Michael Shayne: Private Detective (1940)

After gumshoe Mike Shayne is hired by a millionaire to keep his daughter away from gambling and gamblers, he becomes involved in the murder of a racetrack tout.

Director:

Eugene Forde

Writers:

Stanley Rauh (screenplay), Manning O'Connor (screenplay),

Stars:

Lloyd Nolan, Marjorie Weaver, Joan Valerie

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lloyd Nolan	...	Michael Shayne
Marjorie Weaver	...	Phyllis Brighton
Joan Valerie	...	Marsha Gordon
Walter Abel	...	Elliott Thomas
Elizabeth Patterson	...	Aunt Olivia
Donald MacBride	...	Chief Painter
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Gordon (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Clarence Kolb	...	Brighton
George Meeker	...	Harry Grange
Charles Coleman	...	Ponsby
Adrian Morris	...	Al (as Michael Morris)
Robert Emmett Keane	...	Larry Kincaid
Frank Orth	...	Steve
Irving Bacon	...	Fisherman

Storyline

Millionaire sportsman Hiram Brighton hires gumshoe Michael Shayne to keep his spoiled daughter Phyllis away from racetrack betting windows and roulette wheels. After Phyllis slips away and continues her compulsive gambling, Shayne fakes the murder of her gambler boyfriend, who is also romancing the daughter of casino owner Benny Gordon, in order to frighten her. When the tout really ends up murdered, Shayne and Phyllis' Aunt Olivia, an avid reader of murder mysteries, both try to find the identity of the killer.

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Plot Keywords:

gambler | murder | racetrack | tout | gambling | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Detective Apaixonado

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First in a series.

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Quotes

Chief Painter: [arriving to find Shayne at the murder scene] Shayne? What are you doing here?
Michael Shayne: Ask me later. I haven't thought of an answer yet.

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Connections

Followed by Too Many Winners (1947)

User Reviews

Elizabeth Patterson steals this film!!

A very enjoyable film, with Lloyd Nolan as Michael Shayne. The supporting cast is also a joy to watch, with Elizabeth Patterson stealing it away in every scene she is in!! She is a hoot to watch. About the only cast member not really giving a good performance is Joan Valerie. She is too sullen, but then maybe that is the way the character is supposed to be played, but she sort of dulls this film down a bit. It is always a treat to see Lloyd Nolan in a film and this one is another good one in his list!!