''Sinner Take All'' is a 1936 American murder mystery film directed by

Errol Taggart Errol Taggart (July 15, 1895 – August 30, 1940) was a Canadian film director and film editor who worked in Hollywood during the 1920s and 1930s. He was the editor of four movies directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney: ''The Unknown (1 ...

and starring

Bruce Cabot Bruce Cabot (born Étienne de Pelissier Bujac Jr.; April 20, 1904 – May 3, 1972) was an American film actor, best remembered as Jack Driscoll (character), Jack Driscoll in ''King Kong (1933 film), King Kong'' (1933) and for his roles in films s ...

, Margaret Lindsay and

Joseph Calleia Joseph Calleia ( ; born Joseph Alexander Caesar Herstall Vincent Calleja, August 4, 1897 – October 31, 1975) was a Maltese-born American actor and singer on the stage and in films, radio and television. After serving in the Merchant Navy (Un ...

Plot

When millionaire

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

businessman Aaron Lampier receives a death threat in the mail, he sends for his offspring. Ernie Hyams, a newspaper reporter turned lawyer, is dispatched by MacKelvey, his former editor, to track down Lampier's daughter Lorraine. She does not appreciate being dragged away from the nightclub/casino of Frank Penny. She and her perpetually drunk brother Stephen have also received similar mail. When their brother David is killed in a car crash that night, Ernie soon discovers it was not an accident; a wire cable strung across the road caused it. Ernie is pressured into investigating. Lampier's will leaves everything equally to his children. If they predecease him, the estate goes to various charities. Stephen is the next victim. An associate of Penny's is driving Stephen's car when he is stopped by the police. They find Stephen's body inside with six shots to the head; the driver claims he did not know it was there when he stole the automobile. Captain Bill Royce of the Homicide Squad arrests Penny, but has to release him for lack of evidence. It turns out that David is still alive and in hiding. By the time Ernie and MacKelvey track him down, though, he has been stabbed to death. Next is Aaron Lampier. A man climbs down to his suite and, after a struggle, flings him over the terrace to his death. To protect Lorraine (to whom he has become attracted), Ernie sets a trap. He spreads the word that she is flying away at midnight, then gathers all the prime suspects at Penny's nightclub to see her off. Her drink is poisoned, but a doctor is standing by and she is saved. Ernie sadly identifies the killer; MacKelvey was the only one who had the opportunity to slip poison into the liquor. The editor confesses that he needed more money to keep his wife Alicia happy. He figured that with the Lampiers all dead, he would be put in charge of one of their businesses. Afterward, Ernie and Lorraine get married.

Cast

as Ernie * Margaret Lindsay as Lorraine *

as Penny * Stanley Ridges as MacKelvey * Vivienne Osborne as Alicia * Charley Grapewin as Aaron * Edward Pawley as Royce * George Lynn as Stephen *

Theodore von Eltz Julius Theodore von Eltz (November 5, 1893 – October 6, 1964) was an American film actor, appearing in more than 200 films between 1915 and 1957. He was the father of actress Lori March. Early life Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Von Eltz ...

as David (as Theodore Von Eltz) * Eadie Adams as Shirley * George Zucco as Bascomb *

Dorothy Kilgallen Dorothy Mae Kilgallen (July 3, 1913 – November 8, 1965) was an American columnist, journalist, and television game show panelist. After spending two semesters at the College of New Rochelle, she started her career shortly before her 18th bir ...

as Reporter * Raymond Hatton as Hotel Clerk * Richard Terry as Pete

References

External links

* * * {{AFI film, 11142 American mystery films American black-and-white films Films based on American novels Films set in New York City Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films directed by Errol Taggart 1936 films 1936 mystery films Films scored by Edward Ward (composer) 1930s American films