Undercover Maisie

Having got hold of the complete collection (volume 1 and 2), I found the swansong of the series is undoubtedly the worst. All others, even thought technically B movie, were almost as entertaining as any other. But this one - well stinks. And for no error of Ms Sothern or even the future first James Bond (Barry Nelson). It was not even the basic plot - but the error lay in extremely amateur conceptualization / direction. With that spoiled, it would be almost impossible for any one to overcome - and even Ms Sothern couldn't really make it watchable since at every drop of hat, incongruities cropped up.

In fact the director lost the plot and his sense, immediately after Maisie was assigned to the case, much before she bungled it. The way she inveigled into Amor's den, her behavior there - a conman of that caliber should have immediately sensed rat. And the way the rat was identified was even more ridiculous - from the embroidered name on under-cloth ? That name was itself nom-de-plume of Maisie- and on the same token, it could have been assumed to be so (after all she told them that she had come to a fortune through the will of some deceased person, and isn't a person with silver spoon birth). With the judo training, how was she so easily overpowered at the hotel? She didn't even struggle, and no guns were pointed at her. In fact she could even had her presence known, even though tied up. She was able to make some sound, except at the time when the audience could hear. It all became a pure mess, so much so that the coefficient of enjoyment that was in half of it was totally negated and more. Verdict ? Even if it is procured as a part of the series, don't watch.

The Maisie series came to an end with Undercover Maisie and strictly on a minor key. In this last film, Ann Sothern joins the police force and without proper training gets into a dangerous situation.

Barry Nelson who plays her immediate supervisor figures that Sothern being from Brooklyn has street smarts and can deal with trying to catch some con artists so she's assigned to the Bunco Squad.

Here's where this picture has a problem. For all the previous films Maisie is quite the shrewd woman. But even the smartest of us need training and she would never be put in the situation she was in for this film.

In fact the gang which consists of Leon Ames, Clinton Sundberg and Gloria Holden make quite a chump of her. But that's all Sothern needs, she's going to catch these people if it's the last thing she ever does. And it nearly is.

Far from the best of this series.

In all her Maisie films, Maisie Ravier ends up trying some new career and meets and falls in love....and the viewer is left assuming she'll marry finally and settle down with him. But, when the next film came out, any mention of the old boyfriend and career is gone...and she's on to new career and romantic adventures. This final Maisie film starring Ann Southern is no different...and the viewer can only hope that FINALLY Maisie got her happily ever after.

Early in the story, Maisie has hitched a ride with a nice old woman...or so she thinks. But the old lady turns out to be a crook and robs her. When Maisie reports this to the police, the Lieutenant (Barry Nelson) is impressed with her ability to recall the woman, her car and other details. So, he has an idea....to hire Maisie and get her to join his Bunco unit. During the course of this, Maisie is wooed by both the Lieutenant and another officer named Chip.

Her first assignment involves a fake psychic. Little does she know that he has other criminal enterprises AND his partners are rather bloodthirsty and want to kill her when they discover Maisie is a cop! Can help come in time and will they recognize the clues Maisie's left along the way?

Entertaining but far from perfect. The biggest thing against the film is modern sensibilities which make the cops look like first class sexual harassers! Still worth seeing and fun.

Final entry in the Maisie series is an inconsequential affair where our gal manages to find herself in a peck of trouble when she joins the police force.

As always the main reason to watch these films is the bright and bubbly Ann Sothern and as usual she's far better than the material handed her. The plot is a standard issue flimflam about phony spiritualists bilking unsuspecting dupes out of their dollars. You can see the ending coming from a mile away but the supporting cast contains several excellent actors including Leon Ames and Gloria Holden. Ann's leading men in these are usually competent but not terribly charismatic actors and Barry Nelson is no exception. He gets the job done although he and Ann share little chemistry.

Not a terrible way to end Maisie's journey but hardly the best place to see her. None are award winners but the original Maisie, Swing Shift Maisie and Maisie Was a Lady are the serial's best.

Sassy Maisie Ravier (Ann Sothern) is on her way from LA to NYC for a job. She has trouble and an old lady helps her out. The old lady is driving her husband's car to New York and offers her a ride. It turns out to be a con when the old lady drives away with her suitcases and valuables. While reporting to the LAPD, Lt. Paul Scott (Barry Nelson) sees her as a great potential undercover agent. She quickly rushes through the police academy before being sent into the criminal world.

The police academy is a silly concept but it is silly fun. It actually reminds me of Police Academy. The story isn't that different. It would make more sense if she caught the old lady in the act and arrested her. In that way, Scott would be doubly impressed with her abilities. The police academy is fun. The undercover part is less fun. Maybe there is a way to make that part sillier. This is the last Maisie.