A Slight Case of Murder

A Slight Case of Murder with Edward G. Robinson.  The movie begins with the celebration surrounding the repeal of prohibition. Remy Marco (Edward G. Robinson) has made a fortune selling bootleg beer during prohibition, and plans to be even more successful as a legitimate brewer.  It never occurs to him that his beer was successful because it was the only beer available, and not because of its inherent quality.  In fact, it is terrible.

Marco and his wife affect an attitude of high society and employ their former enforcers as their butler, driver, and steward.  After four years of the "legit" life they are bankrupt and about to lose the brewery to some enterprising bankers who know they need only change the beer recipe to be successful (Marco has never tasted his own beer).

Throw in a few dead bodies, an armored car robbery, a Dead-End-Kid orphan, and a prospective son-in-law who is a policeman and you have a movie.

This movie didn't really gel until the end when all of the plot points are zinging past each other at a raucous party given at Marco's country rental house.  The last twenty minutes are quite good (and the movie is only 85 minutes long).

Marco tastes his own beer.