The Mad Miss Manton

Barbara Stanwyck in another "I saw the body until it disappeared" kind of farce, giving the audience a good time as she tangles with unbelieving police inspector (Sam Levene) and a newspaper reporter looking for a good story (Henry Fonda).

The supporting cast includes Hattie McDaniel and Penny Singleton but it's Stanwyck's performance that makes this one shine. Henry Fonda plays another variation on his mild-mannered dunce but it's Stanwyck who keeps the dialogue snappy and the events somewhat believable.

It's a wacky blend of comedy and mystery with a denouement that is less than satisfying as none of the supporting characters are more than cardboard stereotypes. Passes the time pleasantly enough, but don't expect anything great.

Stanwyck gets the glamour treatment and looks her best in the madcap title role.

Barbara Stanwyck seemed incapable of giving a bad performance, even when the film was not good (and some of her films are not that) and regardless of the quality of what she was given. Am not as in love with Henry Fonda, but he did give fine performances and that is including his performance in another collaboration with him and Stanwyck 'The Lady Eve' (a classic and a much better film). Hattie McDaniel was always a scene stealer.

'The Mad Miss Manton' to me was very entertaining, has a lot more good with it than bad and does nothing to waste its fine cast or the talent involved. It is not great, would put it more in the pretty good category myself and there are a few quite big flaws all story-related, so it is not hard to see why as to why some may not be totally enamoured by it. Those that love Stanwyck, Fonda or both will be glad to see that they are well served and that in the right mind-set there should be a lot to enjoy.

In terms of the story, 'The Mad Miss Manton' is pretty slight and formulaic. A lot more could have done with the mystery aspect of the plot, it tended to lack suspense and surprises and it gets convoluted towards the end.

Also felt that the romance was introduced too out of the blue and didn't have enough time to develop, so it feels too hasty. Not through any fault of Stanwyck and Fonda, but more the writing.

However, Stanwyck is in more light-hearted form, compared to her more dramatic roles that she did at this point of her career, and she is a delight wih the right lightness of touch while giving steel at the same time. Fonda is more subdued but does mild mannered amiably and he has good timing. He and Stanwyck sparkled more in 'The Lady Eve', but they do work together very well here. Sam Levane is amusing, even if he is playing an incompetent character, but the best supporting performance belongs to McDaniel, bringing plenty of sparkling sass to hilarious effect.

Even if 'The Mad Miss Manton' may not be a lavish looking film as such, it is well photographed and Stanwyck looks great. The film is efficiently directed and the music fits nicely mood-wise. The pace is crisp throughout and the script is deliciously witty. The story is far from perfect, but is still lots of fun and charming. If the mystery aspect was more up to scratch it would have made even more impact.

Overall, pretty good if not great. 7/10

Barbara Stanwyck was 31 years old playing opposite stone-faced 33 year old Henry Fonda in this comedy love story/murder mystery, and if you want to see how Barbara steals every scene, this is a good one to watch. This movie was selected by TCM as one of the films to highlight for their series "Black Images in Hollywood" due to the presence of Hattie McDaniel just prior to her Oscar-winning performance the next year in "Gone With the Wind." Hattie plays a sassy-talking maid for delicious comic relief. But it's a small role for Hattie and the main focus is on the delightful Barbara. There is an interesting scene at the end of the movie which foretells the use of S.W.A.T. teams today in both the cinema and on the streets. All in all, this is a pleasant movie to while away an afternoon with a friend, and who knows, you may even want to re-visit it again in a few years.

The stars of this film were paired twice before striking gold in Preston Sturges' The Lady Eve, appearing in a rather humorless comedy called You Belong To Me and two years prior in Mad Miss Manton. MMM was a combination of murder mystery and madcap heiress nonsense with aspects of screwball comedy before it had been defined as such. Stanwyck had been nominated for an Oscar in Stella Dallas the year before, and was given this role to add some glamour, as recent roles in Internes Can't Take Money(the first Dr.Kildare) and the fluffy Breakfast for Two were A list fillers. Stanwyck was just a film away from better vehicles as Golden Boy, Union Pacific, Remember the Night, Lady Eve, Ball of Fire, etc.(she survives earlier films by committing to realism, making pap pictures better than they deserved, and was Frank Capra's favorite actress). Fonda, on the other hand, had just made waves in Jezebel, with Young Mr. Lincoln, Jesse James and Grapes of Wrath ahead in the next few years. So you have two great, popular actors, thrown into a contrived script about Stanwyck as the heiress who sees someone slipping away from a murder scene, only to have the body missing when she calls the police. Fonda is the newspaper hack who slams her in the papers and of course, when they meet, there's supposed to be fireworks. The stars try, but there's really nothing for them to play on. It would take script writers a few more years to learn you shouldn't make Hank Fonda speak quickly and Stanwyck, much as I love her, never really does manage the glamour. She and her friends tend to play a brainless and unchallenged group, excited to solve the murder mystery as a relief from the boredom of wealth and society and a chance to "prove" themselves. Of course, it's not as bad as I write - it's entertaining fluff with hints of each stars' future in several scenes. This is the film where Hattie McDaniel gets to throw a vase of water in Fonda's face, and there's some genuine suspense when Stany sits down with the unbalanced murderer for the denouement. However, Double Indemnity was years away and as this was supposed to be a comedy, Hollywood rules with a happy ending. It was never meant to be social commentary and as such, is an enjoyable watch for three to three and a half stars out of five. However, for both performers at their peak and a truly magnificent supporting cast, see the 5 star THE LADY EVE, a screwball classic.-MDMPHD:

Several factors need to be in place for you to enjoy The Mad Miss Manton. First, it helps to like Barbara Stanwyck. I love her! Second, it helps to like Henry Fonda. He's great! Third, it helps to like Hattie Mc Daniel. Not only do I, but she's quite hilarious! Next, Miss Manton (Stanwyck) is constantly surrounded by her group of elitist girlfriends. If it had just been Miss Manton, then it would have been mighty scary vs. mysterious. Miss Manton's flighty friends in their 40's gowns with their big 40's furs and their typical 40's hairstyles keep this film light and fluffy. Fluffy due to their big fluffy furs:) Also, it helps to enjoy screwball comedies. This one is screwball to the max. It's not a perfect screwball. It's not award worthy. It is a fun film with a great cast. It's also fun to mix some mystery into the mix. Finally, it's just pure entertainment. It may be a bit dated now, and many great films have come after it. However, if you put yourself back in time, you might imagine the abundance of entertainment you'd get from a dime or a quarter at the movies. Sometimes perspective helps make a movie better. I doubt anyone making it at the time thought people would still be watching it in the next century. With those factors in mind, I appreciate the entertainment value from this obscure comedy with a delightful cast.