Sky Murder (1940) User Reviews

Nick Carter's last case

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 19 October 2006]

"Sky Murder" turned out to be Nick Carter's final case, which is a shame. The series had a lot going for it, including handsome, commanding Walter Pidgeon as Carter in one of his best roles. "Sky Murder" is a fast-moving mystery involving subversives - Nazis no doubt. Ten years later and it would have been Communists. After a murder in a locked airplane compartment, a German refugee (Kaaren Verne) becomes a suspect, and Nick is sure she didn't do it. It's never easy for Nick to work on a case because of people who won't leave him alone, and this time is no different. Donald Meek as Bartholemew is still around with his bees, and he has a hilarious fight scene. There's also a pseudo-detective, Christine Cross (Joyce Compton) who is a complete airhead.

This series had a nice, chaotic and humorous feel to it, with the anchor ably provided by Pidgeon who puts up with Bartholemew and here, Compton, but never seems to get flustered. Really fun. It's a shame there were so few of the Nick Carter films.

The Best of the Three Nick Carter's

[LeonLouisRicci · 6/10 · 14 December 2012]

The most interesting and entertaining of the three films that opened up a little and went outdoors and included a heavy plot of spies and Nazis on the home front. There is that dreaded printing press that the subversives use to peddle their poison with fliers like "Don't be Doped by America".

There is also quite a bit of gun-play and this one is as serious as the series ever got. But it is not without the standard flaws. The Detective as a relentless womanizer (in all its overdone cringe inducement here), the almost ever present Beeswax his always irritating sidekick, the cute ditsy, dumb dame, and the German-American included so we can understand America's tolerance (but not after Pearl Harbor) for all Nationalities despite their governments evil ways. Did we really have to be reminded we are the good guys in such a heavy handed manner?

Sure we did, because repetition works, and this series was just another palatable picture used as a delivery device to a yet to be convinced public that we are about to join the fight against fascism. A noble cause. That is also the best that could be said about the Nick Carter Series.

Slick adventure provides lightweight entertainment, mild excitement

[csteidler · 6/10 · 27 January 2014]

Walter Pidgeon returns for a third appearance as suave-yet-rugged detective Nick Carter in this fast-paced spy picture.

Set very much on the eve of America's entrance into WWII, the plot involves American traitors distributing flyers about a new regime and Nick Carter's (initially reluctant) efforts to track down and put them out of business. Spies, patriotism, murder – it's a neat little movie featuring a solid cast and efficient script.

Donald Meek offers able assistance and mild comic relief as Bartholomew the Bee Man. Put in charge of escorting a group of ladies off of a plane, he gets a little overzealous: "The first one that makes a break dies like a dog!" he barks. (Of course, they trample him and give him a bump on the head.)

Other capable cast members include Tom Conway as a shady character; Kaaren Verne as an earnest immigrant pressured to betray her new country; and Joyce Compton as would-be detective Chris Cross.

Walter Pidgeon looks like he's enjoying himself as the dashing lead character who spouts like dialog like, "Well, this is swell. Seven beautiful girls and every one of them a murder suspect."

There's not much substance, really, but it's a pleasant mix of adventure, mystery and comedy.

Third and last Nick Carter film is as good as the other two

[Barney Bat · 21 March 2004]

Unaccountably, MGM's excellent Nick Carter movies became the shortest series of detective films on record. The Carter films took the middle ground somewhere between the serial-like Brass Bancroft pictures and the sophisticated semi-comedy mysteries like the Thin Man films. The Carter series were fast-paced with quite a bit of action, but with some hilarious humor too. Bartholomew the Bee Man was the most unique of all detective sidekicks--quite loony, but very helpful at the same time. The interaction between Donald Meek's Bartholomew and Walter Pidgeon's self-assured Nick Carter was the best part of the series, which had several other things going for it too.

