Private Detective 62

Despite the title, this is not a genre movie. There are elements of a whodunit, straight melodrama, and businessman shenanigans, but the results don't easily fall into any category. What appeal the movie does have comes, in my view, from Powell and some good plot twists.

So how is Don Free (Powell) going to make a living now that he's been cashiered from the diplomatic service. After all, it is 1933 and jobs of any kind are hard to come by. Some of the movie's best parts manage to convey this sense of an economically depressed time. Anyhow, for Don, there's always a need for private detectives since there's always a need to get the goods on somebody or something. So he fast- talks his way into an agency partnership with an unscrupulous associate, and that's when the trouble begins.

Powell's his usual slick self, but without an opportunity for his amusing Thin Man tongue-in- cheek. Shot in just 21 days, the erratic script sometimes shows (follow Janet's path, if you can). Nonetheless, ace studio director Mike Curtiz blends tricky plot elements in smooth fashion so that it's hard to notice. Note, however, the fleeting reference to "snow" (heroin) and "hophead". This is a pre-Code production, while such references to hard drugs would disappear from mainstream movies for several decades. Speaking of hopheads, I'm still wondering if James Bell's Whitey is supposed to be a dash of comic relief or suffering ill effects of his addiction. Either way, it's the movie's only actor's blemish, at least in my opinion. No, the movie's nothing special, except for the compelling Powell who would soon get to show his full range of talents in the delicious Thin Man series.

Donald Free (William Powell) gets arrested for stealing French government papers and deported back to America. The French tries to detain him again but he manages to escape. He has nothing left in the world. He partners up with foolish, corrupt private detective Dan Hogan and they start working for gangster Tony Bandor. Bandor's gambling den keeps losing to society lady Janet Reynolds (Margaret Lindsay) and it's up to $45k. Hogan happens to be half-partner with Bandor in gambling. Hogan assigns Free to get material on Reynolds without telling him the truth.

This is a fine William Powell flick. He's a dashing leading man for this type of film. I don't really get the French start to the movie. I don't think it adds anything great. If they're adding a whole prequel to the story, they should make it more exciting. Margaret Lindsay is perfectly nice but she's no Myrna Loy. This is all fine but it doesn't reaches for the next level.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one which was even better due to the stellar presence of William Powell. Apart from the fact that he adds immeasurably to any film he's in, this one has an especially good plot with no lulls in the narrative. Here he is part con man, part ladies man and part quick-witted private eye., just the type of part Powell excels in.

The film sports an excellent director in Michael Curtiz (10 years before "Casablanca"), who gets a lot of mileage out of a supporting cast of proven Hollywood veterans. The script is first class and the screenplay has enough twists and surprises to satisfy even the most jaded movie-goer. I also added an extra star for William Powell's presence because he never disappoints.

8/10 - the website no longer prints my start rating.

A good tight little film. The plot is obvious and creaky but William Powell is as stylish and suave, something he was to perfect later in the thin man series. The direction by Curtiz is well above average for the time ..... some beautiful angle shots, a nice fluid camera and I love the stair bit at the end .... in other words it is not as "stage bound" as a lot of other films from the time. The female lead, Margaret Lindsay,does a good job of looking pretty, and the great character actor Charles Lane turns up yet again. Its only about 67 minutes long and its a hoot .... pity the story isn't up to scratch (although they managed to sneak in a character called Whitey who is a hop head and at one stage is told to lay off the "snow") and it starts off slow otherwise it would be a mini classic ( like Powell's other film of about the same time "Jewell Robbery")

William Powell is Don Free; on some secret mission. But we're not told just what. He teams up with a private eye, for some reason. Not much happens until about 45 minutes in. Then the action starts. He, his partner, and a mobster team up to set up a wealthy wife from new york, but of course, the plan goes off the rails. The wrong people end up dead. Co-stars Margaret Lindsay, Arthur Hohl, Ruth Donnelly. This was clearly JUST before the film code was really being enforced, as one character even says "be sure you get her into bed!" and "lay off that snow 'til this gets cold!". These never would have been allowed when they re-enforced the decency code. It's good, once it gets going. Directed by Michael Curtiz. This came out the same year as Kennel Murder Case... which also starred Powell, and also was directed by Curtiz.