Scattergood Survives a Murder (1942)

Dunker Gilson (John Archer) buys a newspaper in a small town. Scattergood Baines (Guy Kibbee) is the leading citizen of the town. At Baines' suggestion he goes to interview two spinsters named Quentin, but is turned away by the dreary housekeeper (Eily Malyon). Their cat is sick and they prepare to go to town, but the cat spooks the horse and the sisters are thrown out of the carriage.

Three reporters (including Margaret Hayes) show up for the reading of the will, but the editor is the only member of the press allowed in. All their money is left to their cat, with the housekeeper assigned to care for it. Then one of the five family members (heirs after the cat) is murdered. The incompetent sheriff sets out to solve the case, with Scattergood having to correct his every move.

And of course, this movie has the great Willie Best, who almost single-handedly makes a movie worth watching, even if all he has is a bit part.

Proverb from Scattergood: "Son, courting is just like voting at the polls: you have to get there early if you don't want to stand in line."

Eily Malyon


John Archer


Margaret Hayes