

countenance.

Well, if he knows, why doesn't he tell

who did it?

Gentlemen, I've uh been instructed by

the district attorney to inform you that

you're all free to go home.

>> Thank goodness for that.

>> I wonder what the wife will say.

>> Has anyone a fountain pen, please?

There. There's mine. Oh, thank you, sir.

Now, what I didn't tell you about this

bird, Mr. Vance, in front of the others

is that he phoned in and said that he'd

be in the district attorney's office

tomorrow and spill the whole works. He

says that he saw the guy that croked the

canary and he'll come in and tell us who

it was.

Now, we haven't been able to locate him

yet, so I guess we'll just have to wait.

Well, Sergeant,

that takes the matter out of my hands.

Malcolm, there can be no doubt of it.

The same person who strangled the canary

strangled ski. This new murder was done

to cover up the first.

Skele was obviously blackmailing the

Canary's murderer. He threatened to

inform the police of what he had seen

through the keyhole of the closet. And

when the murderer learned yesterday at

the poker game that the police knew who

had been in the closet, he put skill out

of the way at the earliest possible

moment.

>> I believe you're right, Pence.

All right.

Did any of the suspects get away from

your men last night? We never lost sight

of Linquist, Manx, and the girl, but

Young Spotswood

and Clever gave us the slip.

And we all

that leaves Gimme and Clever.

Morning, Chief. Good morning, Heath,

boys.

>> Hello, Mr. Vance. Good morning,

Sergeant.

>> Well, Chief, everything's okay. I've got

the guilty man, and I've got him right.

>> You've got him?

>> I hope to tell you I have.

>> Where is he?

>> All right, Mac, bring him in.

>> Mr. Fence. Jimmy, this fool arrested me

this morning at breakfast for the

murder.

>> Why? It's just like shooting fish in a

tub, chief. I've got all the dope and

I've got it down path. Motive and

everything. Now this dame Alice croak

the canary jealous because she'd stolen

her fellow. The kid here bumps heel off

to shut his mouth and to protect the

dame.

>> It's a lie.

>> That isn't all, Chief. I've got the

evidence. And it's not psychology, Mr.

Vance.

>> Mr. Vance, he lies. He hasn't evidence

he couldn't have. Just a minute, Jimmy.

Sergeant,

what is your theory?

>> Well, I don't go on theory.

I use cold facts, Mr. Vance.

Now, you wait a minute.

Did you ever see that pen?

Yes, it's mine. You bet your life it's

yours.

Take a look at that pen, Mr. V.

Chief. Well, now listen to this. This

morning, I found that pen on the floor

there by the table where Skiel was

murdered, and the kid here admits that

it's his.

Well, young man, what have you to say?

Yes, I killed him. Both of them.

>> I guess that does it, chief. We've got

him in a sack. Now, this dame, Alice,

>> wait a minute.

You got what you wanted. Now, take me

out.

Take him away, Max.

Well, I'll see you later at the office,

chief.

Sorry, Mr. Vance.

>> Well, Vance, I guess that closed the

case.

>> No, Mark, it doesn't.

>> What do you mean?

>> I mean that the boy is not guilty.

>> Well, that's nonsense. Not nonsense,

Mark Malcolm,

because I know who is guilty.

>> Oh, no. Vince,

>> I tell you, Malcolm, I know. And inside

of 1 hour, you'll know, too. I'm going

to telephone at once to the real

murderer and have him come to the

Canary's apartment, and I want you to be

there. But the boy has confessed

everything. Marker,

if you don't meet me there, you'll be

the laughingtock of New York in 24 hours

because I'll have the confession of the

real murderer.

Well,

all right, V. If you want that way,

I'll be there.

Number

>> Bay View 2121.

>> Bayiew 21.

>> Yes, please.

>> This is Pho Vance. I want to speak with

M.

>> Oh, hello Pho. How are you?

>> I didn't recognize your voice.

I have something of extreme importance

to tell you. Jimmy has just been

arrested. He has confessed to the murder

of both the canary and skill.

Do you understand?

>> Yes, I understand. Pho is not guilty. I

am the man you want.

>> How soon will you meet me at Canar's

apartment?

>> It'll take me almost an hour to get in

from the country, but I'll be there.

Good.

[Music]

>> It's been over an hour now. Vance,

>> don't be impatient. Barkham,

he'll be here.

Who is it you're expecting?

>> You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

And I must admit

that without his confession, I haven't a

shred of real proof to offer you.

Hello.

>> Yes,

this is Mr. Vance speaking.

>> What?

Yes.

All right.

What is it? Vance Spotswood has just

been killed

in a motor accident.

Spotswood killed.

My sympathies, old man.

I know what great friends you were.

It's worse than you realize, Marco.

It was Spotswood

who killed both the canary and ski.

I've known it ever since the poker game.

>> But how can you know?

>> Sit down. Mark,

>> it wasn't really so difficult. Remember,

the man who committed this particular

crime

must have had certain definite

qualities.