This final Carter film is a lot of fun, with Nick (unwillingly, at first) taking on a ring of Fifth Columnists (since this was filmed before the US entered the war, we're not told the villains are Nazis, but it's pretty clear anyway). Of course, the helpful and persistent Bartholomew is at his side--much to Nick's irritation. To further complicate things--and to make them still funnier--Joyce Compton is along for the ride too, as a delightfully brainless "detective" named Christine Cross. The plot gives us a new twist on the locked-room murder mystery: this time, a murder takes place in a locked airplane compartment! Karen Verne plays a German refugee suspected of the mysterious murder, and it's up to Nick to clear her--and protect her from the real killers, who are out to remove her at all costs. As in the first Carter film (NICK CARTER, MASTER DETECTIVE) there's a mastermind whose identity is not revealed right away, and an assortment of sinister henchmen. While trying to figure out the mystery (the who-dun-it isn't hard, but the "how dun it" certainly is) look for some great supporting players, including Chill Wills, Grady Sutton, Edward Ashley, and Tom Conway, soon to become a well-known film detective himself--the Falcon.

Be sure to check out this movie and the other Carter movies, NICK CARTER MASTER DETECTIVE and PHANTOM RAIDERS. All three are shown on TCM from time to time, and I highly recommend them.

Beware Fifth Columnists

[Paularoc · 6/10 · 28 June 2013]

Prior to America's entry into WWII, two Fifth Columnists are in a car wreck while carrying a load of pamphlets that read "Don't let them dope you with democracy pills." That's catchy. Not. The action takes place in and near Washington D.C. and Senator Monrose and his aide, Cortland Grant, ask Nick Carter to investigate. As a sweetener, Grant has invited five "models" to entertain Carter. One of the models is a German refugee who the bad guys try to recruit as a Fifth Columnist by telling her that her family is in a concentration camp ( now that's an interesting reference). Escorting the models is the dumb and ditsy private detective Chris Cross. Sometimes dumb and ditsy can be amusing but not in this case; Joyce Compton as Chris is more annoying than funny. And that Nick Carter fell for her is just not believable. On the other hand, Donald Meek as Bartholomew the beekeeper is less annoying and more amusing that he was in the first film in the series. For me, the most interesting supporting actors were Chill Wills and Tom Conway. Conway went on to play The Falcon in an entertaining B detective series. There is one great line in the movie. Carter asks Senator Monrose if he would be willing to do something a little dangerous that might involve getting a knife in the back. Monrose replies, "Son, I've been a politician for forty years and a knife in the back is an old story to me." The movie is entertaining enough and worth a watch if for no other reason than it stars Walter Pidgeon.

Uneven but entertaining

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 20 September 2007]

This is a series B-movie from MGM, and since it had a much higher budget and production values by Bs at Monogram and Columbia Studios, it was rather pretty to look at--even if the plot was a bit silly and some of the characters were ridiculous.

Walter Pidgeon went slumming in this film, as the usual A-list actor was cast as the detective, Nick Carter. His sidekick (practically a requirement in all B-detective films) was a highly unusual choice, as Donald Meek looked and acted nothing like the usual assistant. At first, I did not like this (though I usually love Meek in films). I think this was because they made Meek's character too bizarre and downright loopy! Him and his stupid bees--what a dumb plot idea. However, later, when you see Meek (one of the smallest and most harmless looking supporting actors) beating the snot out of the Nazi spies, the film really heated up!! Oddly, Pidgeon seemed mostly asleep in the film--and did very little. Most of the time, cute little Donald Meek was the one who sprang into action to save the day!! While I liked Meek, I definitely detested the lady detective played by Joyce Compton. While she often played ditsy ladies in films, here she is practically an imbecile and was a major hindrance to the plot. No detective is THAT stupid and I tired of her one-note performance.

Still, despite its many flaws, the film was fast-paced and reasonably fun--making it an excellent time-passer.

Kid Stuff

[reader4 · 7/10 · 10 July 2010]

When I heard "Nick Carter," I was expecting a dark, noir-ish hard boiled detective story, along the lines of Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe. "Sky Murder" is anything but.

I thought the first few scenes of the movie were so bad, I was going to give it a 3 and turn it off. (No movie can score higher than a 3 with me if I can't stand it till the end.)

