Producer: Pandro S. Berman. Copyright 21 October 1938 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 20 October 1938 (ran one week only). U.S. release: 21 October 1938. Australian release: 26 January 1939. 80 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Melsa Manton, a spirited heiress, leads a group of six high society girls in a series of mad pranks which culminate in an attempt to solve a baffling murder.
PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Epstein manages to ingeniously combine a pretty amusing screwball romantic comedy with a suspenseful murder mystery.
COMMENT: Definitely one for the connoisseurs, The Mad Miss Manton proved too mad for the general public's taste on first release. But when I finally caught up with it in the 1950s, I was absolutely thrilled. I loved the bizarre situations and characters, split my sides laughing at the continuous wisecracks and was sick with suspense at the scary climax when the mystery finally unraveled in spine-tingling fashion.
The breezy pace with which director Leigh Jason slings it all together is yet another cause for enjoyment. Stanwyck whirlwinds through the movie with her usual aggressive aplomb, and finds her match in Fonda's snappy but stylish newspaperman. The character players, with the exception of Sam Levene's too heavy detective, are a marvel. Epstein gives them all wonderful opportunities to shine.
Stanley Ridges delivers one of his best performances and James Burke, sobbing through a gruesome rendition of "Home on the Range", is especially funny.
You'd think Epstein had fashioned his screenplay for the express purpose of providing employment for as many actors as possible. In fact, the sets are often so crowded with extras, Epstein even plays that over-embellishing for a few laughs. And the parade keeps on coming. Right to the end. You keep wondering who's going to turn up next. John Qualen, for instance, has an effective scene right at the climax.
Yes, The Mad Miss Manton is crowded with production values: hordes of extras, glossy sets, atmospheric lighting, fast pacing. Style!
SYNOPSIS: Melsa Manton, a spirited heiress, leads a group of six high society girls in a series of mad pranks which culminate in an attempt to solve a baffling murder.
PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Epstein manages to ingeniously combine a pretty amusing screwball romantic comedy with a suspenseful murder mystery.
COMMENT: Definitely one for the connoisseurs, The Mad Miss Manton proved too mad for the general public's taste on first release. But when I finally caught up with it in the 1950s, I was absolutely thrilled. I loved the bizarre situations and characters, split my sides laughing at the continuous wisecracks and was sick with suspense at the scary climax when the mystery finally unraveled in spine-tingling fashion.
The breezy pace with which director Leigh Jason slings it all together is yet another cause for enjoyment. Stanwyck whirlwinds through the movie with her usual aggressive aplomb, and finds her match in Fonda's snappy but stylish newspaperman. The character players, with the exception of Sam Levene's too heavy detective, are a marvel. Epstein gives them all wonderful opportunities to shine.
Stanley Ridges delivers one of his best performances and James Burke, sobbing through a gruesome rendition of "Home on the Range", is especially funny.
You'd think Epstein had fashioned his screenplay for the express purpose of providing employment for as many actors as possible. In fact, the sets are often so crowded with extras, Epstein even plays that over-embellishing for a few laughs. And the parade keeps on coming. Right to the end. You keep wondering who's going to turn up next. John Qualen, for instance, has an effective scene right at the climax.
Yes, The Mad Miss Manton is crowded with production values: hordes of extras, glossy sets, atmospheric lighting, fast pacing. Style!