Miss Pinkerton

This is an early entry in the comic/romantic mystery genre. Joan Blondell is bemoaning the boring existence of a hospital nurse when wham! She is commandeered by detective George Brent to help solve a murder case. It is he who, at her request gives her a title. The title is Miss Pinkerton.

It's an old mansion with creepy servants and the whole deal. A young man has died. Suicide, it's thought; but we know better. The plot is a trifle complicated but not too far-fetched. And Blondell is as (almost) always a real joy.

Brent is in it blessedly little and the supporting players all do what the need to do.

Joan Blondell is nicknamed "Miss Pinkerton" in this 1932 film also starring George Brent and Ruth Hall. She's nicknamed Miss Pinkerton by Brent when she attempts to help solve a murder. She's actually Nurse Adams, bored with her hospital job. She's offered a chance to take care of an elderly lady who has gone into shock after finding someone dead in her house from an apparent suicide. Nurse Adams is supposed to keep an eye on things. She's thrilled.

Miss Pinkerton doesn't believe the suicide - she thinks it was murder. The house gives her plenty of ammunition to believe it. It's an old, dark with a mean-looking maid, a scary butler, the frightened patient, and the doctor who doesn't seem too stable either.

A young girl shows up (Hall). She was married to the murder victim but in love with someone else. This someone is Elliot (Donald Dillaway) who has been caught sneaking around the house. There is also a stenographer (Mary Doran). Then there is a second murder.

George Brent is the investigating detective, and he's young and unmustached here. Normally he played opposite a major leading lady. He's charming here.

Fast-moving mystery with the delightful Blondell keeping things lively. Some interesting camera work, including a gigantic shadow of a man over the house. Lots of screaming, too, as befits this kind of movie.

As far as I know, "Miss Pinkerton" is the only old-dark-house whodunit that Joan Blondell ever made (though she has played the amateur detective, as she does here, several times) (and maybe you could count "Topper Returns"). She's a joy, as always. The film employs nearly all the genre cliches (only a thunderstorm is missing), and has so many sinister characters that, as Blondell herself says to inspector George Brent, "You have arrested everyone in this cast except me!". There is so much plot to be covered in 65 minutes that you cannot afford not to pay attention or you'll be lost. If they had made another "Miss Pinkerton" film with the team of Blondell and Brent, I would watch it. **1/2 out of 4.

Love mystery. Love thriller, though this is more of a mystery with splashes of comedy. Also appreciate a lot of comedy, though some styles are more to my taste than others it has to be admitted. It is always interesting when they are combined together and a lot of films do it very well indeed. Have loved a lot the work of Joan Blondell, here in a role she played very well, and Lloyd Bacon (best known for the film that transformed the musical genre '42nd Street') had a lot of talent. George Brent was more hit and miss for me.

'Miss Pinkerton' was from personal opinion one of those above average but not particularly mind-blowing kind of films, not too bad a position to be in but there was potential for it to have been much better. A lot of good things, wonderful in the case of Blondell, the production values and Bacon's direction. But also some big drawbacks, such as the over-stuffed and over-complicated plotting and lack of chemistry between Blondell and Brent (who is not at his best here in 'Miss Pinkerton').

Will start with what was good. 'Miss Pinkerton' looks great. Especially the inventive camera angles and the truly haunting use of shadow. Blondell also wears her beautiful costumes well. Bacon's direction at its best is quite masterly, what he does with the visuals is extraordinary, the film isn't dull and he does allow for some genuinely suspenseful moments. The type of role Blondell has here really suits her and she is immensely engaging in it, playing the part with keen humour, intensity, charm and easy charisma.

John Wray and Elizabeth Patterson have fun too in their roles, Bacon's direction also shines in his direction of Patterson. The script is witty and intriguing and enough of the story compels and never feels too obvious.

Did feel though that the story was problematic though. With such a lot going in a film with a quite short length, 'Miss Pinkerton' for my tastes did feel over-stuffed and with not a lot of breathing space it felt rushed and more complicated than it needed to be. The ending is abrupt and convoluted, even if it was also surprising.

Brent also felt rather dull in his not particularly meaty part and some witty banter aside his chemistry with Blondell never fully fleshes out.

Overall, above average but not great. 6/10

This is a typical "old house" film.....a black-clad figure that throws gigantic shadows on the walls, a secret entrance, all the characters "creeping around", a creepy butler, and all the rest!

It's interesting that they use some of the same sets for that other fantastic "old house" film, Dr. X. (Most notably, the upstairs hall & the kitchen).

Some people would say this film is "slow moving", but that is done deliberately to increase the creepy "something-is-about- to-happen" feeling.

As an aside, it's remarkable that the actress who plays the sick old lady looks really OLD in this film, but in Bob Hope's "Cat & the Canary" (filmed almost 10 years later, as the Aunt) looks MUCH younger! She had one heck of a make-up job in THIS film!

If you love "old house" films, don't miss it!