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

Lt. Mike Brent: [Talking about Melsa] She's probably the kind of dame who would come back to haunt me. Otherwise, I'd shoot to kill.

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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

Stylish Comedy/Mystery

I sI saw this on TV when I was young and, though it was trumpeted as hilarious, I didn't like it. Now, I have seen 30 or more movies of around the same period that combine romance, comedy, and mystery. And I have grown to appreciate Barbara Stanwyck as one of the great stars in Hollywood's history. So: I really enjoyed it a lot.

Stanwyck, as the title character, is mad only in the sense of madcap. Probably it is a matter of alliteration more than anything else. Henry Fonda is fun as the newspaper man who hates and then falls for her.

A few years later, they were to be teamed again in Preston Sturges's great "The Lady Eve."

The subway is a good gimmick, and all the minor players are fun. Miss Manton, or as we'd say today Ms. Manton, has a whole crew of gal-pals, who scream and giggle and make the whole affair very lively indeed.