"There's That Woman Again" is the sequel to the previous year's "There's Always A Woman", featuring Bill and Sally Reardon as a husband-and-wife private-detective duo (the husband professional, the wife amateur). Judging from a title card at the start of the movie, a further series with these characters was planned, but never materialized. Here Virginia Bruce replaces Joan Blondell in the role of Sally, and she's fun to watch as the flighty but resourceful amateur sleuth; Melvyn Douglas repeats his "straight" role as the bewildered but loving husband. One of my favorite actresses from that era, Margaret Lindsay, shines in a somewhat against-type part as one of the suspects in the case of serial jewel robberies that the Reardons are investigating. The film is nothing more than fluff, but pleasant, well-made fluff. **1/2 out of 4.
8 Reviews
Better than expected
kfo949410 April 2015
In this second, and last, comical film that involves The Reardon Detective Agency where a husband, Bill Reardon, has to deal with a meddling wife, Sally Reardon to solve a crime of theft from a large jewelry store. At first Bill believes that he knows who is taking the stolen items and ask for time to track down the person that is working with the individual. This is when Sally drops by her husband detective business and decides to interview a possible client. The client just so happens to be the same person that her husband suspects is stealing the jewels. Bill, the husband, will only find out later that his wife has the suspect on retainer as a client.
Even though this movie has not aged well, there are some funny scenes that keeps the viewer entertained throughout the film. The acting was comparable with anything today but it was the props and feel of the film that made a viewer feel as if watching a lost period from long ago. Even with the nice acting by all involved, it never really caused much excitement. A nice look at what comedy use to be-- actually wished they would have made a third installment.
Even though this movie has not aged well, there are some funny scenes that keeps the viewer entertained throughout the film. The acting was comparable with anything today but it was the props and feel of the film that made a viewer feel as if watching a lost period from long ago. Even with the nice acting by all involved, it never really caused much excitement. A nice look at what comedy use to be-- actually wished they would have made a third installment.
follow up chapter for M. Douglas
ksf-25 August 2019
Melvyn Douglas and Virginia Bruce are the Reardons, who get caught up in another murder mystery. This was the follow-up to There's Always a Woman. with some of the same supporting cast (Tom Dugan). Some tricky little methods of murder in this one. as usual, Bill Reardon runs circles around the other cops, the newsmen, and even the murderer's gang. and it's interesting to note that they dance around the word "pregnant"... Bill Reardon keeps saying "are you...." and "you mean you're not...." oh how times change. Directed by Alexander Hall, who had directed the first chapter. Pretty good stuff.
annoying
blanche-29 August 2019
I love Melvyn Douglas, I love Virginia Bruce, and I love screwball comedy.
However, in "There's That Woman Again," the Bruce character annoyed me for some reason. Her antics just seemed so ridiculous. Her husband (Douglas) seemed ready to kill her, and I could understand it.
There were some funny parts. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right kind of mood.
However, in "There's That Woman Again," the Bruce character annoyed me for some reason. Her antics just seemed so ridiculous. Her husband (Douglas) seemed ready to kill her, and I could understand it.
There were some funny parts. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right kind of mood.
It should be "There's A Woman Again"!
planktonrules17 February 2018
Get aload of crazy exercise equipment!
wife working for accused that husband accused
he thinks she's pregnant
This is the sequel to the fine Melyvn Douglas and Joan Blondell film "There's Always a Woman". However, Blondell is not in the sequel and her part is played by Virginia Bruce, so I really think the film should have been called "There's A Woman Again"...that THAT woman, certainly! I am not surprised they made a sequel, as the first film was tremendous fun....but I am curious why Blondell didn't reprise her role.
Like the previous film, as Bill (Douglas) investigates, his wife usually is working for the other side! It's quite enjoyable but not as funny or original as the first film. Worth seeing but clearly not up to snuff compared to the clever first movie.
