With the fifth of Glenda Farrell's seven Torchy Blaine films, the Warner Bros. series would begin to drift away from knotty whodunits to more cops-and-robbers action with which the series would remain, incl. the two non-Farrell Torchys made after hers. Too bad, because now, instead of two sweethearts partnering to solve a murder, Torchy and Barton MacLane's Detective Steve McBride relationship now becomes adversarial reporter vs cop. Ho hum. Still, it was fun while it lasted. The chief pleasure of the series remains; Glenda Farrell as the brassy, intuitive and unstoppable newshound, Torchy Blane - greatest of all 30s Hollywood B movie female reporters.
13 Reviews
Bold as Brass crook
bkoganbing9 March 2013
One of the best of the Torchy Blane series is one that really puts her in the most danger in Torchy Gets Her Man. That title does not mean that Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane finally wed. In fact the title is a misnomer in that the object of her story nearly gets Torchy with Geohagan thrown in for good measure.
This is one bold as brass crook, a notorious counterfeiter played by Willard Robertson who impersonates a Secret Service man of all things. He's got a scam to use the racetrack to spread his phony bills and he's using the cops as shields because they think he's part of a sting.
Torchy using the ever gullible Geohagan played by Tom Kennedy catches on, but they're both taken captive by the gang who plans to do them in. How she gets out is for you to see.
Once again Tom Kennedy as lovable, but thick as an adobe brick Sergeant Geohagan steals the film. How he ever passed the civil service for the police is beyond me. And Barton MacLane turns out to be handy to have around.
This is one bold as brass crook, a notorious counterfeiter played by Willard Robertson who impersonates a Secret Service man of all things. He's got a scam to use the racetrack to spread his phony bills and he's using the cops as shields because they think he's part of a sting.
Torchy using the ever gullible Geohagan played by Tom Kennedy catches on, but they're both taken captive by the gang who plans to do them in. How she gets out is for you to see.
Once again Tom Kennedy as lovable, but thick as an adobe brick Sergeant Geohagan steals the film. How he ever passed the civil service for the police is beyond me. And Barton MacLane turns out to be handy to have around.
Comedy-mystery bogs down when lively leads are off screen
csteidler26 December 2012
Reporter Torchy Blane bumps lightly into a cop as she breezes through the police station's front door. "Oh, sorry," she says. "I meant to knock you down." Torchy's friendly smirk pretty much sums up her attitude toward the police: they're supposedly in charge but they sure move a lot slower than she does.
Glenda Farrell returns as spunky girl reporter Torchy Blane in this amusing but uneven series entry. Farrell is excellent as usual—Torchy is a quick thinker and a fast talker, and Farrell presents just the right mix of wit, charm and silliness.
Tom Kennedy is equally good as Gahagan, the lumbering police chauffeur who is liable to burst into poetry at any moment. This time around, Gahagan is given an unscheduled vacation, the other cops figuring that keeping him off of the case entirely is the only way to prevent him from spilling inside information to Torchy.
Barton McLane's role as Lieutenant Steve McBride is, alas, rather dry. The plot sets him up to be the eventual hero but boy, it sure takes him a while to sort things out. What's worse, he's not only dumb, he's boring.
The story, for what it's worth, concerns a master counterfeiter known as "Hundred Dollar Bill" Bailey (Willard Robertson) playing an elaborate trick on an extremely gullible police force. Posing as an ace federal agent, this Bailey sets up shop behind a window at the racetrack, where he exchanges his phony bills right under the cops' noses. Needless to say, Torchy catches on that something is fishy long before Steve or the other cops.
Highlights include Gahagan's system for betting on the horses (it involves the fact that 6 x 6 = 37); and a rented German shepherd that only understands German (Torchy rents a phrase book along with the dog).
Very silly and enjoyable when Torchy and Gahagan are on the scene .not as lively during passages involving counterfeiters or detectives.
Glenda Farrell returns as spunky girl reporter Torchy Blane in this amusing but uneven series entry. Farrell is excellent as usual—Torchy is a quick thinker and a fast talker, and Farrell presents just the right mix of wit, charm and silliness.
