Lively little wartime comedy from RKO. Seems 11-year old radio star Joan Mitchell's (Carroll) crime program is slipping in ratings, (Catch how ratings are tabulated). So she decides more authentic dialog is needed and goes undercover among three inept Runyonesque characters to gather tips. Naturally misadventure follows, especially when serious crooks enter the picture.
The movie depends on fine little actress Carroll to carry the hour, and she delivers, in spades. Hers is a 30-year old brain in a 10-year old body. More importantly, Carroll's occasionally cute without being cloying. But her shtick is mainly coming across like an adult. Warrick may get top billing, but pretty much drops out about a-third of the way through. Likely she was added for marquee value. Anyway, likable oaf Pinky (Kennedy) adds a lot of character color as one of the "criminals", along with movie vets Barnett and Conlin. Looks to me like this was just the sort of escapism wartime audiences were looking for. Too bad Carroll retired soon after. Still, considering the pitfalls plaguing Hollywood's young performers, maybe it was the wise thing to do.
Good also to see an old radio studio with actors at the ready. Plus, there're the old cabinet radios, at a time when folks gathered around sound speakers and used imagination to provide visuals-- TV did come at a cost. Nonetheless, the programmer's still an amusing hour of Hollywood hokum.