The fascinating thing about historical police investigations, we think, is the way investigators were able to catch criminals without the use of modern surveillance technology. Old-timey investigators had to be patient, smart, and resourceful.
Movies don’t often dwell on the methodical and (sometimes) mind-numbing aspect of investigations, and that is certainly the case in the curiously-punctuated Nancy Drew… Reporter (1939).
Indeed, the police in this film are Morons in Uniform who are easily hoodwinked by Nancy and her friends, because no one wants stupid police officers gumming up murder investigations.
About the Murder: A rich, elderly woman has been poisoned, and her sole heir (Betty Amann) has been arrested. Amann knows the Evidence weighs heavily against her, and she must put her trust in Nancy Drew, the Only One convinced of her innocence.
This isn’t a new premise, whether in the movies or real life, and there isn’t much of a mystery, either. The most baffling thing here is how thick-headed people are able to land jobs in law enforcement.
Get this: In one scene, Nancy Drew and friend visit Amann in prison. As they take a photo of Amman, the flash makes a loud bang – this being 1939 – and the dumbest prison guard in in the world asks, “What is that noise?” then shrugs it off.
However, for the sake of law-abiding citizens everywhere, we can rest assured Nancy Drew will Sort Everything Out.
You might be wondering how Nancy Drew becomes mixed up in this business.
Nancy and some of her classmates win a trip to a newspaper, and the editor gives them feeble assignments to write as “reporters”. Nancy, not one to be mollified by patronizing of any Sort, overhears news of a murder inquest. She steals the assignment and races to the courthouse so she can burst this thing Wide Open.
Here she meets one of the Bad Guys, and learns of the key piece of evidence: a poisonous chemical that would have permanently imprinted the killer’s fingerprints on the tin (just go with it), and the rest of the film is spent finding and retrieving that tin.
It seems straightforward, but this wouldn’t be a Nancy Drew movie if that were the case. Sadly for her, the bad guys are almost as smart as she is, and they’re a lot Meaner.
The thing is, Nancy has a way of almost Doing Herself In, with or without the bad guys. Her maverick personality both condemns and saves her.
She’s forever getting tangled in cycles of near destruction. To be in close proximity to Nancy is to be sucked into her chaotic vortexes.
It’s a wonder anyone survives her.
The Bad Guys don’t know with whom they’re messing. Image: IMDb
Nancy Drew… Reporter was the second film in a series of four Nancy Drew films from Warner Bros., based on the popular mystery books written by various authors under the name Carolyn Keene.
These films star Bonita Granville, who was 15 when she was first cast as Nancy Drew. Granville has a manic yet feminine charm, although many have criticized her somewhat harebrained Nancy vs. the serious-minded girl detective of the novels.
We (yours truly) are a sucker for anything Nancy Drew. We adored her as a kid, and we read every Nancy Drew book in the school library, our greatest achievement to date. We don’t object to Granville’s performance; in fact, we admire her determination to get to The Bottom of Things, a quality she shares with the literary Nancy.
Are you a Nancy Drew fan? Even if you’re not, we hope you’ll catch Nancy Drew… Reporter the next time you’re up for some madcap detective work.
Nancy Drew… Reporter: starring Bonita Granville, John Litel, Frankie Thomas. Directed by William Clemens. Written by Kenneth Gamet. Warner Bros. Studios, 1939, B&W, 68 mins.
I’m definitely a fan, but I’m wondering what women of that era did to get their hair to have so much volume and frizz. Maybe I should do some investigating.
As soon as I saw your topic, I knew I was going to love this post (as I always do). A perfect, and I must say exceedingly clever – one might say murderously clever – choice for the blogathon.
I loved the 1970s TV Nancy Drew series with Pamela Sue Martin and had no idea it was a film. But I do remember getting my head a bit muddled then after seeing her in the Dynasty series as Fallon Carrington. Thanks for making me so welcome to the CMBA Ruth.
I remember watching her with the Hardy Boys. Thanks for the reminder of her character. Be good to check it out again, must have some great guest stars…
I have never seen a Nancy Drew movie, but I loved the books as a child (I had no idea that Carolyn Keene was more than one person — I’m not sure how to feel about that), and I’m a big Bonita Granville fan. This sounds like a lot of fun. I am adding it to my watchlist! Thank you for giving me a new movie to look forward to, and for contributing another first-rate post to the blogathon, Ruth!
Nancy Drew is always so delightfully cheesy no matter the medium. Also, have you ever seen the film The Night of the Hunter with Robert Mitchum? Your site doesn’t have a search button so that I could see if you’d ever reviewed it. I was talking to someone the other day who said it was his favourite movie of all time, so I gave it a go–very weird. Just wondered what you thought of it!
