The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

When the murdered body discovered by beautiful, vivacious socialite Melsa Manton disappears, police and press label her a prankster until she proves them wrong.

Director:

Leigh Jason

Writers:

Philip G. Epstein (screen play), Wilson Collison (story),

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Sam Levene

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Melsa Manton
Henry Fonda	...	Peter Ames
Sam Levene	...	Lieutenant Brent
Frances Mercer	...	Helen Frayne
Stanley Ridges	...	Edward Norris
Whitney Bourne	...	Pat James
Vickie Lester	...	Kit Beverly (as Vicki Lester)
Ann Evers	...	Lee Wilson
Catherine O'Quinn	...	Dora Fenton
Linda Perry	...	Myra Frost (as Linda Terry)
Eleanor Hansen	...	Jane
Hattie McDaniel	...	Hilda (as Hattie McDaniels)
James Burke	...	Sullivan
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Bat Regan
Penny Singleton	...	Frances Glesk

Storyline

Madcap debutante Melsa Manton finds a body in a deserted house. Of course, the police don't believe her. Stung by Peter Ames's front page editorial decrying her "prank," Melsa enlists seven fellow debs to help her investigate. The wisecracking young ladies proceed to run circles around the police, the suspects, and the press.

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Plot Keywords:

police | socialite | suspect | prankster | investigation | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miss Manton est folle

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch - 411 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Katherine Hepburn turned down the role of Melsa Manton after the poor box-office of Bringing Up Baby.

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Goofs

When Melsa first calls the police at the beginning of the movie. The police cars are rushing to the Lane mansion. As they pass "Jones Drug Co" and "Barber Shop" the signs are backwards (mirror images).

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Quotes

Dora Fenton: You know, psychiatrists say hate's just a step away from love.
Helen Frayne: Yeah, but it's the lull in between that drives you crazy.

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Crazy Credits

During the opening credits, a flashlight lights up each page of credits.

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Connections

References Having Wonderful Time (1938)

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Soundtracks

"Home on the Range"
Music by Daniel E. Kelley (1904)
Lyrics by Brewster 'Bruce' Higley (1873)
Sung a cappella by James Burke

User Reviews

Stanwyck & Fonda better than Tracy and Hepburn

This movie, a warmup for Stanwyck and Fonda for the later The Lady Eve, is entirely enjoyable. A lighthearted piece of fluff, true, but everybody is having such a good time that it becomes totally infectious. Stanwyck, a rich deb, while walking her dogs in the middle of night, stumbles over a murdered man who disappears when she summons the police, of course. Fonda, a news editor/reporter, castigates her in print, and she threatens to sue. They, in the time-honored tradition of Hollywood comedy/mysteries, jointly, and sometimes separately and at loggers head, try to solve the mystery and find the murderer. Stanwyck is aided by a cohort of fellow debutantes, who do things helter-skelter en masse. The scene when Stanwyck sics 'em on Fonda ("Get him, girls"), with Fonda crawfishing as they advance, alone is worth the price of admission, as is the final avowal of love and proposal of marriage.