For some reason, though, and it wasn't any sudden change in plot or acting, I kept with it. It was more than three quarters of the way through, more than 45 minutes into the film, that I suddenly realized this is a rollicking adventure story aimed at eight-year-old boys, with no pretensions of being anything but a good time. It is a comic book come to life, sort of like the old Superman TV show from the fifties.

Once I realized that, the movie became much more enjoyable.

I don't know if an eight-year-old would enjoy it today, though. It's not full of fast action, has no gunfire, and of course it has no CG.

So, without modern kid appeal, and, as other reviewers have shown, it doesn't hold much for adult viewers, I'm afraid this well-done and entertaining film is probably destined for obscurity.

great Beeswax fun

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 19 September 2020]

Fifth columnists are spreading treasonous pamphlets. Policemen inform Senator Monrose who wants reluctant private detective Nick Carter to investigate. He is joined by Beeswax Bartholomew who is eager for any investigating whether Nick wants it or not. Nick joins a group of party goers on a plane where a murder occurs.

Beeswax gets more ridiculous. He's the weird difference which makes this franchise uniquely fun. He seems to have gotten sillier this time around and this third installment is better for it. He makes this fun whenever he's on the screen. Quite frankly, that's my complaint. He's not in the movie enough. He should be at Nick's side at all times. I even take back my earlier complaint about the bees. It is so stupid that it's great.

Nest of traitors

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 12 November 2012]

Master detective Nick Carter as played by Walter Pidgeon tangles with fifth columnists in Sky Murder. During the course of the film a murder does take place in a millionaire's private plane and at the climax another is attempted, but foiled.

United States Senator George Lessey tips the famous private eye to this nest of traitors, but the leaders are an illusive group. His Senate investigating committee is looking into this and he'd like Carter to work for them.

Of course Walter Pidgeon does things in his own way with sidekick Donald Meek with his ever present bees. They key seems to be refugee girl Kaaren Verne who is being pressured and not quite leveling with Pidgeon or anyone else about her situation.

Once again Donald Meek whom I usually love as a character actor is downright annoying in this as he was in the other Nick Carter films as the bee man. Sometimes he's more of a danger to Pidgeon than the bad guys.

Take note of Dorothy Tree in this film, she plays a hardcore Bundist type and well. Tree who later had blacklist troubles saw the other side of the struggle as the underground leader in the famous camp classic, Hitler - Dead Or Alive.

There's a little more MGM type gloss to these Carter films which is also a bit out of place. But MGM didn't know how to do it any other way in the days of Louis B. Mayer.

Sky murder

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 12 November 2023]

A body is found in a locked airplane compartment and a German female refugee is a suspect. Passenger detective Nick Carter is convinced she didn't do it and works to solve the mysterious murder.

A fairly entertaining mix of comedy, crime, adventure in the mould of the Lone Wolf/Philo Vance, however the comedy, though bubbly and amusing, can mar the thriller aspects, I. E: hero takes on the fifth columnist, and though it's great to see Walter Pigeon playing a suave character, his interplay with his sidekick - Donald Meek is hilarious in this role and the best thing here - is lacking, in a sense that Pigeon isn't playful enough and just yells at him to get out. Overall, it's enjoyable but could've been better with a more balanced approach in its mix of genre.

Someone murdered this film

[Jim Tritten · 3/10 · 19 March 2004]

Walter Pidgeon played Nick Carter, detective, in only three films from 1939 - 1940. Sky Murder was the last of the series and it is a real bomb. Walter himself is not too bad, but the rest of the cast does very little to deliver a film that is worth watching today. There are lots of detective sidekicks, but Walter Meek's portrayal of "Beeswax" Batholomew is simply annoying. Fortunately Tom Conway is not on screen long enough to warrant serious criticism. The plot involves fifth columnists, damsels in distress, and the interference of a female private detective that should have been left on the cutting room floor. A critical car chase suffers from continuity problems. Most of the gags fall flat. A murder does take place in the sky and by the time we see the solution, it is hard to care. Not worth your time.

