Règlement de comptes

Fast Company is my favorite of MGM's three "Fast" films based on a popular novel written by Marco Page (a pseudonym for Harry Kurnitz, which I would love to read). As a HUGE Thin Man (aka Nick and Nora) fan, I can say these aren't quite as good but if you are looking for a solid marriage with witty dialogue, a lot of drinking and a side of mystery solving ala Nick and Nora, these three films come close. Each of the three films use the same "rare book dealer" home office set, but completely recast the husband and wife duo. In this the first film, Joel and Garda are played by Melvyn Douglas (my favorite Joel) and Florence Rice (my second favorite Garda), in film two (Fast and Loose) they are played by Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell (my favorite two stand alone actors...but my least favorite as Joel and Garda), the third and final film (Fast and Furious) stars Franchot Tone and Ann Southern ( my favorite Garda) as our intrepid lead and leading lady. This is a light hearted mystery with snappy dialog, great banter and one liners being exchanged between our married couple and occasionally the police detectives. Melvyn Douglas and Florence rice have wonderful and believable chemistry as a married couple. No one hams it up for the camera better than Douglas. Louis Calhern plays an excellent bad guy. When a young and innocent friend of Joel and Garda's is released from having spent a year in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Joel and Garda attempt to find him a job when his former boss and accuser ends up dead, the friend becomes the obvious suspect leaving Joel and Garda to figure out who r ally committed the crime both then AND now. The story has a beautiful mol played by Claire Dodd and some other wonderful character actors who fill in the "criminal" element! Fun, light-hearted movie that you will enjoy.

Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice are "Joel Sloane & Co. – Rare Books," as it says on their office door. The husband and wife team spends as much time flirting as detecting in this clever and very funny mystery.

The plot involves a rival book seller (George Zucco) who has reported some valuable books stolen. Something is fishy….did he steal his own books and then frame his daughter's hot-tempered fiancé, who is in jail for the crime? Zucco is in cahoots with a counterfeiter who produces rare editions, and employs a clever secretary (the excellent Claire Dodd) who wears a mink coat that ought to be out of her price range….

Anyway, it's not exactly a surprise when the shady Zucco is found murdered. There are multiple suspects, and Douglas sums up the general feeling when he tells the investigating police detective, "Well, if you're looking for a statement from me, I am not bogged down with grief."

It's a very fast-paced picture. In one sequence, Douglas is kidnapped, tied up in a hideout, and escapes while Rice gets herself captured and the cops show up to the rescue—all in a matter of a couple of minutes.

Witty dialog and the very attractive cast pleasantly overshadow the plot, which is rather complex but—in a movie like this—not all that important anyway.

This is simply a terrific movie. Done in the "Thin Man" vein, it is not a cheap imitation, it has a life of its own. Florence Rice and Melvyn Douglas have some real chemistry going on as Garda and Joel Sloane. The entire cast look like they are really enjoying this one. Fast paced and slick, with just enough comedic touches, this movie succeeds in being very entertaining. Florence Rice has never looked more beautiful, as she dishes it out and takes it from Melvyn Douglas who is both witty and charming all the while putting together the clues to solve the murder. Louis Calhern gives a really solid performance as the villain, and veterans George Zucco, Douglas Dumbrille and Thurston Hall add to the drama and the mystery. Claire Dodd and Mary Howard give some more feminine charm to the proceedings, and Nat Pendleton makes an appearance for some comic relief. Throw in a young Shepperd Strudwick as the accused and you have a real find here in this movie. Florence Rice continues to impress as a truly gifted actress, this movie shows again the marvelous talent of this performer and the cruel twist of fate that has left her in obscurity. Hopefully this film will be available on DVD. Should have been the first of a series..........

This is one of several movies - more than just this one starring Melvyn Douglas as the husband/sleuth - that were made in the 30's trying to piggy-back off the success of 1934's "Thin Man". This one is pretty good, but it lacks what nearly all of the other Thin Man knock-offs lack - any perceived chemistry between the husband/wife sleuth team. In fact, I thought Douglas' scenes with Claire Dodd were more believable than the rather forced attempts at getting sparks to fly between Melvyn Douglas as rare book dealer Joe Sloane and Florence Rice as his wife Garda.

Apparently the Sloane book dealing business itself isn't doing that well,so Joe has been picking up extra bucks by finding stolen rare books and getting a 10% cut from the insurance company on what they would have had to pay had the books not been found. A friend of the Sloanes, Ned Morgan, has just gotten out of jail for stealing some rare books that were never recovered. He has always proclaimed his innocence, but after he's out of jail it seems the Sloanes and Ned's girl Leah Brockler are the only people who believe him - he can't find a job anywhere. Plus Leah's wealthy dad Otto Brockler (George Zucco) is threatening Ned with more jail if he doesn't leave Leah alone.

Well, next thing Otto is found dead, bludgeoned to death in his office by a statue on his desk. Joel gets involved because the police are already measuring a missing Ned for the electric chair. There are a multitude of suspects including Claire Dodd as Otto's secretary who dresses in expensive fashions considering her small salary, plus a couple of rare book counterfeiters played to perfection by Louis Calhern and Dwight Frye.

The pace is fast moving, the characters interesting, and Joel seems to move effortlessly through his sleuthing paces, just dripping with self confidence. This had me wondering - where did a rare book dealer come up with all of these detective skills? With a mystery film, the question I ask at the end is - would I watch it again, now that I know who did what? The answer in this case is yes - because the characters and just not the twists and turns of the plot make it memorable. Recommended.

It was hard to not want to see 'Fast Company' after seeing comparison to 'The Thin Man' film series, a very entertaining series of films and the best of them are great even. Seeing a younger Melvyn Douglas, who has shown some fine performances in other things and excelled at more than one type of role, also appetised. 'Fast Company' has the sort of story that appeals to me straightaway with no reservations, being someone who loves the mix of mystery and comedy.

'Fast Company' is the first of a series of three films, the others being 'Fast and Loose' and 'Fast and Furious'. Of the three, do have to agree with others that 'Fast Company' is the best. It won't ever be a personal favourite and have seen even better and more polished examples of the mystery/comedy mix. It is still hugely entertaining though and anybody that liked 'The Thin Man' films should find a good deal to enjoy here, as there is plenty.

The production values may lack polish in places.

While Florence Rice actually doesn't do too badly as the female lead and is appealing enough, she never quite excited me somehow.

She does have charming chemistry with Douglas, as wonderfully suave as ever with some grit and snappy comic timing as well, which contributes a lot towards 'Fast Company's' appeal. The supporting cast are also strong, with a sinister Louis Calhern standing out. The villains are a colourful and intimidating lot and it is hard to dislike the two lead characters. There is atmosphere to the lighting and William Axt's music score is typically moody, he was always very good at that.

Further advantages are a sharp and tightly structured script with plenty of snappy banter that sparkles in its wit, and a story that is gripping and eventful with plenty of turns without being too convoluted. It is a lot of fun and has some nice suspense, the pace always fast so that it doesn't get routine, and it never insults the intelligence or gets too silly. The characters are not exactly complex but are well characterised and carry the story really well.

Overall, hugely entertaining and well worth seeing. 8/10