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Nancy Drew... Detective

  • 1938
  • Approved
  • 1h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Bonita Granville in Nancy Drew... Detective (1938)
After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.
Play trailer1:23
1 Video
47 Photos
ComedyCrimeFamilyMystery

After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.

  • Director
    • William Clemens
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Gamet
    • Carolyn Keene
  • Stars
    • Bonita Granville
    • John Litel
    • James Stephenson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Clemens
    • Writers
      • Kenneth Gamet
      • Carolyn Keene
    • Stars
      • Bonita Granville
      • John Litel
      • James Stephenson
    • 26User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Official Trailer

    Photos47

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    Top cast22

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    Bonita Granville
    Bonita Granville
    • Nancy Drew
    John Litel
    John Litel
    • Carson Drew
    James Stephenson
    James Stephenson
    • Challon
    Frankie Thomas
    Frankie Thomas
    • Ted Nickerson
    Frank Orth
    Frank Orth
    • Captain Tweedy
    Helena Phillips Evans
    Helena Phillips Evans
    • Mary Eldredge
    Renie Riano
    Renie Riano
    • Effie Schneider
    Charles Trowbridge
    Charles Trowbridge
    • Hollister
    Dick Purcell
    Dick Purcell
    • Keiffer
    Edward Keane
    • Adam Thorne
    • (as Ed Keane)
    Mae Busch
    Mae Busch
    • Miss Tyson
    Tommy Bupp
    Tommy Bupp
    • Spud Murphy
    • (uncredited)
    Betty Jane Graham
    Betty Jane Graham
    • Brinwood Student
    • (uncredited)
    Stuart Holmes
    Stuart Holmes
    • Telegrapher
    • (uncredited)
    Vera Lewis
    Vera Lewis
    • Miss Van Deering
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Mower
    Jack Mower
    • Radio Station Technician
    • (uncredited)
    John Ridgely
    John Ridgely
    • Radio Station Technician
    • (uncredited)
    Cliff Saum
    • Farmer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Clemens
    • Writers
      • Kenneth Gamet
      • Carolyn Keene
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    6.61.2K
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    Featured reviews

    7jcholguin

    Drew Alias Granville Works Well

    I have never read a Nancy Drew book, I was more into the Hardy Boy books and the only exposure to Nancy Drew was a television series in the 70's. After seeing this very old version of Nancy Drew starring Bonita Granville, a familiar name involving a dog named Lassie, I vote this film as the best and most interesting story for someone that is unbiased. Granville plays Drew with excitement and girlish energy. A mind that is continuing thinking of "possibilities" when an old lady disappears. John Litel plays Carson Drew which I believe showcases the talent of Litel with poise, wits and fatherly love. Lastly, Ted Nickerson, a boy that Nancy likes and uses is played by Frankie Thomas. This is a solid mystery team for the whole film.
    6wes-connors

    Bonita Granville Suspects Fowl Play

    The "Brinwood School for Young Ladies" is buzzing about the arrival of wealthy sponsor Helena Phillips Evans (as Mary Eldredge). Pretty teenage sleuth Bonita Granville (as Nancy Drew) and the girls hope the woman's offer of $250,000 will be used to install a swimming pool. When the elderly woman disappears just before making the donation, Ms. Granville suspects foul play. Her father, lawyer John Litel (as Carson Drew), and others try to veer Granville of the case; but, she is determined to find the missing woman. Granville enlists help from young wavy-haired neighbor Frankie Thomas (as Ted Nickerson).

    The "Carolyn Keene" characters were unfamiliar to this commenter, but this certainly seems like a satisfactory adaptation.

    Granville, who made an impression in "These Three" (1936), is an attractive, determined, intelligent, and charming heroine. Unlike most early "teen" stars, Granville appears natural and endearing, even with expressions like "I'll bet you $23.80" and "I should say not!" Mr. Thomas, who made an impression in "Wednesday's Child" (1934), is similarly appealing and unaffected, for a 1930s movie juvenile. Thomas says "Let's keep it clean" and makes the "drag" scene. "Nancy Drew - Detective" shows how well a "small" genre film can be done. Granville and Thomas make a cute team.

    ****** Nancy Drew - Detective (11/19/38) William Clemens ~ Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel
    10sdiner82

    Delightful, suspenseful fun introducing Nancy Drew to moviegoers.

    In my opinion, the two best series of movie murder-mysteries adapted from books featuring an amateur female sleuth were the 'Miss Marple' treats of the early 1960s (with the unforgettable Margaret Rutherford) and the Nancy Drew comedy-thrillers of the late 1930s (with vivacious, lovely Bonita Granville as the constantly imperilled teenaged heroine). Unfortunately, only four entries were made in each series, and each and every one are to be cherished.