Last but best of the series!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 12 November 2013]

The third, and in my opinion, the best of M-G-M's three "Nick Carter" movies, all starring Walter Pidgeon, this one also features Donald Meek (again as the nervy but totally eccentric Bee Man) who is actually billed second to Pidgeon and even receives a splash credit in the trailer! Kaaren Verne does a good job as the alluring but suspicious heroine, Tom Conway is perfectly cast as the two-faced, lecherous villain, Joyce Compton plays dizzy twins (alas, not both in view at the same time!), and Chill Wills makes a delightfully rustic sheriff. Although this picture runs 72 minutes (compared to 59 for the first entry and 70 for Phantom Raiders), it is so admirably fast-paced by director George B. Seitz (taking a well-earned break from the Andy Hardy series) that it seemed to this viewer to be the shortest movie of the three. Both action and comic interludes are put across with style, and it's well produced too with all the usual M-G-M frills. The plot may seem somewhat dated, but that's part of the joy of discovery. Louis B. Mayer had no love for the Nazis (vide The Mortal Storm) and was keeping up the pressure!

Nick Carter breaks unnamed espionage ring in 1940

[SimonJack · 6/10 · 14 November 2020]

"Sky Murder" is a Nick Carter mystery film that is more about the burgeoning pro-Nazi underground in the U.S. It's interesting because unless modern day moviegoers know something of the history at that time, it may not be so apparent. As the film progresses, of course, it becomes apparent that the "bad guys" are some sort of foreign underground. Yet, this movie never even refers to Germany or Nazis by name. Indeed, there isn't even a mention or any sign that World War II is going on around much of the world at the time.

The short series of Nick Carter mystery films with Walter Pidgeon were second tier (B) pictures of MGM. And, their mystery plots all had to do with espionage or underground efforts of some sort. This film was released in late September. But three months earlier MGM released its excellent anti-Nazi movie, "The Mortal Storm." That film had a top Hollywood cast of the day. It starred James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Robert Young, Frank Morgan, Robert Stack and Bonita Granville. And, it had a superb plot.

All of the Hollywood studios were now making anti-Nazi films. But none came right out and named Germany or the Nazis as the enemy or bad guys. One must remember that the U.S. was not yet in World War II, although it was aiding Great Britain and the Allies with material support and supplies. While the studios wouldn't directly name Germany or the Nazis as the culprits in these films, anyone who saw them knew who the enemy represented.

"The Mortal Storm" was the most obvious anti-Nazi film. And, one that everyone who saw it knew immediately that it was about Nazi Germany. It was set in Bavaria and it was the first film that made reference to German concentration camps. In this case, it would be Dachau. So, it seems a little strange that this film wouldn't dare to be a little more explicit about the enemy.

Aside from that, it's another good plot. And yet the screenplay is weak and the film is choppy in places. There's much bouncing around in this film, but the cast are mostly good. It's the weakness of the script, direction, editing and other production aspects that set "Sky Murder" back.

Walter Pidgeon's Nick Carter is again helped by his shadow, Donald Meek as Bartholomew, the bee-man. Kaaren Verne plays Pat Evans, Edward Ashley is Cortland Grand, and Joyce Compton is Christine Cross. Modern audiences probably wouldn't care much for this film, but it's somewhat fun with the touch of humor from Nick and his shadow, and the solving of a couple of murders and catching the Nazi - whoops! - the anonymous foreign underground.

Thank heavens for fast forward!

[geostan · 2/10 · 13 June 2013]

As a rule, I enjoy the detective films made back in the 30s and 40s. But this film is punishing. The character played by Joyce Compton is especially annoying. How Walter Pigeon could be interested in her is beyond me.

The only plus was the chance to spot all the bit players who populated the film. If this was considered the best of the series, I have no desire to see the others.

I'm sure Tom Conway was delighted that his role was so short, and Edward Ashley couldn't muster any real enthusiasm for his part either.

My 2 was generous!

Fifth Column

[tedg · 24 December 2006]

This is yet another experiment in the all important detective genre — before the genre settled into the few riverbeds we work with today. The experiment failed, which is why you don't find this celebrated. Its actually a very bad entertainment. Very bad indeed and after this Nick Carter would end.

Its only interesting if you study how the notion of film detection and noir evolved, and what branches died out... or if you are interested in how national identity is defined in film (or reflected if you are a gnostic).

