MartinHafer
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.
wes-connors
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
Michael_Elliott
Nancy Drew--Detective (1938) ** 1/2 (out of 4) The first of four films in Warner's Nancy Drew series has Bonita Granville playing the teenage detective. In this film the wannabe detective tangles with gangsters over a missing old woman who was about to donate money to Nancy's school. The only other one in the series that I've seen is the second one and I really enjoyed it more than this one. The 66-minute running time goes by fairly slowly due to the middle section that really drags. The story really isn't all that interesting and none of the supporting characters have any flair. Granville is terrific in the lead and the main reason for watching this.
bkoganbing
The first of the four Nancy Drew mysteries that Bonita Granville did for Warner Brothers finds her trying to find an old woman who donated some big bucks to her high school for a swimming pool and promptly disappears.Our intrepid heroine to four generations of young girls goes into action to find what's happened to the old dame. The high school benefactor has fallen into the hands of a gang of crooks led by James Stephenson. They've got an interesting way of communicating by carrier pigeons.When Nancy discovers that she and her ever helpful boyfriend Ted Nickerson go in hot pursuit of the bird. Of course as things developed in the series the biggest pigeon for Nancy was Ted as played by Frankie Thomas.No heavy drama here, but Granville and Thomas are enormously appealing, though gloriously out of fashion with a new Nancy Drew coming to the silver screen.
AD
