The Murder of Dr. Harrigan (2001)

At 67 minutes, "The Murder of Dr. Harrigan" is clearly a B-mystery film...albeit a pretty decent one. Bs were films that usually ran from 55-70 minutes and were meant as a second film at a double feature. They usually had simple plots with rather quick resolutions...and they were made by all sorts of companies ranging from the tiny to big studios like MGM and Warner. The Bs made with the bigger companies tended to look a bit nicer and were more likely to have a bigger name actor or two in the flick. And, since this was by Warner Brothers, they put stars Ricardo Cortez and Mary Astor in this one...making it a bit nicer than the average B.Shortly after the film begins, you learn of several people who have plenty of reasons to kill Dr. Harrigan as well as his patient, the rich crank, Peter Melady. However, unlike most B mysteries, this one features TWO murders! As for the police, they're a bit dim (though not as overtly stupid as they are in most B mysteries) and they need the help of some smart folks--in this case Dr. Lambert (Cortez). Overall, a clever and pretty typical B mystery--one that is worth seeing and harmless (unless, of course, you are Harrigan and Melady).

I was under the impression that "The Murder Of Dr. Harrigan" is part of a movie series made in the 1930s about a nurse (played by a variety of actresses; Kay Linaker this time) who doubles as an amateur sleuth. However, the nurse does very little sleuthing here - it's her boyfriend (and doctor working at the same hospital) who figures out the how and the why of the murder(s), if not quite the who. Anyway, this B mystery is a little lacking in star power (Mary Astor is probably the most famous name in the cast, and she only has a secondary part), but the plot is engaging (it involves a variety of characters, each with his or her own agenda) and the pace is reasonably smooth considering that about 90% of the film takes place in a single set (the hospital). Worth watching. **1/2 out of 4.

This picture was on TCM the other morning and the best that can be said is that it is over quickly. That, and the fact that if you are a 'movie sleuth' you have to figure out who the murderer is. But you can do that about halfway through the picture.Two things strike you while watching this potboiler; first, the script is loaded with dialogue that is clichéd, trite and hackneyed - a great many lines that are cornball or just plain lame, no matter the time period. Second, the number of hospital practices that wouldn't pass muster today, for instance, a doctor wheeling his patient alone to the OR late at night for an operation he rescheduled, while wearing a suit and tie. Or people smoking all over the hospital, mostly in patients rooms.The plot itself isn't too bad but the picture has a lot of nondescript, unattractive actors, the exception being the chipper, good-natured presence of Ricardo Cortez. But he, like everybody else, seems unaffected and unfazed by the murders occurring throughout the hospital. Check out the stiff and go about your business, nothing to see here.But after all, it is a B picture. Maybe I was expecting too much but I can't get excited about this one. I would recommend it only to hardcore mystery fans who aren't too particular.

Only a certain kind of audience likes these types of movies, the type that flocked to see The Thin Man a few years before this film and the sequel to the Thin Man the same year as this film. It's obvious by the attempts at humorous banter by the romantic leads that this is a thinly veiled attempt to cash in on the same audience back in the hey day of the Thin Man series as the TM movies were attracting. This is nowhere close to those movies with none of the chemistry (although a few quips are funny) and the required explanation of what is going on and who shot who is painfully dragged out and boring. None of the action as Nicky grills the group. And awful dialog (ex: "Glad, glad do you hear!") which is really painful to hear from the likes of Mary Astor.But I am someone who does enjoy these types of movies. It fascinates me how they announce the parts and actions as if they are still on the radio for the sake of those who can't see it. And I enjoy seeing the cultural elements (count how many times the word "negro" is used.)These films are like a quick glimpse into the campy past. And it's no mystery that glimpses of the past are always fun.