The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Blistering performances.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Most films require us to suspend belief to some extent. But this one goes a little too far to set up the premise -- that in order to not disappoint a fiancé, that a police detective would wine and dine a gangster headed to prison, rather than renege on a date. Okay, so you've got to swallow pretty hard to choke down that premise. But, if you can, this is a pleasant enough comedy.In fact, there are a number of minor issues throughout the film that make it illogical, but it's still fun. The two stars -- Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell -- have really good screen chemistry. As a result, I was able to overlook some of the problems with the script.Except for movie buffs, Douglas and Blondell are largely forgotten actors today. And that's a shame. In their day they could certainly carry a film. Melvyn Douglas, in particular, was quite adept at comedy or drama. Here, Douglas demonstrates his flair for comedy. Joan Blondell was a prolific screen actress, and I usually associate her with comedy.The supporting actors here do nicely. While you may not remember their names, you'll certainly recognize their faces. Of particular note: Clarence Kolb, here playing the police captain (though he always reminds me of the old man with all the money in the Monopoly game). Ruth Donelly as Blondell's best friend. Edward Brophy as the gangster. Donald MacBride as a detective (and sometimes referred to as the King of the Slow Burn).This movie is no great shakes, but is pleasant enough.

The "Amazing Mr. Williams" stars Melvyn Douglas, who did five films in 1939, one of which was Ninotchka with Garbo. His co-star was Joan Blondell (Maxine), who ALSO did five films that year, THREE of which they made together! Douglas is Lt. Williams, and he and his co-horts are presented with a dead body, and they must figure out what really happened. Viewers will recognize his co-workers - the actors (Clarence Kolb, Donald MacBride, Don Beddoe) always played positions of authority... senators, bank presidents, policemen. This who-dunnit has a flair of comedy to it -- the policemen are always throwing jabs at each other, and even Williams and his girlfriend are battling verbally. Some fun gags - Williams even takes the man they arrested along on a date with his girlfriend. There's a lot of fun stuff in here, so get past the slow beginning and wait for the funnier stuff later on. Don't want to give away any spoilers, so you'll have to catch it on Turner Classic Movies. Director Alexander Hall made mostly comedies, and was reportedly engaged to Lucy at some point.

The odd title, "The Amazing Mr. Williams," suggests to me that somebody wanted to create a movie series. That never happened, and it's easy to see why. Douglas plays Kenny Williams, a smart, brave and thoroughly decent police detective. His girlfriend, portrayed by Blondell, wants him off the force at any cost. His boss, played by Kolb, has just the opposite plan: He wants Williams to stay on the force even if it ruins his life. Both the girlfriend and the police chief are willing to lie and scheme to get what they want. What a situation! In a supposedly charming comedy, the people in Williams' life seem to care "amazingly" little about him. It all has a kind of nasty edge. If any of the gags had worked, this film might have been saved, but they all fall flat. Even the much-discussed drag scene is dull. The sight of a typical guy in an absurd female disguise is either funny at first sight or it's not funny at all. You can't doll up this dog of a movie.

Delightful minor film, juggling comedy and detective, romance and drama genres as nimbly as Lt Kenny Williams (Melvyn Douglas) balances his devotion to his girl Maxine Carroll (Joan Blondell) and his duty to the force as an ace detective.This hodge-podge may not appeal to all viewers today, but in its day, it had something to offer every member of the movie-going family, and the resolution to the rather tired feeling-versus-duty plot is original and refreshing, and well worth the wait. "The Amazing Mr. Williams" contains what must be among the most outrageous blind dates in film history, and its bright comic repartee sparkles. Ludicrously frocked, Melvyn Douglas delivers some of the best lines: "I'd walk down Main Street in a Turkish towel before I'd let any woman control my life!" And the effervescent Joan Blondell lets her barbs fly with typical aplomb: "Good grief! You look like my Aunt Nellie!' The crime-solving here is standard fare, although a fine cast of character actors helps bring the material to life. From today's vantage point, "The Amazing Mr. Williams" is perhaps most interesting for its insightful commentary on gender as a socially defined construct, all the more malleable for its seemingly rigid boundaries. While much of the gender commentary takes place in a superficial battle of the sexes, at times it is both subtle and penetrating, playing out not only in some of the finer details of the film, but in the battle of genres that reaches its culmination in the final scene.