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Daily Archives: December 10, 2013

Nancy Drew: Detective (1938)

Posted on December 10, 2013 | 2 comments

Nancy Drew: Detective
Directed by William Clemens
Written by Kenneth Gamet from a story by Mildred Wirt Benson
1938/USA
Warner Bros.
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Nancy Drew: I think intelligent women should have careers.[/box]

This was my first foray into the cinematic world of girl detective Nancy Drew and I thought it was a ton of fun.

An elderly alumna makes a sizable donation to Nancy’s school, then promptly “goes away for her health”. Nancy Drew (Bonita Granville) smells a rat and with the help of her friend Ted Nickerson begins to investigate. Nancy gets some help from her lawyer father but is in general more than a match for the bad guys.

Bonita Granville really matched my mental image of the cheerful, plucky, and resourceful Nancy. I loved watching her drive around in that roadster. I wouldn’t want to oversell this “B” fare but if you have any affection at all for the books, I’d recommend it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsvU2apXJus

Fan video – Clips from this and Nancy Drew: Reporter (1939) set to “Nice Day” by Persephone’s Bees

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Posted in Movie Reviews

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)

Posted on December 10, 2013 | 2 comments

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
Directed by Anatole Litvak
Written by John Wexley and John Huston from the play by Barré Lyndon
1938/USA
Warner Bros.
First viewing; Netflix rental

[box] ‘Rocks’ Valentine: [to Clitterhouse] Hey, why didn’t you tell us you were such a big shot? Here I think all along you was just a screwball.[/box]

The cinematography and direction of this movie were great and the actors are some of my favorites. I honestly cannot explain why it did not grab me in any way.

Dr. Clitterhouse (Edward G. Robinson) is a society physician with a fascination with the criminal mind. He decides to do some medical research on the subject and to use himself as his own guinea pig so he starts pulling off a number of jewel heists which baffle the police. He finds a fence for the loot in the form of Jo Keller (Claire Trevor) and falls in with her gang. Clitterhouse becomes known as “The Professor” and takes over the ring leader role from “Rocks” Valentine (Humphrey Bogart). Rocks is not about to stand for this.

Litvak made a very stylish film with strong elements of German Expressionism . I loved his Mayerling (1936) too and want to check out more of his work. The only problem with the movie for me is that it is supposed to be a comedy-thriller and I was neither thrilled nor greatly amused. I may have been having a bad day.