A mind capable of working out a well

planned and brilliant cause of action.

Willing to take a desperate chance and

see it through. Now consider the men in

the game.

Jimmy I ruled out at the start, but I'd

known him as a boy, and his youth and

impulsiveness were hardly consistent

with such a

such an obviously premeditated murder.

Linquist was far too excitable and

erratic to have plotted such a carefully

calculated crime. clever,

much too cautious and entirely lacking

in the necessary boldness, manx,

timid, and unwilling to take any risk

except upon an absolutely sure thing.

the only man at the table with enough

imagination to plan such a crime and

with sufficient self-confidence and

daring to carry it through

was Spotwood. When he held a pair of

deuces,

refused to draw to them, and bet every

chip he had on the chance of blotting me

out,

the realization suddenly dawned upon me

that he was the murderer, for he was the

one man of them all. psychologically

fitted for such an act.

>> But uh how about finding Jimmy's pen in

the ski apartment? I borrowed Jimmy's

fountain pen after the poker game.

My hypothesis is that in the confusion,

Spotswood put the pen into his own

pocket and that Jimmy saw him do it.

That is why Jimmy made his confession to

shield his father.

>> Yes. But against all that theory, Vance,

we have certain definite facts. Now, for

instance,

Spotswood left the Canary's apartment

while she was still alive.

He talked to her through that door.

The hall boy looking through the keyhole

saw the Canary lying on this sofa

smoking a cigarette.

Spotswood then went away and spent the

rest of the evening with you.

True.

And yet I know he committed the murder.

And I've got to find out how he did it.

I'm afraid you will, Vance, so that

Jimmy can go free.

>> Spotswood himself was coming here to

tell how it was done in order to free

Jimmy.

And now he's dead.

I've got to solve it.

I think I have the whole thing. Now

follow me closely. The canary was lying

there.

Spotswood,

let us say, was standing here making a

final plea for his boy, which met with

an absolute refusal.

He walked around to the head of the

sofa.

Suddenly, he clapped his hand over her

mouth and with his other hand caught her

necklace and before she had a chance to

cry out,

he strangled her.

He then proceeded to set the stage to

make it appear that the crime had been

committed with robbery as a motive. He

stripped her jewels from her and placed

them in his pocket.

Then

he took a cigarette from that box and

lit it.

He laid her hand here,

placed the cigarette between her fingers

so that in case anyone should look

through the keyhole of that door there,

it would appear as if she were lying

here smoking.

He then overturned the entire apartment

to make it look as if a burglar had

ransacked the place.

Now just step over here, Marc.

He came to this closet door, but he

couldn't open it. Skill had locked

himself in, though Spotswood didn't know

that. And through the keyhole saw

everything that Spotswood did. That

accounts for the orderly condition of

this one closet. when everything else in

the apartment was ransacked.

And that Markhamm was the technique of

the crime itself.

But that doesn't account for the fact

that just a minute I haven't quite

finished.

I want you to go out into the hall and

stand at the desk where Spottwood stood

when he ordered his cab.

Very low.

Something stuck with me, Mrs. Butwood,

but I'm all right now.

Yes, quite sure. Run along home and come

back in the morning.

You understand now?

This record was Spottwood's alibi.

Undoubtedly, the reason he returned here

the next morning was to get it back, but

he was prevented by the arrival of the

officer who entered the apartment with

him.

The canary was dead, and the scream

issued from the apartment that night.

She was dead when she apparently spoke

to Spotswood through the door.

But what clue led you to the photograph

record?

It was this magazine.

That is hardly a magazine the Canary

would have read. So I concluded that

someone else must have brought it here.

Then in running through the pages,

I happened to notice this.

Look closely.

You see it?

>> Well, yes. The the imprint of a large

circle

>> and on the opposite page

>> and the same thing precisely as if a

disc had been pressed between the two

pages.

That brought to my mind the thought of a

photograph record.

And suddenly the whole plot became clear

to me. It was the only way that Spotwood

could have committed the murder and have

produced a voice in the apartment after

the Canary's death. But I can't

understand how it could he could have

reproduced the Canary's voice.

>> It wasn't the Canary's voice, Mark.

Spotswood made that record himself.

Probably it was his own voice in

falsetto.

And remember, it was only necessary to

fool the house boy and through a closed

door.

>> Yes,

I can see it all now.

>> He played the game shrewdely

and boldly.

It was Jimmy's whole life's happiness

that was at stake,

and Spotswood risked his own life for

his boy.

Goodbye, Mr. Van. You'll never know how

grateful we are.

>> Goodbye, my dear.

I wish you great happiness.

>> Oh, thank you.

>> Goodbye, Jimmy.

Your happiness will come.

Thank you, Mr. Vance.

I

I can't say anymore

just now.

>> Well, Mr. Van

Well, Sergeant, I guess we put it over

again.

Right you are, Sergeant. Many thanks.

>> Well, I'll be seeing you later. Goodbye.

>> Goodbye, Sergeant.

[Music]