While participating in a contest at a local newspaper in which school children are asked to submit a news story, local attorney Carson Drew's daughter Nancy intercepts a real story assignment. She "covers" the inquest of the death of a woman who was poisoned. Nancy doesn't think the young woman accused of the crime is guilty and corrals her neighbor Ted into searching for a vital piece of evidence and stumbles onto the identity of the real killer.
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Reviews
The Worst Film Ever
Boring
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
Lively little Drew programmer. It's really a personality feature since the plot is secondary. Happily, three of the four kids truly sparkle, while Ted (Donaldson) supplies a sober contrast. Granville's Nancy is irrepressible, a driving spark that ignites the proceedings. She can be a little much at times, but that bubbly charm carries her through. And what about those two scamps, Mary and Killer(!). Youthful actors Mary Lee and Dickie Jones bring the two little wildcards to life. I really enjoyed their goofy song and dance. In passing-- Note how well dressed the passers-by in the street scenes are. I guess Warner's popped for a lot of extras for the set-ups. Too bad, however, that the studio didn't see fit to list Jack Perry in the credits. His Soxie may be an ugly thug menacing the kids, but he certainly has enough scenes to deserve credit listing. I don't rate movies like this because they're in a category all their own. Still, this one merits high ranking in teen-type entertainment that even geezers like me can enjoy. I did take away a lesson, however—if sweet little Nancy asks for your hat, do not give it to her. I repeat, do not let her have it.
The movie might be good to some people - in-fact I know it is. But for me trying to sit through this movie is like sitting in a dentist chair - nerve-racking! I'm easily irritated buy a bunch of teens on screen trying to pull off comedy - it's just me and my taste-buds I know.I've never been a fan of the Nancy Drew books and I'm not a fan of the films - the films are worse for me because now I see and hear the teens. Nothing personal towards the publisher Edward Stratemeyer nor the many writers under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew is just not my style.IF you are a fan of the books then I do recommend the films! I'm sure you will enjoy them! They are family style / kid friendly stories.2/10
For some reason, this film was included in the Shirley Temple collection but she's not in it at all. I wouldn't have seen it otherwise. I will say that it is both entertaining and light fare. The actress who played Nancy Drew does a fine job. Nancy Drew is well known as the fictional teen detective to readers everywhere. I am surprised that this adaptation was done early. Bonita Glanville was probably the first Nancy Drew. This film is only an hour about Nancy Drew trying to help the wrongly accused. She is believable and likable allay once. Her portrayal is fine. The script is average. The cast does a decent job. There is danger though with an injured boxer on the wrong side of the law.
A very enjoyable movie. Oh sure, there will be the people who analyze everything to the last degree who will find things to complain about. But for a fun, lighthearted 68 minutes be sure to watch the movie. Since I never read a Nancy Drew book I don't know how close it was to the character, but this one was about teenager Nancy getting herself into and out of plenty of scrapes and near disasters. She takes on a murder case as a mis-representing cub reporter and gets her father lawyer to help the accused lady whom she feels was framed and innocent. She sneaks into the murder house where one of the bad guys is hiding and watching her. I found myself feeling the suspense. Bonita Granville does a great job. I didn't like her in the part at first but she won me over fast. She apparently did other Nancy Drew movies and now I will have to keep a look out for them. She also did some Andy Hardy movies with Mickey Rooney and was a producer of the Lassie TV series. The younger sister of the male lead was Mary Lee and was in some Gene Autry movies and if that was her really singing in this movie, wow what a voice for a young girl! The younger brother Dickie Jones went on to become Buffalo Bill Jr on TV when he was a bit older and I remember watching and liking him in that show. John Litel as the father and of course, he was in so many movies over the years and always did a professional job. The movie is just plain, good old fashioned fun - give it a watch.
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