Tom Kennedy is equally good as Gahagan, the lumbering police chauffeur who is liable to burst into poetry at any moment. This time around, Gahagan is given an unscheduled vacation, the other cops figuring that keeping him off of the case entirely is the only way to prevent him from spilling inside information to Torchy.
Barton McLane's role as Lieutenant Steve McBride is, alas, rather dry. The plot sets him up to be the eventual hero but boy, it sure takes him a while to sort things out. What's worse, he's not only dumb, he's boring.
The story, for what it's worth, concerns a master counterfeiter known as "Hundred Dollar Bill" Bailey (Willard Robertson) playing an elaborate trick on an extremely gullible police force. Posing as an ace federal agent, this Bailey sets up shop behind a window at the racetrack, where he exchanges his phony bills right under the cops' noses. Needless to say, Torchy catches on that something is fishy long before Steve or the other cops.
Highlights include Gahagan's system for betting on the horses (it involves the fact that 6 x 6 = 37); and a rented German shepherd that only understands German (Torchy rents a phrase book along with the dog).
Very silly and enjoyable when Torchy and Gahagan are on the scene .not as lively during passages involving counterfeiters or detectives.
A decent outing but boy are the police idiots in this film
planktonrules1 July 2009
After a one film absence (where Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane were replaced with different actors playing their roles in a previous film), they are back. As a result, the quality of the film is better than this last outing, TORCHY BLANE IN PANAMA.
This Torchy Blane story all revolves around how stupid the police and how audacious criminals can be. The plan that is hatched really is insanely dangerous and makes little sense, though it does make for a decent film--if you don't think very much!! A criminal poses as a federal agent (this will get you a bazillion years in prison if you are caught) and convinces the amazingly gullible police that he needs their help in catching criminals passing forged $100 bills. So the police arrange for the local race track to give this crook a job, where he makes a ton of money for his gang substituting real money with forged! Idiot cops.
Overall, the film is a pretty typical and brainless outing for the series. The only thing of note is that the longer the series went, the less chummy Torchy and her boyfriend, McBride, behaved. In the first film they got engaged. However, here in the 6th, they are dating but that is all and there isn't much romance between them.
The only bright aspect is Gahagan. The longer the series went, the funnier and more endearing he became. His "system" for horse betting is amazing...simply amazing.
This Torchy Blane story all revolves around how stupid the police and how audacious criminals can be. The plan that is hatched really is insanely dangerous and makes little sense, though it does make for a decent film--if you don't think very much!! A criminal poses as a federal agent (this will get you a bazillion years in prison if you are caught) and convinces the amazingly gullible police that he needs their help in catching criminals passing forged $100 bills. So the police arrange for the local race track to give this crook a job, where he makes a ton of money for his gang substituting real money with forged! Idiot cops.
Overall, the film is a pretty typical and brainless outing for the series. The only thing of note is that the longer the series went, the less chummy Torchy and her boyfriend, McBride, behaved. In the first film they got engaged. However, here in the 6th, they are dating but that is all and there isn't much romance between them.
The only bright aspect is Gahagan. The longer the series went, the funnier and more endearing he became. His "system" for horse betting is amazing...simply amazing.
"I feel a poem comin' on..."
utgard1426 May 2017
The sixth in the Torchy Blane series and the return of Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane after one movie with different leads. This time around Torchy is after a group of clever counterfeiters running circles around boyfriend Steve and the police department. Tom Kennedy once again shines as the dimwitted but lovable Gahagan. George Guhl is funny as the desk sergeant. Farrell and MacLane are both fine, although the script doesn't really give either much that highlights their talents. The rest of the cast includes solid character actors like Willard Robertson, Thomas E. Jackson, Frank Reicher, and John Ridgely.
A fun movie but something is definitely different compared to the previous Farrell Torchy movies. For one, it's more focused on comedy. For another, the relationship between Torchy and Steve isn't quite the same. It isn't even all that focused on Torchy, for that matter. Gahagan and the criminals get a lot of screen time. The case in this one is pretty good, though. The police may be buffoons but the crooks are interesting and pretty smart for B movie villains.
