The Last Warning (1938 film)

The Last Warning is a 1938 American mystery film directed by Albert S. Rogell and written by Edmund Hartmann. It is based on the 1938 novel The Dead Don't Care by Jonathan Latimer. The film stars Preston Foster, Frank Jenks, Kay Linaker, E. E. Clive, Joyce Compton and Frances Robinson. The film was released on January 6, 1939, by Universal Pictures.^[2][1]

The Last Warning
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Albert S. Rogell
Screenplay by	Edmund Hartmann[1]
Based on	The Dead Don't Care by Jonathan Latimer
Produced by	Irving Starr[1]
Starring	Preston Foster Frank Jenks Kay Linaker E. E. Clive Joyce Compton Frances Robinson
Cinematography	George Meehan[1]
Edited by	Maurice Wright [1]
Production companies	Crime Club Productions, Inc.[1]
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	January 6, 1939 (1939-01-06) (United States)
Running time	62 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Detective Bill Crane and his sidekick Doc Williams are hired by John Essex who has been receiving threatening letters. They are sent to his uncle's country estate to investigate and soon his sister Linda is kidnapped.

Cast

• Preston Foster as Bill Crane
• Frank Jenks as Doc Williams
• Kay Linaker as Carla Rodriguez
• E. E. Clive as Major Barclay
• Joyce Compton as Dawn Day
• Frances Robinson as Linda Essex
• Raymond Parker as John Essex
• Robert Paige as Tony Henderson
• Albert Dekker as Higgs
• Roland Drew as Paul Gomez
• Crane Whitley as Slocumbe
• Orville Caldwell as Wilson
• Richard Lane as Steve Felson

Production

In 1937, Universal Pictures made a deal with the Crime Club, who published whodunnits.^[3][4] Over the next few years, Universal released several mystery films in the series.^[3] The Last Warning was part of the series, and the last to feature the sleuthing team of Crane and Doc.^[4]