Dangerous Blondes (1943)

Good concept, poorly executed.

Boring

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Delightfully witty, deceptive, clever and tricky, this murder mystery comedy farce gets going from the start. Detectives Frank Craven and William Demarest gave their hands full from the beginning with the sudden murder of a well known society matron, family scandal and more murders to follow. With Craven and Demarest close on their trails, the wacky team of Evelyn Keyes and Allyn Joslyn stay one step ahead of them, crushing every theory and breaking down every suspect as they outwit both the guilty and the law. It's pretty much Joslyn's show all the way, his street smarts mixing with his sophistication, although Nick Charles he ain't. Anita Louise, Ann Savage and Lynn Merrick are the other blondes, and there ain't a lady among them. Edmund Lowe, John Hubbard and Michael Duane are the more masculine of the supporting cast, and as it's determined who the guilty party is, you'll be both laughing and glued to your seat. It's one of the more well written B murder mystery comedies, lavishly filmed like an A picture, but giving character actors and second leads the chance to show what they can do in a supporting role.

A classic and pleasantly produced film. The principle character's on screen rapport is spot on and the atmospheric sets of the various scenes throughout the movie will keep you entertained. Even with the comic relief which this film largely generates, the sense of mystery and intrigue is never too far behind. As an added touch of class. seeing Dwight Frye playing one of the hoods was great yet also bitter-sweet. Although uttering a gruff "shut up" to Ms. Keyes, in a very funny and frantic scene, he offers no dialogue, but his facial expressions in the precious rare scenes he's on screen is PRICELESS. Notably, there is an eerie and ironic side note to Frye's tie in to this movie. "Dangerous Blondes" would be his last film. He tragically died of a fatal heart attack shortly after this movie wrapped and get this, the title of the book for which this film was based was called, "If The Shroud Fits,". Also, actor Emmett Vogan who played a medical officer in this film, was a stock player in his and Dwights's early days in theater. He acted along side Frye in Denver and Spokane. Such a sobering distinction for Vogan to appear with the ill-fated Mr. Frye at not only the beginning of Dwight's career in acting, but also his final work as well.

Crime writer Allyn Joslyn (Barry) and his wife Evelyn Keyes (Jane) set out to solve the murder of Mary Forbes (Isabel Fleming) at a photographer's studio. The police are also trying to figure things out led by Frank Craven (Inspector Clinton). It's a comedy detective film that also stars William Demarest (Detective Gatlin), so be warned.Shame it's a comedy. The film's title lends itself to a film-noir storyline. Anyway, whilst there are some funny moments, this is offset by annoying comedy characters that fail to generate any laughs – Demarest being one, and housekeeper Minerva Urecal (Mrs Swanson) being another. The story is slightly complicated and it's all pretty meaningless but Evelyn Keyes stands out and is fun to watch. And the luminous paint is cool.If you see William Demarest on a cast list, it's a dead cert that the film is one to avoid. He's his usual unfunny self here with exaggerated expressions, unrealistic reactions, obvious and badly executed pratfalls and way too much screen time. This film was doomed.

Dangerous Blondes is one of the choice nuggets that sits in the Columbia archives waiting for rediscovery. It appeared briefly on television in the fifties and sixties but is not in the current package available to television stations. Pity because it is chock full of wonderful performances, nice musical arrangements, excellent direction and a fun story. It is a comedy murder mystery that tries to prove that a writer of detective novels can be as smart as a real police detective. Evelyn Keyes never looked more beautiful than here as she helps her husband in trying to solve a recent rash of murders.The comedy in this 81 minute lost classic is as quick and witty as you are likely to see in a film of the period and the joy in finding this treasure again will be music to the ears and eyes of film lovers everywhere.