Barbara Stanwick

(On Cable TV, September 2022) There’s a wonderfully entertaining quality to The Mad Miss Manton that cannot be solely explained by seeing Barbara Stanwick and Henry Fonda in their first co-starring appearance—although it helps. No, the sheer scene-by-scene interest of the film has more to do with its ridiculously likable atmosphere, with 1930s Manhattan socialites running around solving murders and falling in love as if there wasn’t anything more important going around. (One day, I’ll try to figure out why I’m a wealth-redistribution advocate who nonetheless loves Classic Hollywood depictions of the idle rich, but not today.) There’s nothing funnier here than seeing Stanwyck’s queen-bee character running around with seven (!) socialite butterflies following her as a Greek chorus of commentary—and often taking on Fonda’s journalistic protagonist as the target of their patter. But murders are the plot justification of this film, and it’s great fun seeing the leads aggravate each other as Fonda appeases a police corps exasperated at the women’s meddling in their investigation. (Both Stanwyck and Fonda end up slapping each other at some point.)  Some good dialogue helps flesh out a typically-short film (at 80 minutes, it’s even a bit long for 1930 amateur sleuth comedies), leading to a result that can be enjoyed every day of the week. Future Oscar-winner Hattie McDaniel also shows up for some voice-of-reason housekeeping duties. Sure, you can see Stanwyck/Fonda pairing in The Mad Miss Manton as a dress rehearsal for the superior The Lady Eve three years later—but it’s perfectly enjoyable on its own terms as well.