When a dancer disappears from a theater, Clay Dalzell is asked to investigate, leading him on a trail of murder and deception.
William Powell
Clay Dalzell
Ginger Rogers
Donna Mantin
Paul Kelly
Jim Kinland
Gene Lockhart
Horatio Swayne
Ralph Morgan
Roger Classon
Leslie Fenton
Tim Winthrop
J. Farrell MacDonald
Inspector Doremus
Russell Hopton
Tommy Tennant
Vivien Oakland
Jerry Classon
Robert Emmett O'Connor
Police Sergeant Cleary
George Chandler
Witness (uncredited)
Spencer Charters
Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
Billy Dooley
Bartender (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Mary Smith (uncredited)
Frank Reicher
Abe Ohlman (uncredited)
Director
Stephen Roberts
Novel
Arthur Somers Roche
Screenplay
Anthony Veiller
Screenplay
Howard J. Green
Screenplay
Edward Kaufman
December 6, 2023
6
The more I hear William Powell, the more I think he is the vocal double of George Sanders. Maybe it's because they interchanged some of these amateur detective roles, but when I listen... Anyway, here he ("Clay") is asked by his pal "Tim" (Leslie Fenton) to look into the disappearance of dancer "Alice" quite a while ago! Off to her theatre the pair go, accompanied by our enthusiastic sleuthing sidekick "Donna" (Ginger Rogers) and immediately "Tim" thinks he sees his missing paramour on the stage. She does the rat up a drain thing leaving them bemused and seeking some clues from local pressman "Tommy". It's during that chat that more than words are exchanged and soon they are looking for a murderer too... As they dig deeper, it emerges that Alice might have been tied up in another murder case and her testimony could prove crucial in saving a man from the chair. We've no shortage of suspects and red herrings in this quickly paced, but overlong and a little too formulaic outing for Powell. There's just a shade too much chat, not really enough action and although he and Rogers work quite well together once the film gets going, the rest of this is all just a bit predictable. It doesn't take itself too seriously, indeed there is some light-heated banter to be had at times, though, and Gene Lockhart and J. Farrell MacDonald's "Insp. Doremus" help keep the mystery stoked and watchable.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$280,000.00
Revenue:
$831,000.00