Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter

When a ranchowner's body is found buried on his own land, it's up to Nancy Drew to solve another murder in NANCY DREW--TROUBLE SHOOTER. And once again, BONITA GRANVILLE decides that she and FRANKIE THOMAS must go about solving the crime despite the warnings of her father (JOHN LITEL) to stay away from the case.

Nancy's other concern is that her father is being too chummy with a woman he seems to be attracted to. But mostly, she's bubbling with energy as she and Frankie Thomas set out on another adventure while racing around the countryside in her roadster. A tropical flower and a greenhouse figure importantly in the plot.

So does a crop duster airplane. The film is an improvement over the first two entries as far as production values go. The B&W photography is crisp and the sets look as if more money was spent on them. The crop duster sequence is milked for all it's worth and ends the film with a wallop of a ride.

Summing up: Better than average entry in the series.

Frankie Thomas nearly steals the show from right under Bonita Granville in "Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter," starring Granville as Drew, Thomas as boyfriend Ted Nickerson and John Litel as Carson Drew, Nancy's dad. As has been mentioned, the Nancy in the books was much more serious and sheer perfection as she had "luncheon" with her friends George and Bess, drove around in her roadster without crashing into anything, and solved mysteries. Granville is a very bouncy, reckless driving Nancy who becomes jealous in this entry into the series when dad gets a girlfriend.

In this film, Nancy and her dad leave the city to help a friend beat a murder charge. Turns out that Ted and his family are vacationing in the same area, and Nancy drags him around as she investigates. Thomas is hilarious, especially when he and Nancy are abandoned in a crop duster mid-air.

The only drawback to this delightful movie is Willie Best's unfortunate stereotypical characterization of Apollo. Though Best is very good, it's uncomfortable to watch him. Otherwise, I like this one the best of the "Nancy Drew" series.

Nancy Drew--Trouble Shooter (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Third film in Warner's teenage detective series has Bonita Granville returning as Nancy Drew. This time out she's trying to save her uncle farmer whose been accused of killing a man. This is probably my favorite of the first three films because it takes on a lot more than just the actual mystery behind the killing. There's an entire subplot where Nancy gets jealous that her father is dating a woman and you'd expect something like this to come off silly but it actually works pretty well. There are plenty of laughs as well especially one sequence where Nancy tries to cook dinner. The mystery in the film doesn't actually get too much attention but it leads to a nice, if unbelievable, ending.

Of the four classic Nancy Drew films Warner Bros. released from 1938-1939, NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER is perhaps the most imaginative, humorous, creepy and expensively produced of them all. Moving the locale from the Drews' home in River City to the nearby farm resort Sylvan Lake, where Nancy's lawyer father Carson is summoned to prove a relative not guilty of a murder, the breath of rural country air enlivens everyone involved. The widowed Mr. Drew's attraction to a lovely neighbor (Charlotte Wynters) sets Nancy's jealousy in full force, making her relationship with her reluctant (though none-the-less-enchanted) boyfriend Ted, played to droll perfection by the engaging Frankie Thomas, all the more delightful--and in some sequences downright romantic. Aside from the beautifully photographed location backgrounds, the deliciously intricate plot (a transplanted tropical flower, the torching of the local nursery, and farmhand Willie Best's dithering about seeing two "ghosts" on the night of the murder) provides the necessary clues for Nancy and Ted to piece together the identity of the murderer--and enriches their relationship at the same time. Of the four Nancy Drew films, this third entry shines with its subtle, underlying portrayals of the love and dependence that draw the principal characters together--along with good-natured humor (for once, Willie Best is not denigrated by the time's racial stereotypes--he's treated as an affectionate equal by the other characters--and seems to be having a ball poking fun at the "chicken-stealing darkies" he was called to portray in that era of moviemaking). Bonita Granville is as blonde, buoyant, perky and loving a teenager as has ever been presented in movies of any era. And the underrated Frankie Thomas is her equal as the sweetest, bravest, most caring fellow a teenaged girl could ever wish for. The witty, intelligent depiction of their relationship--and unacknowledged love for each other--makes NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER perhaps one of the most captivating portrayals of friendship and family life ever put on screen, with equal praise for John Litel (as Nancy's all-too-understanding father)and the warm and enchanting Ms. Wynters. And all in the guise of a suspense-filled murder mystery (incidentally, the use of a homicidal crop-dusting plane precedes Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" by a good 20 years!). In short, NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER is as unpretentious, disarming and downright lovable an entertainment to come out of Hollywood during its Golden Age. Turner Classic Movies has apparently gotten the message, and the quartet of Nancy Drew movies (after too long a time languishing in obscurity) are now being shown on a fairly regular basis. Don't miss any of them, but put NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER at the top of your list. Dated (as other IMDB comments claim)? Perhaps, and more's the pity. A rare and timeless treat? Absolutely!

By far, this was one of the better Nancy Drew's, with Ms. Granville. When her Uncle Matt is accused of murder, the best lawyer Carson must take the case, and naturally Nancy goes with him.

Since Carson is not a townie, he comes in under scrutiny but gets Matt out of prison for a little while. During this time, he meets a beautiful woman who catches his fancy, much to Nancy's dismay. Since Ted is also in town, she enlists him to dissuade her father. Naturally Ted falls for the loveliness of the woman and Nancy's troubles amount.

The whole resolution was done masterfully. It showed a maturation of Nancy and dealing with another woman in Carson's life.

The mystery of the killer was rather simple, but interesting with Ted along. Frankie and Bonita were great with each other. I wish they had done more together.

A great movie to watch - so pop your corn, grab a soda and don;t miss a minute of this very cute endeavor of a movie.