La muerte va de viaje

James Whitmore and Marjorie Main made an interesting pair of sleuths of convenience as Whitmore an ambulance chasing criminal attorney and Main a radio contest winner wind up as allies on a train from Chicago to New York chasing a deadbeat client who owes Whitmore his fee.

The defendant is an embezzler and he's also thought to have the loot with him. Main and Whitmore find him though, very dead in Whitmore's compartment. Now the task is to find his murderer before the deceased is found.

Such various and sundry folk as an ex-partner Don Porter, an ex-wife Ann Dvorak, a secretary Phyllis Kirk are also on the train and a Chicago PD detective Fred Clark with his patented slow burn, the best this side Edgar Kennedy. And other passengers any one of whom could have been an unknown associate.

Main was at her raucous best and Whitmore seems to model his character on some of Pat O'Brien's fast talking types from the 30s. In fact O'Brien would have been good casting next to Main.

From MGM's B picture unit this was enjoyable mand unpretentious comic film.

Thanks to the recommendation of critic/friend I caught this obscure gem on Showtime in the mid-1980s and have cherished my tape ever since. Boisterous Marjorie Main and blustery James Whitmore are as inspired a detective-team mismatch ever to grace the screen. Set in a cross-country sleeping-car train ride, "Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone" is blessed with expert direction, a crackling script (based on a story by the wondrous Craig Rice, whose novel "Home Sweet Homicide" was the basis of another classic comedy/thriller), MGM's high-gloss production values, and, besides the endearing leads, a first-rate supporting cast (the luminous Ann Dvorak, lovely Phyllis Kirk, etc.) A swift, alternately hilarious and genuinely suspenseful 69 minutes, this forgotten treasure was intended to be the first of a series. A pity that no sequels were ever made. But TCM occasionally shows this gem, and don't miss it. And, amidst the laughter and chills, just try and guess whodunnit!

If you can't appreciate the quirky offbeat humor of the late 1940's-1950's then you will not be watching this but if you are looking for a fun off beat escape this will have you longing for some Ma and Pa Kettle!!

From start to finish Whitaker's role is of an obnoxious attorney whose "malpractice" produces an onscreen request for disbarment even before we meet his character.

This storyline is totally unbelievable but isn't that what makes comedies the funniest? There's a fun assortment of real "characters" whose connection with the main characters leads to mayhem and more.

There are mysteries to be solved and relationships to figure out with laughs throughout.

It was well worth the time .. pure 50's fun that I bet my parents totally enjoyed back in the day.

Mrs. Hattie O'Malley (Marjorie Main) wins a radio contest for $50k and a trip to New York City. On the way there, she meets cash-strapped Chicago lawyer John J. Malone (James Whitmore). His client Steve Kepplar has just been released from prison and still owes him $10k. Kepplar supposedly stole $100k and the money is still missing. Everybody is looking for him or most specifically, for the money.

I would want Hattie and John to team up sooner and more consistently. It does turn into a fun screwball Weekend at Bernie situation. It's silly although it could get even more ridiculous. It's a solid duo.

Marjorie Main and James Whitmore are Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone in this delightful 1950 comedy that was probably a second feature. I wish some main features were as good.

Let me get this out of the way first. George Carlin, before he became what he was most known for - political comedy, black comedy, etc. - was just a regular comic. He once referred to Marjorie Main as "that saucy little Italian tart." I can't hear her name or see her without remembering that.

Onto our story. Mrs. O'Malley lives in a Podunk town and wins $50,000 on a radio show. She has to take a train to New York in order to pick up her prize. Meanwhile, a womanizing, money-hungry attorney, Malone, is after a paroled embezzler who owes him $10,000. The man, Kepplar, was in prison for a robbery, but the money was never found. Malone is sure Kepplar has the money on him.

Kepplar jumps parole by boarding the same train on which Mrs. O'Malley is traveling. Malone jumps on as well, in hot pursuit. He's not alone in searching for Kepplar. It's a merry band: his ex-wife (Ann Dvorak) and a police inspector Tim Marino (Fred Clark).

Kepplar is murdered, and the murderer is trying to set Malone up to take the fall. With the help of Mrs. O'Malley in the berth next to his, the two of them start moving Kepplar around, all along trying to catch the killer.

Whitmore and Main are fabulous together, and Whitmore's comic timing is excellent. The dialogue is snappy and funny, and the slapstick is great. Fred Clark's serious and frustrated demeanor makes his scenes even funnier.

Phyllis Kirk is Malone's pretty secretary. Ann Dvorak, as Kepplar's ex-wife, is marvelous in a light role. This is a late-ish part for her she was most prolific in the '30s and '40s. It's a shame she didn't stay in films, but she would retire the next year.

This should have been followed up with more films featuring O'Malley and Malone. A shame it didn't.

If you spot this on TCM, don't miss it.