AFI CATALOG OF FEATURE FILMS

THE FIRST 100 YEARS 1893–1993

Movie Title

While the Patient Slept (1935)

65-67 mins | Mystery | 9 March 1935

Cast:

Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee, Lyle Talbot [ More ]

Director:

Ray Enright

Writers:

Robert N. Lee, Eugene Solow

Cinematographer:

Arthur Edeson

Editor:

Owen Marks

Production Designer:

Esdras Hartley

Production Company:

First National Productions Corp.
 (Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.)
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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
27 Dec 1934
p. 5
Film Daily
2 Mar 1935
p. 7
Hollywood Reporter
8 Mar 1935
p. 3
Motion Picture Daily
19 Feb 1935
p. 4
Motion Picture Herald
29 Dec 1934
p. 53
Motion Picture Herald
9 Mar 1935
pp. 52-53
New York Times
2 Mar 1935
p. 18
Variety
6 Mar 1935
p. 20
CAST
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION TEXT
A Clue Club Picture
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Ray Enright
Dir
Gene Lewis
Dial dir
WRITERS
Robert N. Lee
Scr
Eugene Solow
Scr
Brown Holmes
Addl dial
PHOTOGRAPHY
Arthur Edeson
Photog
ART DIRECTOR
Esdras Hartley
Art dir
FILM EDITOR
Owen Marks
Ed
COSTUMES
Orry-Kelly
Gowns
MUSIC
Leo F. Forbstein
Vitaphone Orch cond
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the novel While the Patient Slept by Mignon G. Eberhart (New York, l930).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
Mignon G. Eberhart
DETAILS
Release Date:
9 March 1935
Production Date:
ended 27 Dec 1934
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
First National Pictures, Inc.
8 April 1935
LP5454
Physical Properties:
Sound
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
65-67
Length(in reels):
7
Country:
United States
PCA No:
576
SYNOPSIS

The Federie clan gathers after the head of the family, Richard Federie, has a stroke. Nurse Sarah Keate arrives at the deserted mansion to care for him and it is she who raises the alarm after his son Adolphe Federie is murdered. Policeman Lance O'Leary is placed in charge of the case. With Sarah's help, he discovers that everyone hated Adolphe, but O'Leary suspects granddaughter March Federie, even though in Sarah's opinion, she is clearly the one person who is above suspicion. The investigation reveals that Charles Federie has a twin brother who was disowned by their father. He was just released from prison, and March has kept his arrival at the house a secret. After Grondal, the butler, is killed, Sarah finds a secret passageway in the closet. O'Leary sets a trap for the murderer and catches lawyer Elihu Dimuck, who killed Adolphe over money. Now that the mystery is solved, O'Leary asks Sarah to marry ...

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The Federie clan gathers after the head of the family, Richard Federie, has a stroke. Nurse Sarah Keate arrives at the deserted mansion to care for him and it is she who raises the alarm after his son Adolphe Federie is murdered. Policeman Lance O'Leary is placed in charge of the case. With Sarah's help, he discovers that everyone hated Adolphe, but O'Leary suspects granddaughter March Federie, even though in Sarah's opinion, she is clearly the one person who is above suspicion. The investigation reveals that Charles Federie has a twin brother who was disowned by their father. He was just released from prison, and March has kept his arrival at the house a secret. After Grondal, the butler, is killed, Sarah finds a secret passageway in the closet. O'Leary sets a trap for the murderer and catches lawyer Elihu Dimuck, who killed Adolphe over money. Now that the mystery is solved, O'Leary asks Sarah to marry him.

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