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IMDbPro

Torchy Runs for Mayor

  • 1939
  • Approved
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
470
YOUR RATING
Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane in Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939)
ActionAdventureComedyCrimeMysteryRomance

Torchy conducts a one woman campaign against a corrupt mayor and crime boss, and when the reform candidate is murdered, she takes up the banner.Torchy conducts a one woman campaign against a corrupt mayor and crime boss, and when the reform candidate is murdered, she takes up the banner.Torchy conducts a one woman campaign against a corrupt mayor and crime boss, and when the reform candidate is murdered, she takes up the banner.

  • Director
    • Ray McCarey
  • Writers
    • Earle Snell
    • Irving Rubine
    • Frederick Nebel
  • Stars
    • Glenda Farrell
    • Barton MacLane
    • Tom Kennedy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    470
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ray McCarey
    • Writers
      • Earle Snell
      • Irving Rubine
      • Frederick Nebel
    • Stars
      • Glenda Farrell
      • Barton MacLane
      • Tom Kennedy
    • 17User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos15

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    Top cast37

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    Glenda Farrell
    Glenda Farrell
    • Torchy Blane
    Barton MacLane
    Barton MacLane
    • Steve McBride
    Tom Kennedy
    Tom Kennedy
    • Gahagan
    John Miljan
    John Miljan
    • Dr. Dolan
    Frank Shannon
    • Captain McTavish
    Joe Cunningham
    • Maxie - Editor
    George Guhl
    George Guhl
    • Desk Sergeant Graves
    Joe Downing
    • Spuds O'Brien
    Irving Bacon
    Irving Bacon
    • Hubert Ward
    John Butler
    John Butler
    • Chuck Ball
    Charles Richman
    Charles Richman
    • Mayor John Saunders
    John Harron
    John Harron
    • Dibble
    Fern Barry
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Sidney Bracey
    Sidney Bracey
    • Dolan's Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Tommy Bupp
    Tommy Bupp
    • Urchin
    • (uncredited)
    Glen Cavender
    Glen Cavender
    • Store Customer
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Conlin
    Jimmy Conlin
    • Coroner
    • (uncredited)
    Alice Connors
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Ray McCarey
    • Writers
      • Earle Snell
      • Irving Rubine
      • Frederick Nebel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews17

    6.3470
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    Featured reviews

    Michael_Elliott

    Goodbye to Farrell

    Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939)

    ** 1/2 (out of 4)

    The eighth film in the Warner series turned out to be Glenda Farrell's last as she would walk away from the series after appearing in seven of the films. This time out she's trying to bring down a group of racketeers and dirty politicians but to do so she must put herself in danger by trying to run against them for the Mayor office. TORCHY RUNS FOR MAYOR isn't going to win any awards but there's enough going in it to make it worth watching for fans of the series. The story itself is pretty much your typical "B" plot that you could find in dozens of Warner pictures. We've got the dirty gangster who is using money to get into politics. You've got the cops and newspaper editors who are too scared to stand up against them. You then have the hero who will stop at nothing to bring them down. I do wonder why the gangsters would kill anyone who got in their way yet they seem to let Torchy do pretty much anything instead of just knocking her off. Farrell is in pretty good form here as she once again has no problem slipping into the role. The screenplay actually doesn't give her too much to do and there's a good portion of the film where she doesn't appear at all. Both Barton MacLane and Tom Kennedy are good in their parts but they too really aren't given anything special to do. Director Ray McCarey at least keeps the 60-minute running time moving at a fast pace and there's certainly nothing harmful here.
    6ksf-2

    Torchy story gets stale

    Near the end of the series, Glenda Farrell is "Torchy", a reporter for the local paper, hot on the trail of ciminals doing bad things in town. In this one, she's after Dr. Nolan, ( John Miljan) , who seems to be running things. Co-stars Barton MacLane and Tom Kennedy, as usual. Charles Richman is Mayor Saunders, on the take. Torchy never seems to get caught getting evidence on the sly, but it always works out for her. Directed by Ray McCarey, brother of famed Leo McCarey. Appears to have committed suicide at 44, according to Wikipedia. org
    5masercot

    Disappointing

    I enjoy the Torchy Blane movies... at least the ones with Glenda Farrell and Barton Maclaine; but, this offering felt a little off. It seemed a bit clipped and there wasn't a lot of the dynamic between Torchy and McBridge that really makes the movies so enjoyable. It was good but not great.

    One stand out was the thug played by Joe Downing. Seemed like the character was a little more fleshed out than usual for a henchman...
    6bkoganbing

    Glenda Retires Torchy

    Glenda Farrell filed her last story and in a sense made her own new in this film. Just the title Torchy Runs For Mayor should tell you all you need to know.

    Our showgirl turned reporter is after a crooked city administration this time. The mayor, Charles Richman, is a grafter, but he's just a puppet in the hands of the real political boss of the city, John Miljan. Miljan also happens to be a medical doctor which comes in quite handy in his criminal pursuits.

    When the original reform candidate Irving Bacon is murdered and another guy framed, Torchy through a bit of a joke by boyfriend Barton MacLane finds herself the reform candidate.

    Glenda Farrell is pretty resourceful in getting her news, including an illegal bug in the mayor's office. But Miljan is one clever guy and she gets in more harm's way here than in any other film in the series.

    In fact that gives MacLane more of an opportunity. Usually he's just there both being shown up by her as a detective and also getting the accolades for the crimes that she helps solve. But when Farrell does get in harm's way she has need of MacLane.

    There was only one more Torchy Blane film, Jane Wyman was given the role with Allen Jenkins as her detective boyfriend. That team set no box office records and Torchy filed her last story with Jane.

    This last one with Farrell and MacLane though is pretty good and downright excellent for a B film out of Warner Brothers.
    7csteidler

    Snappy dialog, serious overtones in entertaining crime drama

    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.

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Piège de cristal (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Will Ferrell in Présentateur vedette: La légende de Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in Les Soprano (1999)
    Crime
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The eighth of nine "Torchy Blane" films from Warner Brothers made from 1937-39.
    • Goofs
      The doctor signs his name "Dr. T.V. Reynolds" in a telegram, but it is printed as "Dr. J.C. Reynolds" in a newspaper.
    • Quotes

      Steve McBride: [to Maxie] If you get her to keep on makin' these passes at Dolan, do it yourself or get someone else. I wanna go to a wedding, not a funeral.

    • Connections
      Followed by Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock-a-Bye Baby
      (1886) (uncredited)

      Music and Lyrics by Effie I. Canning

      In the score when Torchy starts her baby campaign

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 13, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Torchy Blane for Mayor
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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