Dangerous Blondes (1943)

"Dangerous Blondes"

(Columbia)         Hollywood, Dec. 19

BASED on a story with punch and dialogue that can and does sparkle in the right places, "Dangerous Blondes" presents a combination of sophisticated comedy, mystery, drama and characterization that makes the piece one to be reckoned with in the category of "The Thin Man" films.

Directed by Leigh Jason for Producer Sam Bischoff from a story by Kelly Roos, the picture starts out with suspense in the first few frames and builds it up in every inch of footage from there on out.

Allyn Joslyn and Evely Keyes do a second William Powell-and-Myrna Loy job as the detective story writer and his beautiful blonde wife, whose concern for his safety is matched only by her curiosity as they skip through scenes of gay domesticity tinged with touches of wifely jealousy, to solve a triple murder.

Anita Louise seeks their help when she becomes suspicious of happenings at the photographic agency where she works, the head of which she is in love with despite the fact he is married to the niece of socially prominent, wealthy Mrs. Fleming. The script puts Joslyn and Miss Keyes on the scene when Mrs. Fleming is murdered, but he manages to turn the tables on Inspector Frank Craven, uncovering the murderer through a bluff. Joslyn is saved from becoming a victim himself, and so is a model and Mrs. Fleming's niece, by timely arrival of the detectives trailing him.

In strong supporting roles are Edmund Lowe, Miss Louise, Craven, Ann Savage, Michael Duane and William Demarest.

Running time, 80 minutes. "G." general classification
JACK CARTWRIGHT

--Motion Picture Daily, December 20, 1943, p. 6

Dangerous Blondes
(Columbia, 1942-1943)
Murder for Fun

NaNaccomplish the desired result. With story material supplied by Kelley Roos, director Leigh Jason has brought to the screen a suave, sophisticated and finished comedy with elements of mystery.

llyn Joslyn is not a private detective, but a fiction writer of mystery stories. He is teamed with Evelyn Keyes, a wife whose concern for her husband's safety is in proportion to her curiosity, and the couple romp through scenes in a gay, domestic manner to solve a trio of murders.

The first indication of trouble arises when Anita Louise seeks help from Miss Keyes after her suspicions have been aroused by odd happenings at the photographic studio of her employer, Edmund Lowe. It puts Joslyn and his wife on the scene as the murder of Mrs. Isabelle Fleming, wealthy society matron, is committed. As a favor to Lowe, she had consented to pose in order that he might obtain an important client.

Joslyn makes a monkey out of Inspector Frank Craven by an investigation of his own, uncovering loopholes in the inspector's case, and bluffing to apprehend the real murderer.

Relatively unimportant is the murder of a professional model and of Loew's wife, who, it seemed, knew something. Instead of two murders being better than one, three were deemed better than two. Producer Sam Bischoff, in coupling Joslyn and Miss Keyes, may have hit upon a combination which will sell exhibitors and audiences alike.

Seen at the Fox theatre in Brooklyn, where the picture played the top half of a double bill. Reviewer's Rating: Good. -- LEW BARASCH.

Release date, September 23, 1943. Running time, 80 min. PCA No. 9516. General audience classification.

John Hubbard, Anita Louise, Frank Craven, Ann Savage, Michael Duane, William Demarest.

-- Motion Picture Herald, October 23, 1943

More Information on this Film

Books

None