Blonde for a Day

Unremarkable Mike Shayne programmer, the sort of assembly line product that kept post-war audiences entertained (1946). Mike (Beaumont) is trying to find who shot his reporter buddy Rourke (Bryar), leading him through a thicket of blondes, a brunette, and an ornery editor (Ferguson). Unfortunately, the handsome Shayne lacks an edge to go along with his impish charm that too often bleeds into a wise-guy manner. As an actor, Beaumont's much better as Beaver Cleaver's dad. Not much suspense builds as the story progresses, nor does the visual style add mood. Rather, the focus is more on personalities than plot. And in that regard, the hefty Kendall's chief inspector appears too dense to be either amusing or convincing. Nonetheless, the two statuesque brunettes, Adams and Hoshelle, are real eye-catchers, at the same time Adams swings a really mean right-cross that's perhaps the movie's high point. Anyway, if you don't require much from amateur detective flicks, it's an easy though forgettable 68-minutes.

It was not uncommon for B-movie detective and crime films to have sequels...and often the sequels starred different actors in the leading roles. A good example is "Too Many Winners"...a Michael Shayne detective mystery. For years, Lloyd Nolan played Shayne but here Hugh Beaumont is in the lead. This isn't too surprising, as Beaumont played in a lot of crime films in the 1940s-50s before gaining greater fame as Ward Clever in "Leave it to Beaver". In all, Nolan made seven (for Twentieth Century-Fox) and Beaumont made five Shayne films (for the tiny studio, PRC). The PRC ones aren't quite as good...though I still enjoy them and find the films far more watchable than most of PRC's output.

Mike Shayne's friend, Tim, is a crusading reporter who has been pushing the police to do their jobs and work harder. Like many such reporters in old films, he's soon attacked and nearly killed...so Shayne investigates. The clues lead to a blonde and a possible blackmailing scheme.

The best thing about this cheap B-movie is Beaumont. His acting and dialog is very enjoyable and a HUGE departure from his nice-guy TV image. This alone carries the film and makes it just a bit better than the average B of the era.

Poverty Row PRC studios took over the Michael Shayne franchise from 20th Century Fox and instead of Lloyd Nolan as Shayne, PRC cast Hugh Beaumont. The future dad of Beaver Cleaver had the same wise guy attitude as Nolan did, but without half the ability to put the character over.

The lack of production values shows in this one really shows as against Nolan's 20th Century Fox Shayne's which were from their B picture unit. Beaumont goes to San Francisco to investigate the shooting and beating of his friend, investigative reporter Paul Bryar by some gangsters who have a nice illegal gambling racket going on in the city by the bay.

But there's another possibility too. Bryar's editor Frank Ferguson is worried that his wife might be stepping out on him with Bryar and he might be the responsible party. It's up to Beaumont to sort out the culpability.

The players do their best, but it's PRC shoddy at its best.

This rare Sam Newfield's film brings nothing to a movie buff's knowledge. Every moviegoer can live without it, but for those who have nothing else to do, those who want to waste time, why not? It is an amusing and not so boring gumshoe plot...If you like Hugh Beaumont, maybe you'll bear it. The copy I purchased was rather good and that helps a lot to appreciate, let's be fair. The directing is also Ok, but Sam Newfield was a prolific director and that means he was a professional, despite the low budgets he had at his disposal. So, I won't say any real harm about this little detective film. It's not too long, anyway.

PRC (Producer Releasing Corp.) Infamously Invited "Nicknames" like..."Pretty Rotten Crap", etc. Because of the Studios Notoriously Low Budgets with "Cut-Corners" Evident Everywhere.

But they Provided Much Needed Work for a Lot of People on Their Way Up or Down the Hollywood-Ladder.

It's the 3rd Time Out for Hugh Beaumont, as Michael Shayne Taking Over the Role from Lloyd Nolan when FOX Produced.

Beaumont would Later become Immortalized in one of the Most Popular TV Sitcoms of the 50's. Playing "Dad Cleaver" in "Leave it to Beaver" (1957- 63).

It's also Worth Noting that He Co-Starred, Along-Side a "BLONDE" Barbara Stanwyck in what is Considered One of the Best Film-Noir..."Double Indemnity" (1944).

It's a Busy, Fast-Moving "Mystery" with an Occasional Norish Look. Most of the Action is Fisticuffs with One-Punch a Surprising "Knock-Out" from an Unconventional Source.

A Good Time-Passer as these Things Go.

Worth a Watch.