This is the sequel to the fine Melyvn Douglas and Joan Blondell film "There's Always a Woman". However, Blondell is not in the sequel and her part is played by Virginia Bruce, so I really think the film should have been called "There's A Woman Again"...that THAT woman, certainly! I am not surprised they made a sequel, as the first film was tremendous fun....but I am curious why Blondell didn't reprise her role.
Like the previous film, as Bill (Douglas) investigates, his wife usually is working for the other side! It's quite enjoyable but not as funny or original as the first film. Worth seeing but clearly not up to snuff compared to the clever first movie.
Entertaining comedy-mystery=thriller!
JohnHowardReid5 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Copyright 19 December 1938 by Columbia Pictures Corp. of California. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 5 January 1939. U.S. release: 24 December 1938. Australian release: 6 April 1939. 8 reels. 74 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Private detective tries to nail jewellery store robber without the help of his wife.
NOTES: Sequel to There's Always a Woman (1938) in which Sally Reardon was played by Joan Blondell. However, Tom Dugan repeats his role of Flannigan, though this time he seems to be working for Reardon rather than the City. On the other hand, Pierre Watkin has an entirely different role in both films.
COMMENT: As a comedy mystery thriller, There's That Woman Again is two-thirds successful. Thanks to clever scripting, noirish photography and deft direction, it certainly produces the thrills. And you can credit inspired acting, a wonderfully daffy screenplay and the dexterous Mr Hall again for the movie's outstanding comedy qualities. As a mystery, however, the film does not deliver. True, the plot does propound a couple of neat puzzles, but they are unsatisfactorily resolved.
Never mind, what's a few missed clues in this dizzy parade of engagingly scatterbrained characters led by the debonair Douglas as a harassed father-to-be "D", the ultra-svelte Bruce as his engagingly screwball wife, the delectable Lindsay as a femme fatale with double capitals, and Tom Dugan as Reardon's deliciously eager Man Friday? The support players too are right on the button, particularly Don Beddoe as a realistic realistically ambitious lackwit of an assistant D.A. and Harry Burns as a tuneless cobbler who sparks up the film's funniest scene, a really hilarious episode that has me rolling on the floor every time I see it. Also highly amusing is the clip with Watkins and Douglas unsuspectingly celebrating at a nightclub.
Production values are so remarkably glossy, we can only wonder why some contributors, especially the brilliant cinematographer Joseph Walker, were not nominated for Academy Awards. Costumes and art direction are likewise outstanding. In all, top entertainment.
SYNOPSIS: Private detective tries to nail jewellery store robber without the help of his wife.
NOTES: Sequel to There's Always a Woman (1938) in which Sally Reardon was played by Joan Blondell. However, Tom Dugan repeats his role of Flannigan, though this time he seems to be working for Reardon rather than the City. On the other hand, Pierre Watkin has an entirely different role in both films.
COMMENT: As a comedy mystery thriller, There's That Woman Again is two-thirds successful. Thanks to clever scripting, noirish photography and deft direction, it certainly produces the thrills. And you can credit inspired acting, a wonderfully daffy screenplay and the dexterous Mr Hall again for the movie's outstanding comedy qualities. As a mystery, however, the film does not deliver. True, the plot does propound a couple of neat puzzles, but they are unsatisfactorily resolved.
Never mind, what's a few missed clues in this dizzy parade of engagingly scatterbrained characters led by the debonair Douglas as a harassed father-to-be "D", the ultra-svelte Bruce as his engagingly screwball wife, the delectable Lindsay as a femme fatale with double capitals, and Tom Dugan as Reardon's deliciously eager Man Friday? The support players too are right on the button, particularly Don Beddoe as a realistic realistically ambitious lackwit of an assistant D.A. and Harry Burns as a tuneless cobbler who sparks up the film's funniest scene, a really hilarious episode that has me rolling on the floor every time I see it. Also highly amusing is the clip with Watkins and Douglas unsuspectingly celebrating at a nightclub.
