I saw a fun forgotten oldie over the weekend -- The Penguin Pool Murder. The body of murdered stockbroker Gerry Parker is found when it falls into the penguin pool at the local aquarium. Several plausible suspects just happen to be at the aquarium at the time. So is teacher Hildegarde Withers (Edna May Oliver) and her pupils. Miss Withers uses the force of her personality (and some beautifully delivered one-liners) to "persuade" Detective Piper (James Gleason) to allow her to assist him in the investigation. The murder is eventually solved in a totally implausible manner.
It's often said, "They don't make 'em like that anymore." In this case, it's true, but for a different reason than people usually say it. This movie is a little more than an hour of lightweight amusement -- nothing more, nothing less. Probably intended as a second feature for double bills. In other words, it's a little movie that would get lost among today's extravaganzas.
But Oliver plays Miss Withers brilliantly as That Teacher -- a Certain (but not quite certain) Age, unmarried, no tolerance for nonsense, devastating wit that she isn't afraid to use. And there's definite chemistry with Gleason, whose Piper is also somewhat older. Miss Withers's class is surprisingly diverse for 1932 -- several black pupils, and at least one seems to be Jewish (if rather embarrassingly stereotyped).
Note for cephalopod fans: An octopus has a featured part. Nothing to do with the plot. I think it's supposed to be symbolic.