A husband and wife team who are in rare books and are skillful at recovering stolen volumes for insurance companies become involved in the murder of a fence.A husband and wife team who are in rare books and are skillful at recovering stolen volumes for insurance companies become involved in the murder of a fence.A husband and wife team who are in rare books and are skillful at recovering stolen volumes for insurance companies become involved in the murder of a fence.
- Arnold Stamper
- (as Douglas Dumbrille)
- Danny Scolado
- (as Horace MacMahon)
- MacMillen's Secretary
- (uncredited)
- Safe Expert
- (uncredited)
- Maitre d'
- (uncredited)
- Assistant Dist. Atty. Byers
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe three films of the "Fast Series" were produced by Metro because exhibitors were clamoring for more movies from the Thin Man Series. The "Fast" films were intended to fill that gap.
- GoofsThere's a film editing error when Joel (Melvyn Douglas) wakes tied up after being kidnapped, and says, "Oh, what happened to my head?" Terison (Nat Pendleton) is playing cards. He stops playing, looks up and starts to answer. There's a cut and Pendleton stops playing (again), looks up, and answers.
- Quotes
Lt. James Flanner: [to Joel] Langner tells me that you've worked on some cases of stolen books... that you've helped the insurance companies quite a bit.
Steve Langner: Any favors he does we pay him for. There's not an altruistic bone in his body.
Garda Sloane: Anything you want to know about my husband's bones, Lieutenant, you can ask me.
- ConnectionsFollowed by Fast and Loose (1939)
The plot involves a rival book seller (George Zucco) who has reported some valuable books stolen. Something is fishy .did he steal his own books and then frame his daughter's hot-tempered fiancé, who is in jail for the crime? Zucco is in cahoots with a counterfeiter who produces rare editions, and employs a clever secretary (the excellent Claire Dodd) who wears a mink coat that ought to be out of her price range .
Anyway, it's not exactly a surprise when the shady Zucco is found murdered. There are multiple suspects, and Douglas sums up the general feeling when he tells the investigating police detective, "Well, if you're looking for a statement from me, I am not bogged down with grief."
It's a very fast-paced picture. In one sequence, Douglas is kidnapped, tied up in a hideout, and escapes while Rice gets herself captured and the cops show up to the rescue—all in a matter of a couple of minutes.
Witty dialog and the very attractive cast pleasantly overshadow the plot, which is rather complex but—in a movie like this—not all that important anyway.
- csteidler
- Dec 11, 2014
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Rare Book Murder
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 15 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1