A fun movie but something is definitely different compared to the previous Farrell Torchy movies. For one, it's more focused on comedy. For another, the relationship between Torchy and Steve isn't quite the same. It isn't even all that focused on Torchy, for that matter. Gahagan and the criminals get a lot of screen time. The case in this one is pretty good, though. The police may be buffoons but the crooks are interesting and pretty smart for B movie villains.
So Does The Dog
boblipton21 November 2021
The sixth of Warner Brothers' nine Torchy Blane series returns with the usual troupe, led by Glenda Farrell as Torchy, Barton MacLane as Steve, tom Kennedy as the nitwitted, poetry-spouting sergeant, plus a welcome addition of a handsome, uncredited German Shepherd. They're on the trail of counterfeiters, and the unnamed dog dog seems to be the smartest of the investigators ..... Miss Farrell's talents seem to consist of talking fast and inserting herself into unlikely situations.
It's directed by William Beaudine, who directed one more of the series for Warners, and then went into free fall. He had survived the transition to sound pretty well, but a trip to Britain, where he directed some pretty good comedies, including some Will Hay features, but his return to Tinseltown seemed to leave him forgotten. He seems to have gotten these assignments for Auld Lang Syne, then it was downward into Gower Gulch, still turning out competent features when given someone to work with; but his willingness to go without retakes endeared him the cheapest producers. He kept slogging through the middle of the 1960s, working for whoever would hire him, but his glory days, alas, were behind him.
It's directed by William Beaudine, who directed one more of the series for Warners, and then went into free fall. He had survived the transition to sound pretty well, but a trip to Britain, where he directed some pretty good comedies, including some Will Hay features, but his return to Tinseltown seemed to leave him forgotten. He seems to have gotten these assignments for Auld Lang Syne, then it was downward into Gower Gulch, still turning out competent features when given someone to work with; but his willingness to go without retakes endeared him the cheapest producers. He kept slogging through the middle of the 1960s, working for whoever would hire him, but his glory days, alas, were behind him.
Welcome Back Farrell!
Michael_Elliott6 May 2013
Torchy Gets Her Man (1938)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
The sixth film in the Warner series has Glena Farrell returning to the role of reporter Torchy Blane. This time out she learns that her fiancé detective (Barton MacLane) is working with a government man as they two to capture a counterfeiter known as $100 Bailey. TORCHY GETS HER MAN is certainly a step up from the previous film, which was just downright flat due in large part to a weak story and the lack of Farrell. Thankfully the studio was able to get her back for this installment and there's no question that the picture is much better for it. As with the previous entries, the stories themselves aren't the greatest things out there but this here is good enough to at least keep you interested in everything that's going on and the cast just makes everything all the more entertaining. Farrell was certainly at ease in the role and I think her comic timing is right on the mark from start to finish and she just gives such a fun performance that you can't help but smile watching her work. MacLane, also back after missing the previous film, is good but there's no question that he's not given too much to do. Tom Kennedy nearly steals the film as the dimwitted driver and wannabe poet. The supporting cast doesn't feature any real stand outs but everyone is nice in their roles. I think the weakest thing about this entry is that director William Beaudine lives up to his reputation of just doing one take. There are some pretty ugly and cheap shots to be seen here and it takes the "B" level quality down a notch. Still, he at least keeps the film moving at a nice pace and fans of the series should be entertained.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
The sixth film in the Warner series has Glena Farrell returning to the role of reporter Torchy Blane. This time out she learns that her fiancé detective (Barton MacLane) is working with a government man as they two to capture a counterfeiter known as $100 Bailey. TORCHY GETS HER MAN is certainly a step up from the previous film, which was just downright flat due in large part to a weak story and the lack of Farrell. Thankfully the studio was able to get her back for this installment and there's no question that the picture is much better for it. As with the previous entries, the stories themselves aren't the greatest things out there but this here is good enough to at least keep you interested in everything that's going on and the cast just makes everything all the more entertaining. Farrell was certainly at ease in the role and I think her comic timing is right on the mark from start to finish and she just gives such a fun performance that you can't help but smile watching her work. MacLane, also back after missing the previous film, is good but there's no question that he's not given too much to do. Tom Kennedy nearly steals the film as the dimwitted driver and wannabe poet. The supporting cast doesn't feature any real stand outs but everyone is nice in their roles. I think the weakest thing about this entry is that director William Beaudine lives up to his reputation of just doing one take. There are some pretty ugly and cheap shots to be seen here and it takes the "B" level quality down a notch. Still, he at least keeps the film moving at a nice pace and fans of the series should be entertained.
