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Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
792
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
Nancy helps two aging spinsters fulfill the byzantine provisions of their father's will, but the murder of their chauffeur complicates matters.
Play trailer1:29
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Family

Nancy helps two aging spinsters fulfill the byzantine provisions of their father's will, but the murder of their chauffeur complicates matters.Nancy helps two aging spinsters fulfill the byzantine provisions of their father's will, but the murder of their chauffeur complicates matters.Nancy helps two aging spinsters fulfill the byzantine provisions of their father's will, but the murder of their chauffeur complicates matters.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
792
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Clemens
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Gamet(original screen play)
    • Mildred Wirt Benson(based on the Nancy Drew stories by)
  • Stars
    • Bonita Granville
    • Frankie Thomas
    • John Litel
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Clemens
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Gamet(original screen play)
    • Mildred Wirt Benson(based on the Nancy Drew stories by)
  • Stars
    • Bonita Granville
    • Frankie Thomas
    • John Litel
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:29
    Trailer

    Photos203

    Bonita Granville in Nancy Drew: Detective (1938)
    Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Don Rowan in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Frank Orth in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Bonita Granville in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Louise Carter, William Gould, Bonita Granville, Vera Lewis, John Litel, and Frank Orth in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
    Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bonita Granville
    Bonita Granville
    • Nancy Drewas Nancy Drew
    Frankie Thomas
    Frankie Thomas
    • Ted Nickersonas Ted Nickerson
    John Litel
    John Litel
    • Carson Drewas Carson Drew
    Frank Orth
    Frank Orth
    • Captain Tweedyas Captain Tweedy
    Renie Riano
    Renie Riano
    • Effie Schneideras Effie Schneider
    Vera Lewis
    Vera Lewis
    • Miss Rosemary Turnbullas Miss Rosemary Turnbull
    Louise Carter
    Louise Carter
    • Miss Floretta Turnbullas Miss Floretta Turnbull
    William Gould
    William Gould
    • Daniel Talbertas Daniel Talbert
    George Guhl
    George Guhl
    • Smittyas Smitty
    John Ridgely
    John Ridgely
    • Reporteras Reporter
    William Hopper
    William Hopper
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (as DeWolf Hopper)
    Creighton Hale
    Creighton Hale
    • Reporteras Reporter
    Frank Mayo
    Frank Mayo
    • Tribune Photographeras Tribune Photographer
    Frederic Tozere
    • District Attorney's Investigatoras District Attorney's Investigator
    • (as Fredric Tozere)
    Don Rowan
    Don Rowan
    • Phillips the Chauffeuras Phillips the Chauffeur
    Dick Elliott
    Dick Elliott
    • McKeeveras McKeever
    Fern Barry
    • McKeever's Secretaryas McKeever's Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Nat Carr
    Nat Carr
    • Policemanas Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Clemens
    • Writers
      • Kenneth Gamet(original screen play)
      • Mildred Wirt Benson(based on the Nancy Drew stories by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Nancy Drew and Ted Nickerson solve a murder and save two elderly ladies from losing their family home. The old mansion is complete with a moving wall and a hidden staircase. —SM <smortens@ix.netcom.com>
    • ice
    • block of ice
    • ice tongs
    • warning sign
    • gun
    • 95 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Family
      • Mystery
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fourth and last film in the "Nancy Drew" series released by Warner Bros. from 1938 to 1939.
    • Goofs
      As Ted and Nancy talk outside the Turnbull house following the scene in which the Turnbull sisters report the theft of minor household items, the shadow of the boom mic can be seen passing across a wooden post behind them.
    • Quotes

      Ted Nickerson: [trying to impress the maid with a joke] A duck is a chicken with snowshoes.

      Nancy Drew: And a halfwit is a person who spends half their time trying to be witty.

    • Connections
      Follows Nancy Drew: Detective (1938)

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    An enjoyable B-mystery
    This is the fourth of four Nancy Drew films by Warner Brothers starring Bonita Granville. It was based on the Drew story "The Hidden Staircase", though I've never read the book and have no idea how close it is to the original tale. But, knowing Hollywood, many liberties were taken with the story.

    The story begins by learning that two elderly sisters, the Turnbulls, stand to inherit the home they've been living in many years. However, the will has an odd proviso--that they MUST remain in it every night until some goal is met. Well, they've abided by the will so far, but when their servant is murdered and all sorts of mayhem follows, the sisters' resolve begins to wane. Naturally, the pushy Nancy Drew has decided to make the case her business and naturally the cops investigating are all idiots!

    This film is one of about 600,000 B-mysteries made by Hollywood...and they were churned out like mad by both the big studios and the tiny ones. Why? Well, they were pretty cheap to make and made plenty of money! And, compared to the rest of them, this one is a bit better due mostly to better and more competent direction. Too many of them simply looked rushed but this one seemed more polished and complete. Well worth seeing.
    helpful•4
    3
    • planktonrules
    • Dec 25, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 9, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Нэнси Дрю и потайная лестница
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

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    Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
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