Torchy Runs for Mayor

Reporter Torchy Blane denounces City Hall corruption in a series of scathing newspaper stories that are raising some serious hackles. Her fiancé, Lieutenant Steve McBride, even goes to her editor and begs him to have somebody else write the stories—he's worried about Torchy's safety.

And Steve doesn't even know about Torchy's eavesdropping operation in the City Hall basement, from which she listens in on the mayor's office, where local crime boss Dr. Dolan gives the puppet mayor his orders.

Glenda Farrell is back once again as the intrepid reporter who loves to investigate. Barton McLane as Steve is plenty solid this time around—he's still generally a step behind Torchy but isn't as much of a dunce as in a couple of earlier series entries. ("Listen, Steve," Torchy tells him at one point, "I know more about this case than you." "Well," he replies, unimpressed, "if you do I'll find it out.")

John Miljan is appropriately sinister as the wicked Dr. Dolan. In true Warner Brothers style, he talks so fast when he's excited that you can hardly understand him.

Tom Kennedy returns as Gahagan, the poetry-loving police chauffeur who loves to blow the police car siren. Even Gahagan is fairly serious and competent this time around, though he does offer a few choice bits of comic relief (like when he commends Torchy for having such "international fortitude").

An exciting climax helps distinguish this as one of the better Torchy Blane pictures. The plot is a little ridiculous (see the title) but that's kind of beside the point—it's witty, acted with enthusiasm, and moves at a terrific pace.

The city where Torchy works apparently is run by a corrupt mayor. So naturally, she does exactly what any good reporter would do in this situation--she has the Mayor's office bugged AND breaks into his office and steals an incriminating red notebook! No, wait a moment,...this would involve committing multiple felonies and possibly result in 57023 years in prison, so I guess this isn't such a brilliant plan. But, considering it's Torchy doing it and she's the hero of this series, it's safe to assume the film will NOT end with her being sent to prison! Oh, and is there ANY criminal stupid enough to leave a little red (or black or blue) book sitting around with a list of payoffs and other illegal activities?!

Apparently the editors of the major papers DON'T want to base an exposée by Torchy on illegally obtained information (go figure), so she finds a tiny little paper and convinces the sap the runs it to risk his life and livelihood to run these articles. But, when her one-woman campaign against corruption begins, it spells trouble for the newspaper man and the other guy running for mayor in the recall election. So it's up to Torchy to run for mayor herself! And during all this campaigning, she promises to convict the Mayor and his cohorts! Apparently, in addition to writing articles and running for mayor, Torchy also wants to be the district attorney and judge!! Wow, talk about an amazingly contrived plot!

It's obvious from the start that the folks at Warner Brothers were running out of ideas when they come up with such ridiculous plot devices. It's not too surprising, then, that this was the last film of the series to star Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane in the leads. Perhaps the studio had Jane Wyman and Allen Jenkins star in the next film because it was an attempt to put some energy into the series or Farrell and MacLane were just sick of the films and saw no future in them. Regardless, this film is sort of like the beginning of the end for the franchise.

Despite this totally insane plot, the film (like the rest of the series) is quite enjoyable. My advice is to just turn off your brain and enjoy. But be careful! If you think too much about what's going on, your brain might just explode! I know this is true because I read about it on the internet!

In her last appearance as Torchy Blane, Glenda Farrell writes a series of stories about the corrupt mayor. When the reform candidate is murdered, she becomes a candidate for the office.

Miss Farrell largely disappears from the last third of the movie when she disappears, and Barton MacLane investigates what he thinks is her kidnapping. I suspect Miss Farrell's contract was ending, and so her role was reduced. Even so, there are plenty amusing bits to this movie, with the usual gang appearing.

Torchy Runs for Mayor from 1939 is the last of the series starring Glenda Farrell. There was a final one starring Jane Wyman as Torchy.

Fast-talking, energetic newspaper reporter "Torchy" is a big believer in breaking the rules. Office bugging, break-ins, are all part of her investigative work.

For this particular story - corruption in the mayor's office - it has totally paid off. So much so that her reporting costs her paper $65,000 in advertising.

Torchy peddles her story about graft and the fact that a thug has control of the mayor's office to every newspaper in town. They all turn her down, save one. And Torchy decides to get him on the ballot to run for mayor.

When he's murdered, her fiancé Steve (Barton MacLane) puts Torchy's name on the ballot. She's been meddling too much and he's aggravated. Torchy, however, runs!

Since this is a '30s film, and Steve is ready to marry Torchy, you can guess the rest. Fun performances from Farrell, MacLane, and Tom Kennedy, who gets demoted to walking a beat for helping Torchy.

The eighth film in the Torchy Blane series and the final one starring Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane. This time Torchy is trying to take down a corrupt politician. The title of the movie eventually does happen, although not until late into the picture. It's an exciting, fast-paced B movie. Arguably the best in the series. There's less comedy and more grit in this one. Stars Farrell and MacLane are both in fine form here, as is Tom Kennedy as the lovable Gahagan. Great support from John Miljan, Frank Shannon, Joe Downing, and Irving Bacon.

The first four Torchy Blane movies were fun little B's with a snappy pace and a nice balance of comedy and murder mystery. Then Farrell and MacLane sat out the fifth film. When they returned, things were a little different. The focus was less on Torchy or the Torchy/Steve relationship and more on the movie's villains and comic relief sidekick Gahagan. He's a fun character but I'm glad his part is scaled back in this one. It allows Farrell to shine in her final Torchy movie. The series would continue on with one more movie starring Jane Wyman.