Woman Wanted

"Woman Wanted" is a title that sounds like a wanted ad, as opposed to "Wanted Woman", which would imply a fugitive, which is what Ann (Maureen O'Sullivan) is when she meets Tony (Joel McCrea). But it's a title that fits this fun romp.

The film is a drama about the couple's attempts to prove Ann's innocence and to escape some dangerous thugs. But the tone is often light, primarily because of Joel McCrea. That's something he does well. Tony's relationship with his personal butler, Peedles (Robert Greig)-- filled with witty banter-- also adds levity.

"Woman Wanted" is as much about the growing trust between Ann and Tony as it is about legal matters. This is no "Maltese Falcon". Enjoy it for what it is and for the two stars, who always deliver.

This 1935 movie is similar to the later television series and the hit movie "The Fugitive." In this one a female rather than a male is found guilty of a murder she did not commit. Rather than an unplanned train derailment, a planned car wreck sets Ann Gray free. Ann Gray is played by the seductive Maureen O'Sullivan, Tarzan's Jane and Mia Farrow's mother, in a light-hearted manner much in the same way she played Jane. The wreck was orchestrated by mobster Smiley Gordon who is the real killer. The much underrated actor Louis Calhern portrays Smiley with skill and daring. Tony Baxter, Joel McCrae when he was still playing comedic romantic leads, at first unwittingly aids Ann in her escape from so-called justice and hides her away in his apartment. There is a hilarious scene at this point in the film when Tony's on-again off-again fiancée unexpectedly shows up and he has to hide Ann not only from the police but also from his girlfriend. Enter Peedles, Tony's Butler (Robert Greig), who has a delicious time keeping the two separated so the girlfriend Betty Randolph (Adrienne Ames) won't discover the other woman. The law then shows up complicating Peedles' job even more. Now he has to hide both women from the long arm of the law. The wonderful Edgar Kennedy as bumbling House Detective Sweeney is before the camera much too briefly but does get a chance to create a little mayhem for everyone concerned.

Another fun scene takes place in a closed diner where the now two fugitives, Ann and Tony, take shelter following a chase by mobsters during a thunder storm. Ann finds some apple jack and proceeds to get looped. Tony pretends to be the cook when the gangsters arrive and serves them hamburgers that he and Ann intended to eat. The local constable shows up after the hoods leave. He gets pie-eyed too.

This is one of those neat little films where loose ends get tied much too soon making for a fairly abrupt ending, as if the writers ran out of ideas and decided to wrap things up quickly. Still a very watchable comedy drama with some great acting thrown in to make it even more entertaining.

Maureen O'Sullivan is "Woman Wanted" in this 1935 film starring Joel McCrea, Lewis Stone, Louis Calhern, Robert Greig, and Adrienne Ames. O'Sullivan as Ann is found guilty of murder, but en route to the prison, a car accident gives her a chance to escape. She jumps into the nearest car, being driven by Tony Baxter (Joel McCrea), an attorney with an eye for the ladies. A group of mobsters, led by Louis Calhern, know she didn't do it, but they also think she knows where $250,000 in bonds are, so they are after her as well as the police.

"Woman Wanted" comes off as a light film because of the interjected comedy supplied by Robert Grieg, who plays Tony's butler, a sweet scene in an empty diner between Tony and Ann, and Tony's efforts to hide Ann from his fiancée Betty (Ames). It's a pleasant enough film because of the cast, but there really isn't anything special about the plot.

The revelation here is the beautiful Ames. I've seen untold thousands of films, not just ones I've reviewed on IMDb, and this was the first time I'd seen her. Her beauty was very much of the young Crawford or Loretta Young, and she was a good actress. Unfortunately she died when she was 39, having left films 7 years earlier to become a commentator and devote herself to bond rallies and war charities. Looking around the Internet, there are certainly people who appreciate her great beauty and sense of style.

You can see O'Sullivan, McCrea and the rest in better films. This is a nice chance to see Adrienne Ames.

Fast-paced, if rather muddled, programmer from MGM. The stars - McCrea & O'Sullivan - prove more likable than the story. Seems O'Sullivan's slated for execution for a murder she didn't commit. However, she's sprung for unknown reasons by a racketeer, and aided in her escape by lawyer McCrea. Together, they thread through a series of escapes from the cops and gangsters. But will she ever be cleared of the murder.

The story's played in fairly light-hearted fashion and is occasionally amusing, especially when the fetching O'Sullivan plays hide-and-seek with McCrea's feisty fiancée (Ames) in his apartment. Also, relative unknown Robert Greig scores humorously as the butler Peebles. Then too, director Seitz manages to helpfully cover up much of the murky narrative with fast pacing. However, it surprises me that ritzy MGM didn't come up with better projection screens for the action shots behind both boats and cars. All in all, the movie fails to rise above programmer status, even though the two leads show how ready they are for bigger and better things.

Ann Gray (Maureen O'Sullivan) maintains that she's innocent of murdering her husband. The jury finds her guilty. In fact, mobsters believe that she is hiding the stolen $250k for her husband and they actually were the ones who killed him. They set up an accident for the transport to prison and she is mistakenly picked up by lawyer Tony Baxter (Joel McCrea).

The best part is the combination of Maureen and Joel. They have a good section in the middle. The movie needs more of their connection. I don't think Betty is necessary but she does provide some good scenes early on. Movies back then is only an hour or so. It's not enough time for a lot of complexity. It probably needs to get rid of Betty so that the leads can do more together. The story needs to get simpler and this should be more straight forward.