PRIVATE DETECTIVE 62 (1933)

[pktrekgirl]

Well, after 3 months of waiting, this rarely seen William Powell film finally came up on the schedule last week. And since I'm a William Powell fan of ginormous proportions, I of course recorded it and couldn't wait to watch.

In short, I really enjoyed it. I mean, it was no THIN MAN...nor was it up to the standard of any of the films me made in the latter half of the 1930's. But nevertheless, for 1933 it was a sophisticated little mystery and I quite enjoyed watching it.

Did anyone else see this film?

[vallo]

I watched it over the weekend (God Bless DVR's) what's great about some films made in the early 30's was that a lot of story is told in 67 minutes, which includes plot twists.(see: 3 on a match) Ruth Donnelly was great as the Secretary, with large rimmed glasses in which she changes after the Detective Agency starts making money. And Margaret Lindsay is always good to see. I agree it's not The Thin man , but it was quite enjoyable.


vallo

[MissGoddess]

I enjoyed it, too, and am happy I recorded it. Margaret Lindsay was very pretty and always projected intelligence and class. I thought it interesting how she really put on the posh accent in the beginning of the film, but as she got closer to Powell and let down her guard, she began to speak more naturally. It actually was a really gutsy, independent character she portrayed---I mean, how many society dames went around with guns in their evening clutches?

[pktrekgirl]

Vallo, I so agree with you about how back then they sure knew how to tell a rather sophisticated little story in a minimum of time. This is not a long film...and yet they managed to have time for a few plot twists! Good for them!

Sure, they didn't spend alot of time on his 'fall from grace' at the beginning of the picture. But then, did they need to? I mean, in less than 2 minutes of total screen time, he was a spy assigned to a delicate job, was caught-in-the-act, and was on the boat back to the U.S.

Doesn't get more 'executive summary' than that!

[pktrekgirl]

I enjoyed it, too, and am happy I recorded it. Margaret Lindsay was very pretty and always projected intelligence and class. I thought it interesting how she really put on the posh accent in the beginning of the film, but as she got closer to Powell and let down her guard, she began to speak more naturally. It actually was a really gutsy, independent character she portrayed---I mean, how many society dames went around with guns in their evening clutches?

You know, I didn't even notice how she dropped the accent. But you're right!

One thing that bothered me just a smidge. She won an awful lot...and she carried a gun.

I don't know about you...but it made we wonder if she was cheating.

I don't know how you'd cheat if you were so inclined. However, I thought it was interesting that she was so lucky, but it was never directly addressed by William Powell's character. I don't think he ever asked her outright if she cheated.

[MissGoddess]

That's right! Wasn't that the whole point of why he was assigned to follow her, to find out how she was winning so much? They just sort of let that pass. I remember thinking at first they were going to reveal she wasn't really a socialite at all, but a professional gambler or working undercover for some reason. And not a word about her family, why she was so comfortable meeting known mobsters alone in their flats, etc...How odd!

[pktrekgirl]

^ I halfway wonder if the writers started going in that direction, then forgot about it and neglected to pick it back up later.

Or worse, that the story was originally written that way but that that part of the storyline got edited out. Seems unlikely with the 'happily ever after' ending though...so my guess is that they started down the road of her being something else below the surface...and then forgot about it or lost interest in that part of the storyline.

It would explain the accent thing too.


I mean, it is IMPOSSIBLE to be that 'lucky' in a casino owned and operated by mobsters. I mean, fixing tables is what mobsters DO!!!

[MissGoddess]

mean, it is IMPOSSIBLE to be that 'lucky' in a casino owned and operated by mobsters. I mean, fixing tables is what mobsters DO!!!


Absolutely, Miss Lindsay obviously had a trick or two up her sleeves to beat the house, and maybe more than that!