Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1940, Ellery Queen, Master Detective is a drama, crime, adventure and mystery film directed by Kurt Neumann, running about 69 minutes. “HE'S ON THE SCREEN NOW!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. The mysteriously ill John Braun makes a new will, leaving out his daughter Barbara, over the protests of his wife. The trouble began when the daughter wanted to marry Mr. Braun's doctor, James Rogers. Mrs. Braun asks Inspector Queen to help find the long-missing Barbara. The inspector's son, Ellery, works on the case. He goes to a home frequently visited by Dr. Rogers where the bell is answered by Nikki Porter who Ellery mistakes for Barbara and insists she return to the Braun home. Nikki does, to protect Barbara, and a short time later finds herself alone in a room outside Braun's bedroom. She finds him dead - his throat cut. No weapons are found and the door to the room where Nikki had been is locked, and she is suspected. Ellery hides Nikki in his apartment. Braun's body, sent for an autopsy, disappears and in its place is a life-sized statue of the dead man.

Who’s in it. Ellery Queen, Master Detective stars Ralph Bellamy as Ellery Queen, Margaret Lindsay as Nikki Porter, Charley Grapewin as Insp. Queen and James Burke as Sgt. Velle, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, Ellery Queen, Master Detective has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ellery Queen, Master Detective page.

If you liked it. Fans of Ellery Queen, Master Detective tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.