Watch The Plot Thickens

The Plot Thickens is a 1936 comedic mystery film directed by Ben Holmes, starring James Gleason, Zasu Pitts, and Owen Davis Jr. The story revolves around the murder of a wealthy woman and the investigation that follows. The film starts off with a wealthy art collector named Mrs. Barclay (played by Hedda Hopper) being murdered in a room full of people during a party. The police are called to the scene, where Detective Josiah Battle (played by James Gleason) takes charge of the investigation. He is immediately suspicious of everyone in the room, including the victim's nephew Roger Barclay (played by Owen Davis Jr.) and the victim's friend Mrs. Wendell (played by Zasu Pitts).

As the investigation progresses, Detective Battle discovers that everyone in the room had a reason to want Mrs. Barclay dead. Her nephew Roger was in debt and desperate for money, while Mrs. Wendell was jealous of Mrs. Barclay's wealth and wanted it for herself. Other suspects include a mysterious fortune hunter named Mr. Stevens (played by Hardie Albright), a jealous artist named Alexei (played by Boris Karloff), and even the victim's own maid.

The suspects all have alibis, but Detective Battle is determined to crack the case. He interrogates each suspect and uncovers clues that lead him closer to the truth. Along the way, there are several comedic moments and miscommunications that keep the audience entertained.

As the investigation reaches its conclusion, Detective Battle gathers all the suspects together to reveal the identity of the murderer. The true culprit is finally unmasked, and justice is served in a satisfying conclusion to the story.

The Plot Thickens is a classic whodunit mystery that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. The performances by Gleason, Pitts, and Davis Jr. are all strong, and the supporting cast is equally impressive. The film is notable for its humor, with several comedic moments that lighten the tone of the story. Despite being made over 80 years ago, the film still holds up as an entertaining and suspenseful mystery movie.