Penguin Pool Murder (1932)

The Penguin Pool Murder (1932) is the first of three films starring Edna May Oliver as Hildegard Withers, a school teacher, and James Gleason as Police Inspector Oscar Piper. Hildegard Withers was a character created by Stuart Palmer. Withers uses her above average intelligence and observation skills to assist Inspector Piper.

The film begins in the office of stock broker Gerald Parker, played by Guy Usher. Parker is ruthless businessman, who dealings have left several customers bankrupt. Struggling to keep his own finances afloat, he learns his wife Gwen Parker is meeting an old boyfriend at a local aquarium.

Gwen, played by Mae Clark, meets Philip Seymour, played by Donald Cook, to get money from him. Gwen tells him she should have married him and is leaving Gerald Parker for good after Gerald slapped her. Gerald arrives and threates both Gwen and Philip. Gerald raises his hand to strike Gwen again but Philip knocks him out with a single punch.

Philip tells Gwen to meet him by the entrance as he drags Gerald out of sight and onto the catwalk above the penguin tank. As they are preparing to leave, Gerald Parker’s lifeless body falls into the penguin tank.

Miss Withers is guiding a field trip at the aquarium, when Gerald Parker falls into the tank. She ends up assisting Police Inspector Piper, who comes to investigate the murder. Due to Parker’s character, there are no shortage of murder suspects for the two to investigate.

Edna May Oliver played roles like Hildegard Withers for years. Born on November 9, 1883, in Malden, Massachusetts, Edna quit school at 14 to pursue work in stage productions . Eventually, she would begin working in films during the 1920s and 30s. She often played a fiesty aunt or intelligent old maid in films.

She would win an Academy Award for Best Supporting actress for her role in Drums Along the Mohawk (1939). Edna May Oliver played in 48 movies before succumbing to an intestinal disorder on her 59th birthday, November 9, 1942.

The Penguin Pool Murder runs a brisk 64 minutes. Not surprisingly, Oliver and Gleason steal the show. I give the film 7 out of 10 stars.

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