Torchy Blane in Panama (1938)

Torchy, Steve, and Gahagan are on the trail of a bank robber aboard an ocean liner traveling from New York to L.A. via the Panama Canal.

Director:

William Clemens

Writers:

Frederick Nebel (characters), Anthony Coldeway (story),

Stars:

Lola Lane, Paul Kelly, Tom Kennedy

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

Storyline

Determined to scoop the other newspapers, reporter Torchy Blane convinces her boyfriend, police lieutenant Steve McBride, that the only way the perpetrator of a recent bank robbery could fence the stolen money is to exchange it in Panama. Torchy, accompanied by McBride, blundering police sergeant Gahagan and smarmy rival reporter Bill Canby are off on a luxury liner to Panama carrying a boat load of Los Angeles Leopard lodge members, one of whom figures to be the robbery suspect.

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Plot Keywords:

panama | reporter | police | panama canal | ocean liner | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

7 May 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Quando Nos Casamos

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

59 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Quotes

Detective Lieutenant Steve 'Stevie' McBride: [to Torchy] Well, newshound, you got your ears pinned back.

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Connections

Follows Fly Away Baby (1937)

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Soundtracks

"Untitled March"
(uncredited)
Music by Max Steiner
(Later known as "We Watch the Skyways")
Played when the ship is passing through the Panama Canal locks

User Reviews

Watch Leopard Lodge Brothers March!

Sole appearance pairing Lola Lane and Paul Kelly in the hard-boiled Torchy Blane comedy newspaper crime series. Why Warner Brothers changed lead actors in this series and then resumed with the normal Glenda Farrell/Barton MacLane combination is probably a very interesting story.

Tom Kennedy as Detective Gahagan leads off this entry with the parade of Leopard lodge brothers that march through the robbery of the Hayward National Bank. Gahagan is the Royal Tomcat of New Rochelle Lair 666. Membership in this ancient and loyal order helps Gahagan identify the false member of Lair 394 from Los Angeles and thus solve the mystery. Gahagan is also the goat when he is tricked and told to impress the ladies of South America by telling them: `Usted tiene la cara de chiva' (You have the face of a nanny goat).

Torchy gets scooped at the bank robbery, left behind to boyfriend Detective Lieutenant Steve McBride, but she shows him up by parachuting next to a southbound steamer and follows the stolen money to Cuba and then Panama. Torchy is made Honorary Royal Tabby cat and gets custody of mascot Tommy Hollywood. A pair of colorful pajama-type ladies pants figures heavily in the final rescue.

As in the rest of the series, the police cannot solve the crime without Torchy's intervention but they are needed to save Torchy when she gets into trouble at the end.