Stay around maybe something will happen!
sol-kay18 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS**** Gabby and unflinching woman news reporter Torchy Blane, Glenda Farrell, ends up breaking up a counterfeit ring by ending up being taken hostage by it. Torchy get a bit ticked off when her fiancée police Det. Steve McBride, Barton MacLane, keeps her in the dark about the counterfeit ring that he and G-Man Charles Gilbert, Willard Robertson, are tracking down headed by the mysterious master counterfeiter $100 "Dollar Bill" Bailey.
Bailey plans to pass off, or launder, as much as $300,000.00 in counterfeit $100.00 bills at the Hollywood Race Track together with a number of his hoods posing as horse betters. It's when Det. McBride's friend and chauffeur Gahagan, Tom Kennedy, is given a forced-after screwing things up-two week vacation he ends up at Hollywood Park with a foolproof system, involving higher mathematics, that he uses to almost break the track. This all draws attention to him by not only the counterfeiters and race-track officials but by Torchy, who's at the track tracking down her fiancée Det. McBride, as well.
With Torchy and a confused, in being involved in her birdbrain actions, Gahangen ending up getting caught by the counterfeit ring and held hostage Det. McBride gets his rented, from a local pet store, bloodhound-like sniffing German Shepard Bitzer. It's Blitzer who, unlike Torchy & Gahagan, escaped the clutches of the counterfeit gang to lead Det. McBride together with a squad of police and G-Man Gilbert to the gang's hiding place. It's there where their keeping both Torchy & Gahagan tied up with a nitroglycerin bomb, that's to blow the place to smatterings, set to go off at any moment. It's then that we get to find out just who Mr. Big, $100 "Dollar Bill" Bailey, really is by him being forced, by Det. McBride, to be at the place just as it was about to blow! And with him being there and not wanting to end up as dead as both Torchy & Gahagan, as well as the cops who raided the place, he's forced not only to reveal is true identity but where the bomb is and when it's about to detonate!
Typical Torchy Blane flick with Torchy getting things done her way against the advice of her, at first, fumbling boyfriend Det. McBride. In the end it was Det. McBride who by tricking $100 "Dollar Bill" Bailey into exposing himself, in him knowing that Torchy loves stake dinners, ended up rescuing Torchy and his bumbling driver, known to his friends as the Irish Police Poet, Gahagan. But Det. McBride didn't solve the case of the $100.00 counterfeit bills all by himself he needed both Torchy and the courageous and scent sniffing German Shepard Blitzer, the real hero of the movie, to help him do it!
Bailey plans to pass off, or launder, as much as $300,000.00 in counterfeit $100.00 bills at the Hollywood Race Track together with a number of his hoods posing as horse betters. It's when Det. McBride's friend and chauffeur Gahagan, Tom Kennedy, is given a forced-after screwing things up-two week vacation he ends up at Hollywood Park with a foolproof system, involving higher mathematics, that he uses to almost break the track. This all draws attention to him by not only the counterfeiters and race-track officials but by Torchy, who's at the track tracking down her fiancée Det. McBride, as well.
