Although early Paramount programmers are something of a rarity in DVD stores, "Car 99" (1936) does not exactly fill us with super enthusiasm, despite the superb presence of super-charismatic Marina Schubert, who easily steals the acting honors from suave "innocent", Sir Guy Standing, homey Ann Sheridan and brash newcomer, Fred MacMurray. Ostensibly a thriller, the movie more often turns into a slapstick charade. In fact, director Charles Barton (in this, his second film, he is obviously out to duplicate his excellent debut with "Wagon Wheels") utilizes his comparatively large budget by trying to pack in too much material too fast for comfortable viewing. The blustering performances of William Frawley, Charles C. Wilson and even MacMurray himself on occasion, don't help. The film actually improves on second sight where one can appreciate the more leisurely approach of players like Ann Sheridan, Dean Jagger, James Craven, Robert Kent and John Howard to this uneasy blend of farce, frolic, high-speed bike and car chases, mild detection, alluring moll, stop-at-nothing gangsters and crime.
Review of Car 99
