Private Detective
Brief Synopsis
Rival detectives fall in love when they're forced to work together.
Cast & Crew
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Noel Smith
Director
Jane Wyman
Myrna ["Jinx"] Winslow
Dick Foran
Jim Rickey
Gloria Dickson
Mona Lannon
Maxie Rosenbloom
Brody
John Ridgely
Donald Norton
Film Details
Also Known As
The Lady Detective, The Lady Dick
Genre
Comedy
Romance
Release Date
Dec
9,
1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "Invitation to Murder" by Kay Krausse in Pocket Detective Magazine (May 1937).
Technical Specs
Duration
55m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
4,988ft
(6 reels)
Synopsis
When Millard Lannon sues his ex-wife Mona for custody of their young son Bobby, Simmy Sanger, the owner of the Nation-Wide Detective Agency, orders his best detective, intrepid Myrna "Jinx" Winslow, to testify against Mona. Jinx protests, because Lannon is an uncaring parent who wants custody of his son only to have access to the child's huge trust fund, which was left to him by Lannon's father. Infuriated by Sanger's demand, Jinx decides to quit and marry her longtime boyfriend, Jim Rickey, a police lieutenant who has tried for years to induce her to give up her career. Jim is thrilled when Jinx arrives at police headquarters and tells him that she wishes to be married that night, but she is distracted when she overhears an incoming call from Lannon, who is demanding police protection because Mona has threatend his life. The demand is actually a scheme to frame Mona by Lannon's lawyer, Nat Flavin, who shoots and kills Lannon at his townhouse later that night. Mona, who has just been pleading with Lannon to drop his custody suit in exchange for a monthly allowance, is seen leaving his townhouse as the gunshot is heard by a neighbor woman. After tagging along as Jim and his assistant Brody investigate, Jinx finds Mona hiding in a cheap hotel. When Jinx tells Mona that the police suspect her fiancé, Donald Norton, Mona lies and states that she is the killer. Believing Mona to be innocent, Jinx helps her escape from Jim and Brody, then finds Don. In the meantime, Flavin is trying to persuade Don to employ him as Mona's defense lawyer and to turn her in, but they are interrupted by the arrival of Jim and Brody. Don gets Jim's gun and escapes, then is aided by Jinx, who believes him when he states that although he is innocent, he will confess to the murder to protect Mona. Determined to help Mona and Don, Jinx questions Flavin the next morning and learns that he has had himself appointed Bobby's legal guardian. Jim castigates Jinx for interfering in the case, but she nonetheless finds crucial evidence confirming Flavin's guilt in his office later that night. She types up a report stating that Flavin killed Lannon and framed Mona in order to get Bobby's trust fund, but as she is telling Jim on the telephone to meet her at the office, Flavin arrives. Flavin knocks Jinx out and takes her to his beach house, where he is greeted by his confederate, Chick Jerome, who was Lannon's chauffeur. While the unconscious Jinx is placed in a running car in a garage, Mona and Don arrive and give Flavin a retainer so that he will defend them. Jerome is about to give the couple poisoned drinks when Jim and Brady burst in. The policemen had found Jinx's report in Flavin's office, then rescued her before she was asphyxiated in the garage. After a struggle, Jim and Brody capture Flavin and Jerome, and a weary but happy Jinx tells Jim that she would rather be married than be a detective.
Director
Noel Smith
Director
Cast
Jane Wyman
Myrna ["Jinx"] Winslow
Dick Foran
Jim Rickey
Gloria Dickson
Mona Lannon
Maxie Rosenbloom
Brody
John Ridgely
Donald Norton
Morgan Conway
Nat Flavin
John Eldredge
Millard Lannon
Joseph Crehan
Murphy
William Davidson
Evans
Selmar Jackson
[Simmy] Sanger
Vera Lewis
Mrs. Widner
Julie Stevens
Mona's maid
Jack Mower
Officer Dolan
Henry Blair
Bobby Lannon
Earl Dwire
Justice of the peace
Willie Best
Valet
Dick Rich
Chick Jerome
Frank Dae
Judge
Frank Mayo
John Crane
Lottie Williams
Mrs. Smith
Sally Sage
Operator
Al Herman
Manager
Sol Gorss
Taxi driver
Alice Connors
Stenographer
Creighton Hale
Coroner
Nat Carr
Jury foreman
Jean Maddox
Cleaning woman
John Deering
Police operator
Maris Wrixon
Telephone operator
Leo Gorcey
Newsboy
Crew
Stanley Fleischer
Art Director
Bryan Foy
Producer
Lee Hugunin
Unit Manager
William Kissell
Assistant Director
Ted Mccord
Director of Photography
Harold Mclernon
Film Editor
Francis J. Scheid
Sound Recording
Raymond Schrock
Screenwriter
Harry Seymour
Dialogue Director
Harold Shoup
Gowns
Earle Snell
Screenwriter
Jack L. Warner
Executive Producer
Film Details
Also Known As
The Lady Detective, The Lady Dick
Genre
Comedy
Romance
Release Date
Dec
9,
1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "Invitation to Murder" by Kay Krausse in Pocket Detective Magazine (May 1937).
Technical Specs
Duration
55m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
4,988ft
(6 reels)
Articles
Private Detective
Rival detectives fall in love when they're forced to work together.
Private Detective
Rival detectives fall in love when they're forced to work together.
Quotes
Jack, when are you going to use your head for something besides a place to put your hat?- Myrna 'Jinx' Winslow
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were Lady Dick, The Lady Detective and The Lady Dick. Hollywood Reporter production charts include Don Douglas in the cast, but his participation in the completed film has not been confirmed. Reviews noted that this picture was fashioned after Warner Bros.' "Torchy Blane" series.
