From an era when even the actual name of the detective working on a murder case could make newspaper headlines, comes one of cinema's earliest female amateur sleuths, Torchy Blane. Torchy is not just an independent working woman who is good at her job, she also has a mind (and a hunch) for crime-solving on the side; her persistent snooping annoys, but also aids, her tough cop boyfriend. In "Smart Blonde", they both investigate the shooting of a wealthy investor outside a train station. There is nothing out of (or above) the ordinary in the film's direction or supporting cast (though Tom Kennedy is quite funny as a poetry-loving comic relief cop), but the story is pretty good, and Glenda Farrell is beautiful and energetic as Torchy; you can't take her eyes off her. ** out of 4.
Review of Smart Blonde
