Runtime: 59 minutes
Directed by: Frank McDonald
Starring: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Wini Shaw, Addison Richards, Robert Paige
From: Warner Bros.
There probably have been mysteries light in tone as long as there have been mystery stories. As Warner Brothers made NINE different B-movies during the late 30’s starring the Torchy Blane character-a plucky newspaper reporter who has a police officer boyfriend and they together solve crimes-I might as well see something different as a change of pace. Turner Classic Movies played a few from the franchise last night and I only watched the first film in the series. While I understand that most if not hard are quite hard to track down otherwise, it may not be too difficult for me via using “the backwaters” of the Internet… still, props to TCM for showing them, and in primetime no less.
Those that like murder mysteries with some humor (and many do), this fits that like a glove. There is plenty of snappy patter as the two leads have a love/hate relationship w/ each other. The case: a guy involved in shady businesses wants to sell it all in order to move away & marry a dame. Murders happen and all the expected components are present: characters fibbing about their background, red herrings, tough guy dialogue, threats, a big finale involving various suspects, etc. The entire production was workmanlike and there are little complaints; Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane are two of the most familiar names in the cast for me, although the most famous was Jane Wyman in a role atypical to what I’ve seen her do before: a comedic part as a ditzy girl.
While not as grand as a typical Thin Man movie, this was light breezy entertainment which still had a case I was invested in.
No comments:
Post a Comment