Production values are so remarkably glossy, we can only wonder why some contributors, especially the brilliant cinematographer Joseph Walker, were not nominated for Academy Awards. Costumes and art direction are likewise outstanding. In all, top entertainment.
fewer physical threats
SnoopyStyle6 August 2019
Bill Reardon (Melvyn Douglas) investigates a string of thefts at a jewelery store. He suspects the clerk Charles Crenshaw. Charles hires Sally Reardon (Virginia Bruce) to investigate someone following him. The combative couple ends up on opposite sides of the same case.
It's the second in the series and the wife role changes actress. Thankfully, there are fewer physical threats and she gets a few licks in of her own. The balance is more fun. It's an improvement no matter the era. The screwball comedy gets confused. It doesn't really matter that much. I don't care about the case. It's fine.
It's the second in the series and the wife role changes actress. Thankfully, there are fewer physical threats and she gets a few licks in of her own. The balance is more fun. It's an improvement no matter the era. The screwball comedy gets confused. It doesn't really matter that much. I don't care about the case. It's fine.
Meddling Sally is more annoying than funny
SimonJack11 January 2021
"There's That Woman Again" had the potential to be a good comedy crime film. The plot is similar to one of the Thin Man series or a number of other comedy mysteries in which a wife tries to get in on a detective husband's effort to solve a crime. Most of those have some funny outcomes. But, Virginia Bruce's Sally Reardon in this film is half the film or more, and her foibles become more annoying than funny after a while. One can almost feel the frustration of husband Bill Reardon in Melvyn Douglas.
Rather than adding something of interest to the film, Sally's meddling detracts from it. This is not that good of a mystery and barely a fair comedy. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Bill, "You may not be the best cook in New York, but you're the prettiest." Sally, "You may not be the prettiest private detective in New York, but you're the best."
Bill Reardon, "I'm going to kill you." Sally Reardon, "I..I..It's illegal." Bill Reardon, "Don't quibble". Sally Reardon, "You promised to love, honor and cherish." Bill Reardon, "Till death do us part -- that's now."
Mrs. Nacelle, "Mr. Reardon, would you be interested in a new choke for your wife. It's really a lovely novelty." Bill Reardon, "You know, the choker might interest me". Mrs. Nacelle, "There' something I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't in front of Davis. Will you meet me at the 35 Club for lunch?" Bill, "Yeah, at 12:30. What do ya get for this dog collar?" Mrs. Nacelle, "Uh, thirty-five hundred." Bill, "No thank you. I could choke her for less than that."
Bill Reardon, " My mother begged me not to marry beneath my station."
Bill Reardon, "Even now, my poor old father will only speak to me at family reunions."
Sally Reardon, "Well, if I don't say anything, they'll think I'm awfully stupid" Bill Reardon, "What do you wanna do, convince them?"
Rather than adding something of interest to the film, Sally's meddling detracts from it. This is not that good of a mystery and barely a fair comedy. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Bill, "You may not be the best cook in New York, but you're the prettiest." Sally, "You may not be the prettiest private detective in New York, but you're the best."
Bill Reardon, "I'm going to kill you." Sally Reardon, "I..I..It's illegal." Bill Reardon, "Don't quibble". Sally Reardon, "You promised to love, honor and cherish." Bill Reardon, "Till death do us part -- that's now."
Mrs. Nacelle, "Mr. Reardon, would you be interested in a new choke for your wife. It's really a lovely novelty." Bill Reardon, "You know, the choker might interest me". Mrs. Nacelle, "There' something I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't in front of Davis. Will you meet me at the 35 Club for lunch?" Bill, "Yeah, at 12:30. What do ya get for this dog collar?" Mrs. Nacelle, "Uh, thirty-five hundred." Bill, "No thank you. I could choke her for less than that."
Bill Reardon, " My mother begged me not to marry beneath my station."
Bill Reardon, "Even now, my poor old father will only speak to me at family reunions."
Sally Reardon, "Well, if I don't say anything, they'll think I'm awfully stupid" Bill Reardon, "What do you wanna do, convince them?"
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