The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

 

The Mad Miss Manton - 1938

Coming up next we have 1938's "The Mad Miss Manton", a murder/mystery that sees wrongly accused socialite Melsa Manton as the subject of a murder investigation.  While trying to solve the murder, Melsa and her friends try to stay one step ahead of the police as they try to uncover the real killer.

The film's cast includes Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Sam Levene, Frances Mercer, Stanley Ridges, Whitney Bourne, Catherine O'Quinn, Hattie McDaniel, Penny Singleton, Grady Sutton, Irving Bacon, and George Chandler.

While poking around the neighborhood one night while walking her dog, socialite Melsa Manton finds a diamond clip and a dead body.

Melsa runs to telephone the police, and by the time they arrive the body is gone!  Add in to the mix the way she is dressed (her cloak was lost), the police don't believe one word she says.

On top of this, a newspaper editor named Peter Ames has printed a derogatory item in his newspaper about Melsa and her group of socialite girlfriends.  She vows to sue the paper and have his job.

So with suspicion cast her way, Melsa decides to recruit her friends to help solve the murder themselves and find out what happened to the missing body.

Before they can even get out the door, they are threatened.  Melsa's missing cloak is attached to the door with a knife, along with a warning.

Their investigation leads them to another body, this time someone they know.  He's stuffed in the freezer, and when Melsa telephones the police, they don't believe her.  So, she dumps the body in Peter Ames's newspaper office.

Lt. Brent, in charge of the investigation, hauls all the girls into custody, and Melsa, in particular, is furious.  "And as for you, Inspector Brent, false arrest is a very serious charge, and we’ll have your badge before we’re through with you.  We’re going to make you all feel pretty small and silly.  Who’s got a lipstick?" she says.

Peter Ames proves that he's not all bad by coming to Melsa and the girls' rescue.  Melsa tells him that she's still going ahead with her lawsuit.

Before they can leave the police station, the original dead body is located, and the whole investigation is up in the air once again.

Peter Ames eventually tells Melsa that he's in love with her and that he's running after her.  To which she replies, "You’re on a treadmill, Mr. Ames.  You may keep on running, but you’ll remain in the same spot."

They work together to find some evidence.  But their good relations don't stop Melsa from tying Peter up so he can't interfere with the investigation she and the rest of the girls are conducting.

Soon, though, Melsa realizes she's developing feelings for Peter when he comes to her apartment in the role of her protector after a threatening phone call from a stranger.

Once the police know that Melsa didn't commit any murder, they want to use her as bait to catch the real murderer.  Peter doesn't want her to, which makes Melsa all the more willing to help out.

The go to a nightclub together, where they realize they are surrounded by cops who are trying to blend in with the nightclub atmosphere.

But, of course, the most dangerous gun is the one that Melsa doesn't see.

Have no fear.  Everything works out in the end, with the murderer caught and Peter and Melsa wrapped up in each other's arms.

Cast rundown:

   Barbara Stanwyck...........................Melsa Manton

   Henry Fonda...................................Peter Ames

   Sam Levene....................................Lieutenant Brent

   Frances Mercer................................Helen Frayne

   Stanley Ridges................................Edward Norris

   Whitney Bourne...............................Pat James

   Catherine O'Quinn...........................Dora Fenton

   Hattie McDaniel...............................Hilda

   Penny Singleton..............................Frances Glesk

   Grady Sutton..................................D.A.'s Secretary

   Irving Bacon...................................Mr. Spengler

   George Chandler.............................Newspaper Man

And that's all for The Mad Miss Manton.  This was the first of three pairings between Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.  It's easy to see why their films were successful.  They have such a good chemistry between them.  Katharine Hepburn turned down the role of Melsa Manton after "Bringing Up Baby" performed badly at the box office.  Irene Dunne was also considered for the leading role.

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Shadow Of The Thin Man (1941)

Shadow Of The Thin Man - 1941

Coming up next is 1941's "Shadow Of The Thin Man", in which we see Nick and Nora Charles solving another murder, this time at a racetrack.  Along for the ride is our favorite canine sidekick, Asta.

