Meet Nero Wolfe

Meet Nero Wolfe
Directed byHerbert Biberman
Written byHoward J. Green
Bruce Manning
Joseph Anthony
Rex Stout (story)
Produced byB.P. Schulberg
StarringEdward Arnold
Lionel Stander
Nana Bryant
Joan Perry
Victor Jory
Rita Hayworth
CinematographyHenry Freulich
Edited byOtto Meyer
Music byHoward Jackson
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • July 16, 1936 (1936-07-16)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Meet Nero Wolfe is a 1936 American mystery film based on the 1934 novel Fer-de-Lance, written by Rex Stout. Set in New York, the story introduced the detective genius Nero Wolfe (Edward Arnold) and his assistant Archie Goodwin (Lionel Stander). The partnership endured through 33 novels and 39 short stories written by Stout, but continued in only one more film for Columbia Pictures. Wolfe's client is portrayed by Rita Hayworth, then billed as Rita Cansino, in an early performance.

The titles of the film begin with the November 1934 issue of The American Magazine — in which the abridged version of Fer-de-Lance appeared — lying on a table. The magazine is taken from the table and opened to an illustrated spread that reads, "Edward Arnold in Meet Nero Wolfe."