    "Nancy Drew--Detective," the first of its quartet, is an unalloyed delight. A wealthy elderly woman donates her fortune to Nancy's highschool (to build a swimming pool) and then promptly disappears. Nancy, spurred to action by the beating of the woman's physician, enlists the reluctant aid of her athletic boyfriend (the extremely appealing and good-humored Frankie Thomas) to find out what happened to the missing lady. Clues are provided by a carrier pigeon, a breathtaking airplane expedition, an ominous gunman who breaks into the Drews' residence threatening them to keep quiet--or else!

    Undeterred, Nancy drags Ted on a hair-raising adventure where they eventually track down the missing benefactor to a bogus nursing home on Larkspur Lane (password to anyone trying to enter the front gate is "blueberries"). What makes the film (and its successors) such delectable diversions is, besides the intricate plots, fast-paced direction, and splendid production design and cinematography, is the definitive performances by Ms. Granville, Thomas, John Litel (as Nancy's attorney father), Rene Riano (as the Drews' hyperventilating housekeeper), and a host of first-rate supporting actors.

    The Nancy Drew films are as beguiling today as they were over 60 years ago (and, incidentally, depict family life in that era with a sassy sweetness that is truly enchanting).

    Don't miss "Nancy Drew--Detective" or any of its three sequels, which TCM has been showing with regularity. These four treasures of yesteryear sparkle with wit, suspense, expert plotting and performances today's movies couldn't recapture if they tried to. The talent so abundant in the studio films of years gone by no longer exists.
    7planktonrules

    Is it a kidnapping? And, if so, what's Nancy to do?!

    Back in the 1930s and 40s, Hollywood made a ton of mystery films. Big studios, small studios and mircoscopic studios...they all churned out these pictures by the dozens. And, the Holy Grail of all these studios was finding a series that took off and resulted in an extended series...such as The Lone Wolf, The Falcon or Charlie Chan. Well, in the case of Warner Brothers, they tried something a bit different--to create two series in which the protagonists were women! Torchy Blaine and Nancy Drew were given the Warner Brothers gloss and when seen today they seem better than the average mystery films. "Nancy Drew: Detective" was the first of four films starring Bonita Granville. And, they all are worth your time.

    The story begins with a nice rich lady promising to give Nancy's school a large endowment. However, before she can arrange this, she disappears...and her financial manager keeps making excuses as to where she went. Nancy smells a rat and decides to investigate. And, with the help of Ted (in drag), they take a huge risk by sneaking into an old mansion out in the country.

    This film features good writing, an unusual story and nice acting....and like all four films is worth your time. Fortunately, they're often shown on Turner Classic Movies and they are currently on YouTube as well.
    6Doylenf

    Bonita Granville stars in the first of the Nancy Drew films...

    While not quite capturing the essence and old-fashioned charm of the original Nancy Drew novels, Warner Bros. turned out a series of pleasant programmers starring BONITA GRANVILLE as the teen-age sleuth who is a lot smarter at solving crimes than her elders.

    The Nancy Drew of the original stories came across as a bit more sophisticated in her behavior than she is in any of the Nancy Drew films. And sometimes Granville's girlish behavior borders on brat territory and can be slightly annoying--but overall she's a bundle of teen-age energy in the role and FRANKIE THOMAS as Ted makes an appealing helpmate out of a rather colorless role.

    JOHN LITEL, a reliable Warner contract player, is perfectly cast as Nancy's attorney father. The story involves the disappearance of a nice old lady who has contributed a good sum of money to Nancy's school and then promptly disappears from sight. Nancy takes a chance on tracking her down (in some highly improbable ways) and she and her boyfriend are able to solve the case in time for the predictable happy ending.

    Based on "The Password to Larkspur Lane", it passes the time pleasantly enough in a modest running time, although it's not without its faults and is clearly aimed at younger viewers familiar with the Drew stories.

    Summing up: A fairly good start to the series.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Nancy says to her father, "I'll bet you $23.80..." -23.80 refers to the amount of the weekly paycheck amount given to WPA workers during the Depression. It became an amount often used when jokingly betting someone to emphasize a large amount.
    • Goofs
      When Hollister writes a carrier pigeon note following the police visit, in the long shot he is writing in a landscape orientation but in the closeup showing the message the notepad is in letter orientation.
    • Quotes

      Boy: Aw, quit disturbing the molecules!

    • Connections
      Featured in Jack Wrather: A Legacy of Film and Friendship (2022)

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    FAQ

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 19, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nancy la detective
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $131,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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