The film's cast includes William Powell, Myrna Loy, Barry Nelson, Donna Reed, Sam Levene, Henry O'Neill, Richard Hall, Stella Adler, Louise Beavers, and Asta.

Nick and Nora Charles are living a comfortable life in the city with their son, Nick Jr.  Among the things that Nick likes to do is to take Nick Jr. for walks in the park with Asta.

When they're late coming home one day, Nora looks for them with her binoculars.  She sees them a park bench.  Nick is reading a fairy tale story to his son.

But, instead of a fairy tale story, Nick is reading his son the day's racing form, which utterly delights the toddler.  All of the sudden, Nick stops and says, "Something important is happening, and I think we should be there."

We cut to Nora, who is mixing cocktails.  She knows that her husband's favorite beverage will never fail to get him home in a hurry.  He's got a sixth sense about when it's being served.

Nick and Nora end up going to the racetrack that day and meet up with their old friend Lt. Abrams, who is investigating a murder.  When Nora asks him what happened, the lieutenant says, "You know that jockey Goldez, the one that was caught throwin’ the fourth race yesterday?  He was shot."  Nora smirks and says, "My, they're strict at this track."

Nick is given a look at the scene of the crime.  He's reluctant to give any input.  He makes his excuses and takes Nora home, not wanting to get involved.

At dinner that evening, the Charles family discusses the day's events.  (Notice how Asta is served his dinner on a tray!  Nora even asks him if his hands are clean.)

We also are given a funny scene where Nick Jr. gets his father to drink a glass of milk for the first time in years.  "It's so white!" Nick exclaims to Nora as he's handed a glass of the liquid he despises.  Eventually, Nick is brought around to helping with the murder investigation.

As part of the investigation, Nick and Nora head to a wrestling match.  It seems a gangster and some racketeering have something to do with the murder.  Nora, who has never been to a match before, gets swept up in the excitement.  She gets a little carried away with her enthusiasm.

When they have to leave early to follow a lead, Nora makes her way to the ring and calls out to her chosen fighter, "I hope you come out of it alright,".

Among are suspects is Paul Clarke, a newspaperman who wants to blow the lid off the story of gangster "Link" Stephens and his illegal operation.

When a second murder occurs, Paul's girlfriend, Molly Ford, is also questioned.  Molly just happens to be Link's secretary and is privy to all sorts of information.

Link's girlfriend Claire Porter also comes under suspicion.  It seems she's being pressured by someone.  She's also got some secrets she doesn't want to come to light.

Parenting is something that doesn't stop, even for murder investigations.  With the investigation still underway, Nick takes Nick Jr. for a ride on a merry-go-round.  It's hilarious to watch him get dizzy and try to get notes from Nora, who has important information about the case that can't wait.

And Asta even helps out.  He finds a diamond bracelet hidden inside a radiator.  The bracelet is an important part of the investigations, and helps Nick zero in on the murderer.

When the time is right, Nick gets all the suspects together in one room in hopes of stirring up enough trouble that the murderer will step forward and want to cover his tracks.

The murderer does indeed come forward and pulls a gun on everyone.  Nora jumps in front of it to protect Nick, and chaos breaks loose in the room.  Asta dives under Nora's fur wrap for protection.

After it's all over, Nick tells Nora that she's the bravest woman in the whole world.

He presents her with a diamond bracelet of her own and a kiss "for valor".

Watching them from across the room, Asta hides his head in shame as Nick and Nora kiss.

Cast rundown:

   William Powell.............................Nick Charles

   Myrna Loy...................................Nora Charles

   Barry Nelson...............................Paul Clarke

   Donna Reed................................Molly Ford

   Sam Levene................................Police Lt. Abrams

   Henry O'Neill...............................Major Jason I. Sculley

   Richard Hall................................Nick Charles Jr.

   Stella Adler..................................Claire Porter

   Louise Beavers............................Stella

   Asta...........................................Asta

And that's it for Shadow Of The Thin Man.  Myrna Loy took a three year hiatus from movie-making at the end of this film.  She left Hollywood and went to New York, where she spent her time volunteering for the Red Cross on behalf of the war effort.

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