Fast and Loose (1939)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Edwin L. Marin

Writer:

Harry Kurnitz (writer)

Release Date:

17 February 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Crime | Drama

Plot:

The scrap of the Shakespeare manuscript is priceless. Nick Torrent owns it and is selling it. But then he is murdered and the manuscript is stolen...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Rare Book | Fraud | Forgery | Car Crash

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	Joel Sloane
Rosalind Russell	...	Garda Sloane
Reginald Owen	...	Vincent Charlton
Ralph Morgan	...	Nicholas 'Nick' Torrent
Etienne Girardot	...	Christopher Oates
Alan Dinehart	...	David Z. 'Dave' Hilliard
Jo Ann Sayers	...	Christina 'Chris' Torrent
Joan Marsh	...	Bobby Neville
John Hubbard	...	Phil Sergeant (as Anthony Allan)
Tom Collins	...	Gerald Torrent
Sidney Blackmer	...	'Lucky' Nolan
Donald Douglas	...	Inspector Forbes
Ian Wolfe	...	Mr. Wilkes
Mary Forbes	...	Mrs. Torrent
Leonard Carey	...	Craddock, Torrent's Butler

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #5023)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Factual errors: Joel and Garda sustain black eye injuries from having their auto run off the road by Lucky Nolan's gang. They even put raw meat over the black eyes for relief. The black eyes are shown in the next few scenes. But a few hours later that night both eyes return to normal.

Quotes:

Joel Sloane: Ho-hum.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in D.O.A. (1950)

for a 40's mystery - it's a 10

"Fast and Loose" is a pleasant surprise. It is a well written who done it. I like the character portrayed by Robert Montgomery a part time investigator named Sloan. The role of Sloans wife is aptly played by Rosalind Russell who ' helps' her husband in his case solving endeavors. The cast is full of veteran character actors such as the venerable Ian Wolfe who can be seen in some Rathbone / Bruce type Sherlock Holmes films of the '40's. The fact that this mystery movie was written well enough to keep you guessing till the very end adds to it's charm. The setting of social muckity - mucks adds a nice flavor to the film also. In 1939, when this film was released, many landmark films crossed the silver screen. That same year Tyrone Power made an appearance as Zorro. Rathbone and Bruce started the Holmes series. As for classic mystery movies I think "Fast and Loose" was made in the right year. The film is not available on DVD, yet. It may never be. If I see it aired on TV again I WILL copy it for my archives. It is worth seeing again.