Meet Nero Wolfe
| Meet Nero Wolfe | |
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| Directed by | Herbert Biberman |
| Produced by | B.P. Schulberg |
| Written by | Howard J. Green Bruce Manning Joseph Anthony Rex Stout (story) |
| Starring |
Edward Arnold Lionel Stander Nana Bryant Joan Perry Victor Jory Rita Hayworth |
| Music by | Howard Jackson |
| Cinematography | Henry Freulich |
| Edited by | Otto Meyer |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures Corporation |
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Release date
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Running time
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73 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Meet Nero Wolfe is a 1936 mystery film based on the 1934 novel Fer-de-Lance, written by Rex Stout. Set in New York, the story introduced the detective genius Nero Wolfe (Edward Arnold) and his assistant Archie Goodwin (Lionel Stander). The partnership endured through 33 novels and 39 short stories written by Stout, but continued in only one more film for Columbia Pictures. Wolfe's client is portrayed by Rita Hayworth, then billed as Rita Cansino, in an early performance.
The titles of the film begin with the November 1934 issue of The American Magazine — in which the abridged version of Fer-de-Lance appeared — lying on a table. The magazine is taken from the table and opened to an illustrated spread that reads, "Edward Arnold in Meet Nero Wolfe."
Wolfe: When I swing down to hit the ball so, the end of this homemade gun is pointing just above my waistline.
Archie: Waistline?
Wolfe: It's an imaginary line like the equator.
At the West Hills Golf Club in Westchester, E.J. Kimball (Walter Kingsford) and his son Manuel (Russell Hardie) are welcomed into the party of elderly Professor Barstow (Boyd Irwin Sr.) and his prospective son-in-law Claude Roberts (Victor Jory). Barstow sends his caddy back to the clubhouse to fetch his visor, and finds himself without his clubs when it is his turn to tee off. The elder Kimball loans his driver to Barstow. Immediately after hitting his drive, Barstow flinches. "A mosquito bit me just as I hit the ball," he complains with good humor. "Too bad," Kimball replies sympathetically, taking the club from Barstow and making his own drive. As the foursome sets out on the course, Barstow is stricken and succumbs quickly to an apparent heart attack.
At the New York brownstone of Nero Wolfe (Edward Arnold), Marie Maringola (Rita Hayworth) offers the sedentary detective genius $50 to find her brother. Although he is an expert metal worker, Carlo Maringola had such trouble finding work in America that he planned to return to the old country. On the eve of his departure Carlo told his sister that he could stay in America after all — he got a job. They had arranged a celebration but Carlo never came. He disappeared.
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Wikipedia