Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Raymond Burr has indelibly etched a conception of Perry Mason on our minds that is not easily overcome. In fact Erle Stanley Gardner himself said that Burr fit perfectly what he thought his fictional lawyer/sleuth should be.God only knows what he thought of Warren William in this particular film where Mason is quite the party animal, usually partying with Della Street played here by Genevieve Tobin. When we meet him he's in his office sleeping one off when Porter Hall arrives looking to hire him.Hall wants Craig Reynolds the sponsor of the Lucky Legs beauty contest investigated. The woman Hall has been seeing Patricia Ellis was the winner of the latest contest so there's a personal angle here. Later on Reynolds is found stabbed to death.I'm wondering if Jack Warner didn't get permission from Louis B. Mayer for a lease on Nick and Nora Charles. A few more wisecracks and a wider suspect list this one plays like a Thin Man movie.And one other thing happens here that definitely not in keeping with an Erle Stanley Gardner paradigm. But if I say everything will be revealed.Fans of the principal players should be pleased.

It is certainly understandable why Erle Stanley Gardner much disliked the Perry Mason movies of the 1930s particularly the portrayal of Mason by Warren William. In this movie, William's portrayal of Mason is simply not that of Mason in the books. However, if one does not think of the Mason character in the books or as depicted by Raymond Burr, then this movie works very well as a comedy/mystery and is highly enjoyable. Warren William's rendition of Mason is that of a debonair often hungover, fast talking attorney. Genevieve Tobin plays Della Street as a wise-cracking, irreverent and loyal secretary and Allen Jenkins' "Spudsy" (!) Drake portrayal is that of a likable, often unintentionally funny doofus. The story is about a "most beautiful legs" pageant and the murder of its crooked promoter. The promoter has run off with the prize money put up by local businessmen in the city of Cloverdale. One of the local supporters hires Mason to find the young woman who won the Cloverdale pageant who was cheated of the prize money and has disappeared. Mason finds the promoter dead, stabbed with a scalpel. Plenty of suspects but no court room scene - Mason is more of a private detective than attorney. But that's okay because this is a comedy first and a mystery second. Tobin is a riot as Della and William is great fun in the Perry role. When I first reviewed a William Mason movie (The Case of the Howling Dog), I was very negative about it - hung up on how it didn't accurately portray Mason. But I got over that and much enjoyed this movie - great fun and recommended.

Earle Stanley Gardner was delighted when approached by Warner Bros. to film his Perry Mason books. Although he had only published his first - "The Case of the Velvet Claws" in 1933, it was a sensational best seller and he was able to give up law and write full time. Warren William was a great choice for Perry, he was at his best playing ruthless businessmen and had already played a popular detective, Philo Vance, in 1934. The first film "The Case of the Howling Dog" was a faithful adaptation of the book - but then MGM released "The Thin Man". Suddenly Hollywood was awash with witty, breezy detectives. Warner Bros. wanted to inject some humor and light heartedness into the Perry Mason series and while it made Gardner pack up his books and head for the hills, I think, "The Case of the Lucky Legs" is a bright and funny film with witticisms flowing thick and fast.Col. Bradbury (Porter Hall) comes to Perry Mason's office - he wants Mason to find Margie (Patricia Ellis) who has gone missing. The night before she won a "Lucky Legs" contest and went to Patton's apartment to collect her $1,000 prize. Patton is found dead and Margie is missing, but first Bradbury has to get past a sparkling Della Street (coyly played by an under-rated Genevieve Tobin) who trades wisecracks with him before trying to sober up Perry (Warren William) who is found on the floor in a drunken stupor!!! Paul Drake (Mason's private detective from the books) is missing, but is replaced by Spudsy (Allen Jenkins) - "I've got the dope" Perry says, "No, I've got the dope" Spudsy's wife responds. Apparently Patton has been running a "lucky legs" racket and there are plenty of people who have a motive for murder - including Thelma Bell (pretty Peggy Shannon) a former "Lucky Legs" winner who has followed him in the hope of getting her prize money. Shannon has the most dramatic role in the film and the camera showed that she had lost none of her haunting beauty. She is required to do some heavy emoting on several occasions - when she is not trading witty wisecracks with Mason. Perry - "Those are not the legs I'm looking for", Thelma - "Well, they were good enough to win me the "Lucky Legs" contest in Waynesville"!!!Patricia Ellis looks quite fetching as Margie but doesn't have much to do. Lyle Talbot plays Dr. Dorey, her fiancée and chief suspect, who is annoyed from the start by Margie making a spectacle of herself. Barton McLaine is fantastic as Detective "Bisy", who with his no nonsense gruffness seems as though he has wandered on to the set of the wrong movie. The most memorable thing about the movie is the sparkling banter and repartee between Tobin and William - "If Mr. Mason said he would meet you at 10 am - he was boasting", "Milk - that's a hot one - I'll have it cold", "no rice, no shoes, where's the curious bride", "all alone in the bridal suite - you must love yourself", "He said he'd love to talk to the lovely blonde - I guess he's been away so long, he's forgotten you're like", "here's my notebook - I left it over there when you and I..... but I forgot, this is your confession"!!!! And the fact that William seems to enjoy himself so much in a film that has so much humor and where he can play a happy drunk!!!Highly Recommended.

Warren William is a heavy-drinking Perry Mason in this highly entertaining outing. Della Street is given wit, beauty, and a touch of pathos by the underrated Genevieve Tobin. The rest of the cast is superb, with no exceptions.For a movie that came out after the Code, it is quite racy. The title refers to a contest in which ladies do not show their faces but compete as to the most beautiful stems. And what a group we see! Lyle Talbot was a decent leading man during this period. He was nice looking. It's always hard for me not to think of his Ed Wood performances when I see him in these early movies, though.