Private Detective

Millard Lannon and his wife Mona are battling for the custody of their son Bobby who inherited $5 million from his grandfather. Private detective Myrna Winslow (Jane Wyman) refuses to testify for Millard who only wants the money. She quits and proposes marriage to police detective Jim Rickey (Dick Foran). Millard with his lawyer Nat Flavin calls in a fake threat from Mona. Mona comes to see her son Bobby. Millard is shot dead. Mona runs away. With a neighbor as a witness, Mona is immediately the prime suspect. Myrna and Jim investigate from opposite sides.

It's under an hour and it's fine. Jane Wyman plays a good wildcat investigator. Foran is rather forgettable. As a crime story, it's all fairly straight forward. Mona's innocence is never in doubt. It would be more compelling to have Rickey and Winslow team up. That way, they can develop more combative chemistry and take this movie to the next level. In general, it's pretty basic and fine.

Private Detective (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Surprisenly effective "B" picture from Warner about private (Jane Wyman) and homicide (Dick Foran) detectives, obviously dating, who are trying to find the killer of a millionaire. The homicide detective thinks it was the man's ex-wife who he was in a custody battle with but the private detective has her own thoughts. PRIVATE DETECTIVE is one of those low-budget films that studios were pumping out back in the day to fill up second bills or to try and push new talent onto film-goers. There's no question that I've seen dozens, if not hundreds, of these mystery movies but this one here is certainly among the most entertaining and it's a real shame that it's not better known. I'd also add that it's a shame Wyman and Foran didn't get to do this as a series because the duo have a terrific chemistry together and when they fight they seem like a real couple. Both stars do a very good job here and they certainly help sell the film. Even though it only runs 56-minutes there's a pretty good story here for them to work with. Wyman is extremely adorable in her part of the private detective who is constantly getting herself into trouble by trying to figure out the truth. Foran is also impressive in his part as the tough guy and he not only has great chemistry with Wyman but also Max Rosenbloom who plays his partner here. All three actors really help sell the film as does supporting players John Ridgely and Morgan Conway as a jerk lawyer. What also helps push the film over the edge is the very strong direction by Noel Smith. He certainly brings quite a bit of style to a film like this and I'd argue that it's the perfect example of a pre-noir. It's not too hard to figure out who the killer is but this doesn't hurt the film because the screenplay offers up several nice twist and turns along the way. Fans of the genre will certainly want to check this one out.

This is a fairly good B murder romance along the lines of the Torchy Blaine series (although the Torchy Blaine flicks were a tad more entertaining). It is obvious this early in her career that Jane Wyman is headed for star status which eventually earns her the Oscar for "Johnny Belinda." Dick Foran is actually better in a romantic police lieutenant lead than he was in the saddle. His singing cowboy westerns left much to be desired. And actually Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom handles himself quite well as a comic foil, much better than many of his goofy, stupid counterparts in all those B detective movies of the 30's and early 40's. The story is not bad either and well-suited for its 55 minute time slot. A minute more would have been too long for this type movie, which in many ways is similar to the 30 to 60 minute TV shows of early television. Directors of today should learn that two hours or more is too long for most films. Much of the movie is routine but such talent before the camera makes it entertaining. If you enjoy the genre, then you should be pleased with this entry.

Jane Wyman is a private detective about testify in a custody case. When the wife is suspected of killing her husband, Wyman finds herself working on the case, and tangling with police detective detective Dick Foran, who is also handling the case.

It's a late-1930s Warners B from Bryan Foy's unit, which means it is more distinguished for its short length (it clocks in at fifty-five minutes) and fast talk, rather than much in the way of cinematic excellence. Cinematographer Ted McCord has some fun with shadows from Venetian blinds, but the principal pleasure is Jane Wyman, in her late-1930s persona of blonde hair and wide eyes. Usually she was a delightful ditz in comedy, but here as a hard-nosed gumshoe, she wrangles nicely with Foran as she keeps trying to help him move away from the wrong track he's on.

From 1937 to 1939, Warner Brothers made three Torchy Blane pictures every year. Each featured a smart lady detective, her smart but obviously less competent cop boyfriend and a crime. Sadly, however, the studio never stuck with any one actress--using three different ones. The last Torchy was played by Jane Wyman...and only a few months later the studio made "Private Detective"...which is identical to a Torchy Blane film except the names had been inexplicably changed. Perhaps this is because the studio thought that folks only wanted a Torchy film with Glenda Farrell (after all, she was the first and most prolific of the actresses playing the part) and so they decided to drop the names and begin somewhat anew.

When the story begins, a divorcing husband and wife are fighting in court for custody of their young son. It seems that the father wants the kid only because he's an heir to a fortune! Torchy, I mean Myrna (Wyman), realizes this is the case and she refuses to testify in the case against the mother. However, it's all moot as soon the father is killed....and a custody hearing isn't important any more. But the mother is assumed to be the perpetrator....and the sleazy attorney for the husband has just had himself appointed the kid's guardian! Can Torchy, I mean Myrna, sort all this out and prove to everyone who the killer is and can the boy be returned to his loving mother?

As I said, this one is pretty much a Torchy Blane film...though I must admit that Wyman was far less enjoyable and spunky than Farrell would have been in the role. That old Torchy Blane sarcasm seems missing here...though the story itself isn't too bad...even if it seems very obvious who the real crook is! And, for a quick B-movie it's actually very good.