Review of Fast Company

The first and best of the three "Fast" films featuring Joel and Garda Sloane turned out by M-G-M in 1938 and 1939, "Fast Company" features not only an intriguing mystery plot, but a most entertaining glimpse of the rare book business. Mind you, it helps immensely that Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice make such a superb team as Joel and Garda. It makes me wonder why M-G-M didn't capitalize on this success and feature Douglas and Rice in follow-up movies. Douglas certainly went up and up the entertainment ladder, while Rice was handed smaller and smaller roles and quickly found herself – but still as the star – on Poverty Row! Her final film, "The Ghost and the Guest", was released by PRC in 1943. Getting back to "Fast Company", it also helped that the support players are all in such fine form, particularly Claire Dodd, Louis Calhern, Douglass Dumbrille and George Zucco. Nat Pendleton also distinguishes himself in a most unusual role as a comic hit-man. The character is amusing but at any moment we're aware that given the chance, he'll shoot our hero dead! A fine piece of acting, cleverly balancing stupidity and suspense! Watch out for silent star Barbara Bedford as the D.A.'s (Thurston Hall's) secretary. Available on an excellent Warner Archive DVD.