The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

Absolutely Fantastic

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

It's up to the great Barbara Stanwyck to turn fluff into something special. Granted, with her speaking the lines, it sounds better than it could have been, a rather ordinary and far fetched story that RKO was already making starring the yet not A listers Lucille Ball and Ann Sothern. With Stanwyck cast, the film becomes an A picture where all eyes are on the great lady of the screen in front of them. Cast as a dippy socialite hiding a brain underneath the fur, Stanwyck is walking her foofy dogs one night and stumbles across a dead body. Well known to local law enforcement for being part of a group of dippy Park Avenue socialites getting into trouble, and now, she wants them to help her solve the crime, leading to more murder and trouble with not only the law but determined reporter Henry Fonda as well. Future "Blondie", Penny Singleton, features into the plot line, and shows a bit of what kept her fresh playing one part for 12 years. Surrounded by a group of starlets who seem to be working hard to keep up with her, it's obvious that Stanwyck was their den mother, not only as the character, but as their mentor and teacher as well. Fonda, apparently unhappy with this part, doesn't let that show, and the chemistry with Stanwyck later confirmed in two other movies, is obvious. I recognize the set from two other RKO movies of the same year, "Carefree" and "Bringing Up Baby", but this is unique and special because of the spark that she brings in. Soon to win an Oscar, Hattie McDaniel is very funny as her maid, delivering each line with gusto.Moments of suspense and some great screwball one liners give this an important place in the comedy hall of fame. This flies by in 80 minutes and is an exercise in true artistry. Barbara Stanwyck once said that whatever she had, it obviously worked, even if she couldn't identify it, but to use a word that she taught TV costar Linda Evans years later, what she had was presence.

My favorite aspect of this movie is the manner in which this gaggle of giggly débutantes present themselves. They wear sparkling, full-length evening gowns and fabulous furs, and sport impeccable manicures, while sleuthing about in the dark. You go girls! It was also interesting to observe Penny Singleton, aka the infamous Blondie, with extremely dark hair, reciting a couple of lines. Barbara Stanwyck is, as always, seamlessly gorgeous, and she takes on a tireless leadership role while constantly flirting with a young and handsome Henry Fonda. Everything from the beautiful, sleek and shiny cars to the stunningly brilliant fashion displays make this a great choice for old movie fanatics.

In 1941, Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck starred in 'The Lady Eve' (one of the finest comedies of all time) but before this Fonda and Stanwyck made a relatively unknown comedy called 'The Mad Miss Manton' and may I say that this is an excellent lead-up to 'The Lady Eve'. The dialogue (written by the supremely witty Philip G. Epstein) sparkles and goes so fast that it takes a second viewing to get all the jokes. And in an age of political correctness the dialogue is even funnier. Dora's quip about communism (Helen:"If the upstairs has to be searched, we'll search it together"-Dora:"Why that's communism!") is just so unexpected. Unlike the Lady Eve, where Fonda is primarily the straight guy, in 'Mad Miss Manton' he holds his own and is especially good in the hospital scene, where he plays Stanwyck for the sucker. Apparently, Fonda hated making this film and being ambushed by gaggle of girls would certainly put a dent in your pride. On the whole, an excellent but unfortunately unknown film. If you are planning to see "The Lady Eve' do try and see this film because it is truly a gem in the Screwball genre.

Barbara Stanwyck was 31 years old playing opposite stone-faced 33 year old Henry Fonda in this comedy love story/murder mystery, and if you want to see how Barbara steals every scene, this is a good one to watch. This movie was selected by TCM as one of the films to highlight for their series "Black Images in Hollywood" due to the presence of Hattie McDaniel just prior to her Oscar-winning performance the next year in "Gone With the Wind." Hattie plays a sassy-talking maid for delicious comic relief. But it's a small role for Hattie and the main focus is on the delightful Barbara. There is an interesting scene at the end of the movie which foretells the use of S.W.A.T. teams today in both the cinema and on the streets. All in all, this is a pleasant movie to while away an afternoon with a friend, and who knows, you may even want to re-visit it again in a few years.