With Torchy and a confused, in being involved in her birdbrain actions, Gahangen ending up getting caught by the counterfeit ring and held hostage Det. McBride gets his rented, from a local pet store, bloodhound-like sniffing German Shepard Bitzer. It's Blitzer who, unlike Torchy & Gahagan, escaped the clutches of the counterfeit gang to lead Det. McBride together with a squad of police and G-Man Gilbert to the gang's hiding place. It's there where their keeping both Torchy & Gahagan tied up with a nitroglycerin bomb, that's to blow the place to smatterings, set to go off at any moment. It's then that we get to find out just who Mr. Big, $100 "Dollar Bill" Bailey, really is by him being forced, by Det. McBride, to be at the place just as it was about to blow! And with him being there and not wanting to end up as dead as both Torchy & Gahagan, as well as the cops who raided the place, he's forced not only to reveal is true identity but where the bomb is and when it's about to detonate!
Typical Torchy Blane flick with Torchy getting things done her way against the advice of her, at first, fumbling boyfriend Det. McBride. In the end it was Det. McBride who by tricking $100 "Dollar Bill" Bailey into exposing himself, in him knowing that Torchy loves stake dinners, ended up rescuing Torchy and his bumbling driver, known to his friends as the Irish Police Poet, Gahagan. But Det. McBride didn't solve the case of the $100.00 counterfeit bills all by himself he needed both Torchy and the courageous and scent sniffing German Shepard Blitzer, the real hero of the movie, to help him do it!
Torchy shines again, this time with Farrell's world record for speedy dialog delivery!
JohnHowardReid5 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A hiccup in the Torchy Blane series, "Torchy Blane in Panama" (1938), dropped the Farrell-MacLane combo in favor of Lola Lane and Paul Kelly. Despite an ingeniously fast-paced script and admirably deft direction by William Clemens, this entry was not popular with audiences who clamored for the restoration of Farrell and MacLane.
Never one to disappoint the picture-going public, producer Bryan Foy rushed his original stars, Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane, into "Torchy Gets Her Man" (1938). On this excursion, Torchy uncovers the brains behind a counterfeiting racket. Another tightly-written script, another great assembly of top-notch character players, plus -- would you believe? -- a really outstanding music score.
Glenda Farrell so enjoyed Getting Her Man with director Bill Beaudine (who encouraged her to set a new record in speedy dialogue delivery), she specifically asked producer Bryan Foy to assign him to "Torchy Blane in Chinatown" (1939). Three or four critics actually regard this entry as the best in the series. Certainly the support line-up headed by Henry O'Neill, Patric Knowles and James Stephenson surpassed even the highest standards of the other entries.
Stephenson, who was on the verge of major stardom after his riveting performance in "The Letter" (1940), died in 1941 just as he was about to reach the top. A stage-trained actor with a magnetic personality, rugged yet soulful features and an expressive voice of unique timbre and resonance, Stephenson never gave a less than compelling performance in his life. "Torchy Gets Her Man" was certainly no exception.
Never one to disappoint the picture-going public, producer Bryan Foy rushed his original stars, Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane, into "Torchy Gets Her Man" (1938). On this excursion, Torchy uncovers the brains behind a counterfeiting racket. Another tightly-written script, another great assembly of top-notch character players, plus -- would you believe? -- a really outstanding music score.
Glenda Farrell so enjoyed Getting Her Man with director Bill Beaudine (who encouraged her to set a new record in speedy dialogue delivery), she specifically asked producer Bryan Foy to assign him to "Torchy Blane in Chinatown" (1939). Three or four critics actually regard this entry as the best in the series. Certainly the support line-up headed by Henry O'Neill, Patric Knowles and James Stephenson surpassed even the highest standards of the other entries.
Stephenson, who was on the verge of major stardom after his riveting performance in "The Letter" (1940), died in 1941 just as he was about to reach the top. A stage-trained actor with a magnetic personality, rugged yet soulful features and an expressive voice of unique timbre and resonance, Stephenson never gave a less than compelling performance in his life. "Torchy Gets Her Man" was certainly no exception.