You in particular must see The Night of the Hunter. It has haunting images that will stick with you. Charles Laughton directed it, but the reviews were so negative, he never directed another film. If you ever come across it, please drop Everything to watch.
Not all Nancy-Drew-to-Screen adaptations are memorable, sadly. However, I am thrilled – and not at all surprised – to learn you’ve read all the books, and more than once.
In my first try at commenting on “Nancy Drew…Reporter” I mentioned that I’d likely seen it, having been a devoted Nancy fan in childhood who bought/borrowed every book that existed then (a long time ago). As I recall, I wasn’t too keen (Keene?) on Bonita Granville as the great teen detective. But then I wasn’t a fan of the ’70s TV series Nancy either. I enjoyed your post and am thinking it’s probably time I gave Bonita another chance.
Yeah, Bonita G. is nothing like the belived Nancy I remember from childhood, but she won me over. Maybe it’s because she’s firmly committed to the zany script.
P.S. I’m sorry to hear you had trouble commenting, so thanks for coming back. I’ll investigate – just like Nancy would do.
Silver Screenings 
I’m definitely a fan, but I’m wondering what women of that era did to get their hair to have so much volume and frizz. Maybe I should do some investigating.
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Haha! That is an awesome comment. Nancy certainly has voluminous hair, doesn’t she?
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Nancy Drew books were a childhood fav!
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Glad to hear it – they were a favourite of mine too. I spent a lot of allowance money on Nancy Drew books when I was a kid.
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You’ve almost convinced me to watch this movie!
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Haha! I hope so.
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I’ve not see this film but I’ll be sure to check out Nancy Drew’s detective adventure now! Sounds great!
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This is a wild film with an over-the-top finish. If you watch, it’s best to overlook the multiple plot holes.
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Oh, man. I gotta see this one! 🙂 Great review, Ruth!
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It would be fun if you skewered – I mean, reviewed it.
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As soon as I saw your topic, I knew I was going to love this post (as I always do). A perfect, and I must say exceedingly clever – one might say murderously clever – choice for the blogathon.
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I love your phrase “murderously clever”. I’m going to use it often in real life today.
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I loved the 1970s TV Nancy Drew series with Pamela Sue Martin and had no idea it was a film. But I do remember getting my head a bit muddled then after seeing her in the Dynasty series as Fallon Carrington. Thanks for making me so welcome to the CMBA Ruth.
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I’d forgotten about Pamela Sue M as Nancy Drew. I’ve seen some of those episodes and she was an excellent Nancy.
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I remember watching her with the Hardy Boys. Thanks for the reminder of her character. Be good to check it out again, must have some great guest stars…
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I have never seen a Nancy Drew movie, but I loved the books as a child (I had no idea that Carolyn Keene was more than one person — I’m not sure how to feel about that), and I’m a big Bonita Granville fan. This sounds like a lot of fun. I am adding it to my watchlist! Thank you for giving me a new movie to look forward to, and for contributing another first-rate post to the blogathon, Ruth!
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I know what you mean when it comes to Carolyn Keene. I felt a bit Let Down when I first discovered it.
But I really hope to get the chance to see this movie. It’s pretty crazy!
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Nancy Drew is always so delightfully cheesy no matter the medium. Also, have you ever seen the film The Night of the Hunter with Robert Mitchum? Your site doesn’t have a search button so that I could see if you’d ever reviewed it. I was talking to someone the other day who said it was his favourite movie of all time, so I gave it a go–very weird. Just wondered what you thought of it!
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You in particular must see The Night of the Hunter. It has haunting images that will stick with you. Charles Laughton directed it, but the reviews were so negative, he never directed another film. If you ever come across it, please drop Everything to watch.
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Read all the books, more than once…but just don’t remember the movies 😦
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Not all Nancy-Drew-to-Screen adaptations are memorable, sadly. However, I am thrilled – and not at all surprised – to learn you’ve read all the books, and more than once.
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🙂
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In my first try at commenting on “Nancy Drew…Reporter” I mentioned that I’d likely seen it, having been a devoted Nancy fan in childhood who bought/borrowed every book that existed then (a long time ago). As I recall, I wasn’t too keen (Keene?) on Bonita Granville as the great teen detective. But then I wasn’t a fan of the ’70s TV series Nancy either. I enjoyed your post and am thinking it’s probably time I gave Bonita another chance.
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Yeah, Bonita G. is nothing like the belived Nancy I remember from childhood, but she won me over. Maybe it’s because she’s firmly committed to the zany script.
P.S. I’m sorry to hear you had trouble commenting, so thanks for coming back. I’ll investigate – just like Nancy would do.
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I realize I’m late to the party here, but I greatly enjoyed this post! I’ll definitely keep it in mind for future viewing. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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I hope you enjoy if you do get the chance to see it. You have to let go of any preconceived Nancy Drew notions, though. 🙂
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