Private Detective (1939)

When they are forced to work together, rival detectives fall in love.

Director:

Noel M. Smith

Writers:

Earle Snell (screen play), Raymond L. Schrock (screen play),

Stars:

Jane Wyman, Dick Foran, Gloria Dickson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jane Wyman	...	Myrna Winslow
Dick Foran	...	Jim Rickey
Gloria Dickson	...	Mona Lannon
Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom	...	Brody (as Maxie Rosenbloom)
John Ridgely	...	Donald Norton
Morgan Conway	...	Nat Flavin
John Eldredge	...	Millard Lannon
Joseph Crehan	...	Capt. Murphy
William B. Davidson	...	Inspector Evans (as William Davidson)
Selmer Jackson	...	Simmy Sanger (as Selmar Jackson)
Vera Lewis	...	Mrs. Widner
Julie Stevens	...	Elsie
Jack Mower	...	Detective Dolan
Henry Blair	...	Bobby Lannon
Earl Dwire	...	Justice of the Peace (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Private detective "Jinx" Wilsnow is working on the case of a divorcée who is accused of murdering her ex-husband. She and police detective Jim Rickey, working on the same crime, cross and criss-cross each other's path to the extent they decide more progress would be made if they work together.

---

Plot Keywords:

detective | police | police detective | detective agency | chauffeur | 

---

Taglines:

Oh Please Miss Detective... I Want To Be Arrested By You!

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Mystery | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 December 1939 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Myrna "Jinx" Winslow: Jack, when are you going to use your head for something besides a place to put your hat?

---

Connections

Featured in Dirty Harry's Way (1971)

User Reviews

Jane on the way up

1939 is considered the top year for classic films from Hollywood with the release of Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, The Adventures of Robin Hood and countless others, however while all those masterworks were being created it's good to remember that the studios were still cranking out B programmers to fill the bill and this is as good an example of that as any.

Jane Wyman having worked her way through bits and supporting roles has one of her first leads here as Jinx Winslow, girl detective. She's cute and sprightly and in an interesting contrast she has a few scenes with the ill fated Gloria Dickson, a promising contract player until her sad death a few years later in a house fire at just 28. In their scenes the blush of stardom is all over Jane, not only is she far more animated than Gloria but she registers on screen in a way that Dickson does not and never would. A clear demonstration of star quality, Jane is vibrant whereas Gloria is flat, it doesn't help her though that she's made up in the most overdone and unflattering hair and makeup.

As for the rest of the movie and the cast, the story is nothing that hasn't been done a million times but it moves at a good clip and that blank wall of an actor Dick Foran takes up space like he always does, how he worked so much is a mystery