Okay, so they're not Nick and Nora, but MGM produced this and 2 other such films (with different stars) to fill in the time gaps between films in the "Thin Man" series. Nevertheless, this is a neat little murder mystery.
If there's a significant problem here, it's that Florence Rice (the female lead) can't hold a candle to Myrna Loy. Too bad she is held to that standard, but Rice just didn't have the gravitas (for wont of a better word) to do so. It's a shame, because on the other hand, Melvyn Douglas does quite nicely here not only as an alternative to William Powell, but also in his own right. For many years I knew Douglas only as an older and very serious actor, but in his younger days he played quite a few light and flip characters...this being one.
In terms of supporting actors, they mostly do their jobs, but none shine. Claire Dodd is pretty decent as the other woman, deeply involved in criminal activity, yet seemingly not a criminal. Shepperd Strudwick, around whom the plot focuses, strangely disappears a little bit into the film...for no good reason. Louis Calhern -- in later films a favorite character actor of mine -- plays the primary bad guy here...and does "okay". You'll recognize Nat Pendleton as a dumb bad guy, Douglass Dumbrille as a lawyer, George Zucco as a semi-bad guy, and another favorite character actor of mine -- Minor Watson. Again, they all do what they need to do, but that's about all.
The script is better than the character actors. The leads are involved in rare books, are presented with an odd murder case that deals with such books, and humorously work to solve the mystery and save a friend. It's an interesting little plot, though nothing to write home about.
The comparisons with "The Thin Man" series are inevitable, and although this film doesn't quite compare, it's still a pretty good little story -- but a B, not an A, picture.
If there's a significant problem here, it's that Florence Rice (the female lead) can't hold a candle to Myrna Loy. Too bad she is held to that standard, but Rice just didn't have the gravitas (for wont of a better word) to do so. It's a shame, because on the other hand, Melvyn Douglas does quite nicely here not only as an alternative to William Powell, but also in his own right. For many years I knew Douglas only as an older and very serious actor, but in his younger days he played quite a few light and flip characters...this being one.
In terms of supporting actors, they mostly do their jobs, but none shine. Claire Dodd is pretty decent as the other woman, deeply involved in criminal activity, yet seemingly not a criminal. Shepperd Strudwick, around whom the plot focuses, strangely disappears a little bit into the film...for no good reason. Louis Calhern -- in later films a favorite character actor of mine -- plays the primary bad guy here...and does "okay". You'll recognize Nat Pendleton as a dumb bad guy, Douglass Dumbrille as a lawyer, George Zucco as a semi-bad guy, and another favorite character actor of mine -- Minor Watson. Again, they all do what they need to do, but that's about all.
The script is better than the character actors. The leads are involved in rare books, are presented with an odd murder case that deals with such books, and humorously work to solve the mystery and save a friend. It's an interesting little plot, though nothing to write home about.
The comparisons with "The Thin Man" series are inevitable, and although this film doesn't quite compare, it's still a pretty good little story -- but a B, not an A, picture.