Torchy Blane in Panama (1938)

Director:

William Clemens

Writers:

Frederick Nebel (characters)
Anthony Coldeway (story)

Release Date:

7 May 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Comedy

Plot:

Determined to scoop the other newspapers, reporter Torchy Blane convinces her boyfriend, police lieutenant Steve McBride...

Plot Keywords:

Panama | Police | Reporter | Leopard | Bank Robbery

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Lola Lane	...	Torchy Blane
Paul Kelly	...	Detective Lieutenant Steve 'Stevie' McBride
Tom Kennedy	...	Detective Gahagan
Anthony Averill	...	Stanley 'Stan' Crafton
Larry Williams	...	Reporter Bill 'Billy' Canby
Betty Compson	...	Kitty, Gomez's Moll
Hugh O'Connell	...	Skinner, a Leopard
Jimmy Conlin	...	Brother Botkin, a Leopard (as James Conlon)
Joe Cunningham	...	Maxie, Torchy's Editor
Frank Shannon	...	Police Captain McTavish
Eric Stanley	...	Ship's Captain Donald McDonald
John Ridgely	...	Sparks, Ship's Radio Officer (as John Ridgeley)
George Guhl	...	Police Desk Sergeant Graves
George Regas	...	Gomez, the Fence
Jack Mower	...	First Officer Nelson

Also Known As:

Trouble in Panama (UK)

Runtime:

59 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4039)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Actors Sol Gorss (First Cab Driver), Allen Mathews (Second Cab Driver) and Jack Wise (Steward) are listed in casting call lists/studio records for their roles in this movie, but did not appear. Bob Baker is erroneously listed for the role of "Assistant Bank Manager" in a modern source, but that role was played by Art Baker. Some actors (Tom Wilson and Loia Cheaney) are barely visible and have no lines.

Quotes:

Cop: Hold it. You can't go in there, lady. There's been a hold-up and a murder.
Torchy Blane: You're wrong, boys. Hold-ups and murder are my meat. Here's the open sesame that swings wide all portals - my press pass. Torchy Blane of the Star.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite (1939)

Soundtrack:

California, Here I Come

I'd love to know why this film had all-new leads.

After having made several Torchy Blane B-movies starring Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane, suddenly in the middle of the series two entirely new actors are playing lead--Lola Lane and Paul Kelly. IMDb and other web sites I searched didn't indicate why Warner Brothers would make this cast change AND why in the next film the original actors were back once again! This sort of crazy inconsistency isn't unusual for series films of this era, however. For example, the Philo Vance series had about eight different actors play the lead and the Bulldog Drummond films had similar problems keeping leads.

The film begins with a bank robbery occurring during a parade in which Gahagan (Tom Kennedy) is marching with his lodge brothers. In leopard skins, they rush to the bank, but it's too late--the robber escaped. Oddly, the trail for the robbery leads to Panama, so McBride and Gahagan are bound for Central America. Naturally, Torchy finds out and gives chase in a biplane. Please pay attention to the silly scene where Torchy catches up to McBride's ship--it's really dumb and the special effects are on the lame side. She parachute jumps to the cruise ship! Much of the rest of the film takes place on the ship, with the meddling Torchy investigating to see if any of the passengers (one in particular--I guess she read the script) are involved with the robbery. And, when the guy slips overboard, Torchy follows (something no sane reporter would do but which is commonly done if you are Torchy Blane...or Lois Lane--and no, I did not mean Lola Lane).

The film seems to end a bit abruptly, though it is surprising to see that Gahagan is the hero. While Gahagan is more comic relief than usual, he also is surprisingly bright and capable in this film! Three cheers for Gahagan! By the way, why would Torchy just toss the stuffed leopard over the side of the ship? Other than being an obvious plot device, I really can't see any logic to this. And, come to think of it, why would the bad guy stuff money into it?!