Looking Back: Miss Withers and the Penguin Pool Murder

Hildegarde Withers, the heroine of Stuart Palmer's novels, including the one reviewed this week, first appeared in the 1931 novel, "The Penguin Pool Murder." She and Inspector Oscar Piper proved to be welcome additions to the public's store of interesting and often amusing detectives.

The book was quickly turned into a movie the next year. "The Penguin Pool Murder" starred Edna May Oliver as Hildegarde Withers and James Gleason as Inspector Piper. It's worth noting, as mystery publishers Tom and Enid Schantz point out, that Palmer said he was inspired to create Miss Withers after seeing Edna May Oliver's performance in the original 1929 version of Jerome Kern's "Show Boat."

The movie doesn't seem to have survived - it certainly doesn't seem to be readily available, although I do see one copy currently on eBay. I have to wonder whether the original film has simply deteriorated, as has happened to so many other early movie classics. Fortunately, the book has been republished by the Schantzes at the Rue Morgue Press. It's a light, funny puzzle mystery, almost too well and fairly clued. I did a full audio review on the podcast a couple of years ago; you can listen to what I had to say by clicking here.

Comments

[Yvette]

Les, I have a vague memory of having seen the movie many MANY years ago and loving it.
I've always meant to read these books, but I've never come across them. It's good news about the new releases by Rue Morgue.

I've just received four Michael Innes books in the mail, two of which you recommended. Hopefully I'll get to read them soon. So many books, so little time.

[Michael Wachowicz]

Penguin Pool just on Turner Classic Movies in the last month.

[Les Blatt]

I didn't know that, Michael - glad to hear it's still available! Thanks!