Ten points for wit and performances, five points for originality. Struggling private detective Melvyn Douglas takes a job with the D.A.'s office, leaving his ambitious wife Joan Blondell behind to take messages. Determined to find some excitement, Blondell agrees to take on a case, trailing a young woman (Frances Drake) for wealthy Mary Astor. Witnessing an argument between Astor's husband and Drake's fiancé at a posh nightclub Blondell and Douglas are too hungover to hear that Astor's husband was murdered. Unaware that his wife has taken on a private investigation of the case, Douglas finds her undermining him at every turn, drizzling him as she finds valuable evidence which may lead to a murderer.
Not attempting to imitate William Powell and Myrna Loy, this is still one of a dozen or more rip-offs. Blondell is crass and sometimes obnoxious, but that is on a very lovable scale. Douglas isn't as dapper as Powell, but he manages to be smooth, if not as urbane. Thurston Hall is funny as Douglas's boss, while Astor has a hint of her future "Maltese Falcon" vixen in her. Cross examination scenes at the D.A.'s office are filled with hysterically funny yet annoying sound effects. The mystery is really easy to solve, but there is a lot of fun on the road to getting there.
Not attempting to imitate William Powell and Myrna Loy, this is still one of a dozen or more rip-offs. Blondell is crass and sometimes obnoxious, but that is on a very lovable scale. Douglas isn't as dapper as Powell, but he manages to be smooth, if not as urbane. Thurston Hall is funny as Douglas's boss, while Astor has a hint of her future "Maltese Falcon" vixen in her. Cross examination scenes at the D.A.'s office are filled with hysterically funny yet annoying sound effects. The mystery is really easy to solve, but there is a lot of fun on the road to getting there.