The U.S. movie studio with eerie foresight . . .
oscaralbert14 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
. . . presents the dangers of a U.S. government divided against itself in TORCHY GETS HER MAN. The always eponymous Warner Bros. warn America of what will happen if the Arms of the Authorities cannot tell that the Right Hand is lopping off the Left. Warner's gifted prognosticators use GET HER MAN to show how a divided law enforcement community (whether it's split by a clever counterfeiting ring, or--more plausibly--by a Red Commie KGB trillion-dollar money laundering operation) will spell ruination for the U.S. Monetary System. Taken as a clairvoyant allegory, GET HER MAN suggests that putting partisan cable news commentators in charge of the Russia Investigation is just as stupid as putting "$100 Bill" Bailey at the helm of the task force fighting "funny money." Either way, when law enforcement and the Justice System are riddled with nefarious moles, Warner Bros. warns us, America surely will fall. As GETS HER MAN so aptly and literally illustrates, the Time Bomb's already ticking. Something MUST be done NOW, Today! Tomorrow will be too late!!
Unremarkable entry
gridoon202414 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Like others here have observed, the "Torchy Blane" series by this point was moving further away from the mystery genre and more towards the crime-adventure genre. In fact, the one good twist of the plot is not only revealed to the audience halfway through, but Torchy herself never figures it out until it is revealed to her as well. Torchy is still smart, but no longer the smartest person, or should I say smartest living being, in the film; Glenda Farrell is still a winning lead, but the dog (a German Shepherd) steals the show. Overall, I would say that this series seems to be running out of steam. I did like Gahagan's racetrack-betting system, though. ** out of 4.
another chapter of Torchy, chasing after the crooks!
ksf-214 November 2018
Starring the usual cast of Torchy films, Glenda Farrell is Torchy, reporter hot on the trail of criminals on the run. Co-stars Tom Kennedy and Barton MacLane. In this one, Willard Robertson is from the Secret Service, trying to track down a counterfeiter, starting with the local racetrack. Gahagan is again the stumbling, bumbling goof, who doesn't realize he's spilling his guts to all the wrong people. But Torchy is onto him, and is determined to get her man! No real surprises here, but it's all part of the grand adventure if you're a fan of the series.
Directed by William Beaudine, and has a very detailed bio on wikipedia.org ... he had worked with DW Griffith in the EARLY days of silents, including "Birth of a Nation". and apparently fimed about half of the MANY Bowery Boys films. His brother was director Harold Beaudine. Turner Classics shows this about once a year.
Directed by William Beaudine, and has a very detailed bio on wikipedia.org ... he had worked with DW Griffith in the EARLY days of silents, including "Birth of a Nation". and apparently fimed about half of the MANY Bowery Boys films. His brother was director Harold Beaudine. Turner Classics shows this about once a year.
Gee, those feds must be dumb dicks
boscofl14 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane return in Torchy Gets Her Man (1938), a disappointing snoozefest that avoids carnage and anything resembling slick storytelling. The plot has some promise but gets sidetracked by poor development and many vignettes of attempted comedy. The narrative resorts to the unfortunate tactic of putting its heroine outside the main storyline and forcing her to become intrusive rather than crafting the events around her. While it's certainly great to have Miss Farrell back in the fold the studio did her a disservice by not designing a better film around her unique talents.
A man claiming to be Gilbert of the Secret Service shows up at police headquarters on a mission that requires the clandestine assistance of Steve McBride and Captain McTavish. Gilbert is after the famous counterfeiter Hundred Dollar Bill Bailey and would like permission to work the betting windows at the racetrack where he suspects Bailey will be passing his phony money. He even convinces the police to create a news blackout while he supposedly builds his case. The two Macs agree to everything and even put blabbermouth Gahagan on a two weeks vacation to further seal the lid of secrecy. However, it quickly becomes evident to the audience that Gilbert is not only a fraud but Bailey himself and this is all an elaborate ruse to pass his counterfeit bills. Unfortunately for Gilbert/Bailey Torchy Blane is desperate for a scoop and is soon hot on his trail.