This one tries to punch up the franchise with pretty girls, six of them who are apparently prostitutes though the relationship is so softpeddled, they are mentioned as "dancers." They are protected by a dumb blond who is so dumb it defies even movie logic.

One of these is a German girl who is reluctantly recruited into a German conspiracy against the US, a "fifth column." When she is condemned in front of members of the "cell," one decent man gets up to protest that he joined to make the world better. He is immediately beset by thugs and beaten to death. There is mention of concentration camps. The US hadn't yet entered the war, but it was ready.

There's a mystery of sorts here, how someone is stabbed in a sealed cabin on an airplane. But it is so contrived, so needlessly elaborate its funny, like the genteel whores that subliminally stand for American values.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Sky high in intrigue.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 26 November 2020]

With the exception of the featherbrained Joyce Compton, the third and final Nick Carter mystery is a perfectly fine little mystery, intriguing and complex without being convoluted. It deals with the murder of a wealthy lothario aboard a private plane, the body found in a locked compartment and only Nick (Walter Pigeon), pesky assistant Beeswax (Donald Meek) and a bunch of models aboard. There's obviously some international subterfuge going on as one of the models (Kaaren Verne) reveals herself to be a victim of German threats.

There's Beeswax's collection of his favorite bees, a befuddled country judge (George Watts), confused sheriff Chill Wills, dizzy dame Compton (more annoying than funny), the other giggling models (which includes a young Virginia O'Brien) and a villainous dark lady (Dorothy Tree) who seems to be in charge with the German spies.

The explosion of the judge's chamber and his huge attached jail cell is a great highlight, and the recurring use of Meek's bees as weapons against the villains and others in the way is also amusing. Like others have stated, it's a shame that this is the third and the last of the Nick Carter series, but it's obvious that Pigeon would be focusing on the series of a films he would do with Greer Garson. This is non-stop action and thrills with a lot of comedy in place, only marred by the goofy dialog Compton must say that only brings groans, not chuckles.

Mr. Tritten right on

[mbmnow · 2/10 · 12 June 2013]

Funny, back in the 30s, 40s and into the 50s the B picture was still a feature that was many times better that the A feature. Not the case here, except for Walter Pidgeon the rest of the actors can't pull off a lousy script. Typical "5th column" stuff from just before the war, I think it was to get the US ready for war with Germany. I understand this purpose but couldn't the studio generated a more realist script? As this was the last Nick Cannon film, I guess they decided to skip a script and get something out. I am watching the film as I type this, fortunately the credits are rolling now and I can turn off this turkey. As my summary says, Mr. Tritten review was Right On.

Master detective?

[bob.decker · 5/10 · 6 October 2022]

With all the talent on hand at MGM in 1940, it's difficult to account for the failure of the Nick Carter films to succeed as mysteries or farce; the plots make no sense, the master of detection shows no discernible mastery of anything, and it's rare that any of the characters rise above level of caricature. Sky Murder is no exception. The most one can say in praise of this entry is that it has nice sets, a stellar turn by Dorothy Tree doing her thing as a Nazi spy, and a couple of nice looking bit players. Otherwise not much to recommend it, other than as a production based on a total contempt for the audience. Skip it!

Nick without Nora!

[vawlkee_2000 · 9/10 · 12 June 2013]

This film is a real treat! People expect a major "film noir" edge and that was not the intent here! Whine all you want but this is for fun! One "critic" said it was fit for "eight year old boys". I disagree. It's witty, fast paced, well acted and directed! Perhaps some of these armchair Siskel and Eiberts should watch a similar film made a year later at Warner's, called "All Through the Night" with Bogie! A humorous spin on fifth columnists at work in the US. I find Donald Meek to be a real riot here. A goof who was remarkably resourceful. 1940 was a tumultuous time in the US, what with the war raging for a year in Europe. A film like this, while avoiding the usual flag waving makes it's point in a humorous light! Pidgeon has Bill Powell's easy going nature as he slowly gets to the bottom of the plot. A pity there weren't more in the series with Pidgeon at the forefront. A great cast of character actors makes this a stand out! Don't miss it!