Private Detective (1939)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Noel M. Smith

Writers:

Kay Krausse (story)
Earle Snell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Hey Fellows...LET'S GET IN TROUBLE...JANE WYMAN'S A DETECTIVE NOW! (original ad)

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Ex Husband | Police Detective | Police | Frame Up

Cast

Jane Wyman	...	Myrna 'Jinx' Winslow
Dick Foran	...	Lieutenant Jim Rickey
Gloria Dickson	...	Mona Lannon
Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom	...	Detective Brody (as Maxie Rosenbloom)
John Ridgely	...	Donald Norton
Morgan Conway	...	Nathan 'Nat' Flavin
John Eldredge	...	Millard K. Lannon
Joseph Crehan	...	Captain 'Murph' Murphy
William B. Davidson	...	Inspector Evans (as William Davidson)
Selmer Jackson	...	Simmy Sanger (as Selmar Jackson)
Vera Lewis	...	Mrs. Widner, Testifying Neighbor
Julie Stevens	...	Elsie, Mona's Maid
Jack Mower	...	Detective Dolan
Henry Blair	...	Robert 'Bobby' Lannon
Earl Dwire	...	Justice of the Peace (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

55 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (PCA #5578)

Company:

First National Pictures

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dirty Harry's Way (1971)

A fun way to spend 55 minutes

This is a fairly good B murder romance along the lines of the Torchy Blaine series (although the Torchy Blaine flicks were a tad more entertaining). It is obvious this early in her career that Jane Wyman is headed for star status which eventually earns her the Oscar for "Johnny Belinda." Dick Foran is actually better in a romantic police lieutenant lead than he was in the saddle. His singing cowboy westerns left much to be desired. And actually Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom handles himself quite well as a comic foil, much better than many of his goofy, stupid counterparts in all those B detective movies of the 30's and early 40's. The story is not bad either and well-suited for its 55 minute time slot. A minute more would have been too long for this type movie, which in many ways is similar to the 30 to 60 minute TV shows of early television. Directors of today should learn that two hours or more is too long for most films. Much of the movie is routine but such talent before the camera makes it entertaining. If you enjoy the genre, then you should be pleased with this entry.