Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Ray McCarey

Writers:

Frederick Nebel (characters)
Irving Rubine (idea)

Release Date:

13 May 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Ever see a political ring turned into a wedding ring? No? Then just keep an eye on that right honorable honey...Torchy Blane! (original ad)

Plot:

Torchy Blane is investigating the political career of mayor Dr. Dolan, who has installed a corrupt leadership...

Plot Keywords:

Mayor | Torchy Blane | Corruption | Newspaper Reporter | Politics

Cast

Glenda Farrell	...	Torchy Blane
Barton MacLane	...	Steve McBride
Tom Kennedy	...	Gahagan
John Miljan	...	Dr. Dolan
Frank Shannon	...	Captain McTavish
Joe Cunningham	...	Maxie - Editor
George Guhl	...	Desk Sergeant Graves
Joe Downing	...	Spuds O'Brien
Irving Bacon	...	Hubert Ward
John Butler	...	Chuck Ball
Charles Richman	...	Mayor John Saunders
John Harron	...	Dibble

Runtime:

60 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:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #4984) (original rating)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Two cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Larry Williams (Reporter) and Jack Mower (Duncan).

Goofs:

Continuity: The doctor signs his name "Dr. T.V. Reynolds" in a telegram, but it is printed as "Dr. J.C. Reynolds" in a newspaper.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Adventurous Blonde (1937)

Soundtrack:

Rock-a-Bye Baby

Glenda Retires Torchy

Glenda Farrell filed her last story and in a sense made her own new in this film. Just the title Torchy Runs For Mayor should tell you all you need to know.

Our showgirl turned reporter is after a crooked city administration this time. The mayor, Charles Richman, is a grafter, but he's just a puppet in the hands of the real political boss of the city, John Miljan. Miljan also happens to be a medical doctor which comes in quite handy in his criminal pursuits.

When the original reform candidate Irving Bacon is murdered and another guy framed, Torchy through a bit of a joke by boyfriend Barton MacLane finds herself the reform candidate.

Glenda Farrell is pretty resourceful in getting her news, including an illegal bug in the mayor's office. But Miljan is one clever guy and she gets in more harm's way here than in any other film in the series.

In fact that gives MacLane more of an opportunity. Usually he's just there both being shown up by her as a detective and also getting the accolades for the crimes that she helps solve. But when Farrell does get in harm's way she has need of MacLane.

There was only one more Torchy Blane film, Jane Wyman was given the role with Allen Jenkins as her detective boyfriend. That team set no box office records and Torchy filed her last story with Jane.

This last one with Farrell and MacLane though is pretty good and downright excellent for a B film out of Warner Brothers.