After Hildegarde proves that the accidental riding death on a Central Park bridle path is really murder, she's faced with a plethora of red herrings and a real killer.After Hildegarde proves that the accidental riding death on a Central Park bridle path is really murder, she's faced with a plethora of red herrings and a real killer.After Hildegarde proves that the accidental riding death on a Central Park bridle path is really murder, she's faced with a plethora of red herrings and a real killer.
- Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
- Pipe Expert
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough this is the first and only time Helen Broderick played Hildegarde Withers in the six picture series, James Gleason did play Inspector Oscar Piper in all of them.
- GoofsWhen Hildegard is looking through the telescope, the field of view follows the horse running around the track, yet she doesn't move the telescope.
- Quotes
Hildegarde Withers: How long have you worked around here?
'High-Pockets': About three months, Ma'am... not countin' the week I was in jail.
Hildegarde Withers: What were you doing in jail?
'High-Pockets': Shootin' craps.
Hildegarde Withers: No, I mean what did they put you in jail for?
'High-Pockets': Shootin' craps.
- ConnectionsFollowed by The Plot Thickens (1936)
But all these experiments ran out of gas, even the "Thin Man" thread. By this edition, we have a whole different set of goals, and of course a different Hildegard. This woman isn't old, imperious, thickbottomed and selfish. She's a much hipper soul and in any case she doesn't have the focus any more.
And despite there being a younger sister cast for her figure, this is all about the men. And the characters we (as guys) create. Its nothing more than that, and as big as that. (The plot revolves around an exhusband thrown in "alimony jail" because of slow payments.)
Gleason is at his most extreme, strutting with a smile. Its a smile of an actor winking at the audience, something that was passed through (in my small experience) Red Skelton, Burt Reynolds, Bruce Willis.
But the extraordinary thing and this may not be readable to some is that it is all done by acting with hats. Its an amazing experience. These are theatrical hats, a bit over-sized. All the important facial expressions have a hat equivalent or compliment.
One of the men actors is a black man playing a specific character type, a dim, stepinfetchit "boy" named Highpockets. In life, it reflects as a stereotype and is harmful because no one can deny racism. But as a character its fantastic and comes less from society directly than a long and honorable stage minstrel tradition, Watch his hat.
There are other "stereotypes," a dumb Irishman, a stilted German... but none as gracefully presented.
If the world were all hats, there would be no problems, no war, except maybe alimony.
Its set in Central Park, though not actually shot there. Too bad.
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.
- tedg
- Jul 25, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Puzzle of the Briar Pipe
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 6 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1