After the initial promise of an intriguing story the narrative quickly bogs down in comedic subplots and static scenes of characters talking. Torchy finds herself neutralized by Steve, muzzled by her newspaper, and temporarily outwitted by Gilbert for much of the picture. However, those two fountains of information, Gahagan and Desk Sergeant Graves, eventually spill enough dope to put her on Gilbert's scent and a scene stealing German Shepard named Blitzen ultimately puts her in the villain's lair. The climax once again employs the tired tactic of putting Torchy in grave jeopardy and necessitating rescue by Steve and the police.
Glenda Farrell does her best to enliven the proceedings but has a formidable opponent in a script that holds her at bay for much of the running time. She spends the first half of the film as a nuisance to the protagonists before her sleuthing finally puts her front and center. Unfortunately when she finally stumbles onto the counterfeiters the narrative makes her virtually disappear until the denouement.
Barton MacLane is reduced to a cipher in the story for most of the running time. He's shunned to the sidelines until the last 20 minutes when he starts unraveling things and must put on his cape to rescue the damsel in distress. MacLane deserved better material in this one.
The true beneficiary of the stars being handcuffed is Tom Kennedy, here elevated to costar billing, as the oblivious and lovable Gahagan. When he's not fracturing the English language or blurting out secret information he's at the track working on his betting system that earns him a fortune. His technique involves mathematics in which he hilariously can't come up with the correct answer but his wrong answers result in winning bets. The consequences of him eating up screen time are a poorly developed plot and a meandering narrative; fortunately Kennedy is a joy to watch.
The usual suspects of supporting players return as well. Frank Shannon and George Guhl enact their roles as McTavish and Graves, respectively, while Joe Cunningham contributes his turn as Maxie with more screen time than usual. John Ridgely appears as Bugs, one of the counterfeit gang, and John Harron has another unbilled role.
Enjoying the most screen time is familiar contract player Willard Robinson as Gilbert. He is a unique character in that he emphasizes brains over brawn and is very analytical in his approach to crime. Robinson takes the acting honors here with his smooth portrayal. Thomas Jackson returns to the Torchy Blane milieu as one of the gang while popular character actor Frank Reicher is also on hand to lend able support.
In his first of two consecutive directorial jobs William Beaudine sets up an intriguing premise and does a swell job incorporating the flavor of a horse racing track by incorporating stock footage. He also does an acceptable job building some suspense at the end as the police search for Gilbert's hideout while unbeknownst to them a time bomb is preparing to detonate inside the house which will obliterate both Torchy and Gahagan. Unfortunately he's saddled with weak material and a B budget.
All in all Torchy Gets Her Man is not up to par with earlier efforts and continues propelling the series into a downward spin. However, there are still enjoyable aspects that make the show worthwhile; chief among them are the antics of Tom Kennedy and the performances of Glenda Farrell & Willard Robinson. It's too bad the script isn't up to the talents involved onscreen and doesn't afford the heroine a more appropriate star vehicle.
A man claiming to be Gilbert of the Secret Service shows up at police headquarters on a mission that requires the clandestine assistance of Steve McBride and Captain McTavish. Gilbert is after the famous counterfeiter Hundred Dollar Bill Bailey and would like permission to work the betting windows at the racetrack where he suspects Bailey will be passing his phony money. He even convinces the police to create a news blackout while he supposedly builds his case. The two Macs agree to everything and even put blabbermouth Gahagan on a two weeks vacation to further seal the lid of secrecy. However, it quickly becomes evident to the audience that Gilbert is not only a fraud but Bailey himself and this is all an elaborate ruse to pass his counterfeit bills. Unfortunately for Gilbert/Bailey Torchy Blane is desperate for a scoop and is soon hot on his trail.
After the initial promise of an intriguing story the narrative quickly bogs down in comedic subplots and static scenes of characters talking. Torchy finds herself neutralized by Steve, muzzled by her newspaper, and temporarily outwitted by Gilbert for much of the picture. However, those two fountains of information, Gahagan and Desk Sergeant Graves, eventually spill enough dope to put her on Gilbert's scent and a scene stealing German Shepard named Blitzen ultimately puts her in the villain's lair. The climax once again employs the tired tactic of putting Torchy in grave jeopardy and necessitating rescue by Steve and the police.
Glenda Farrell does her best to enliven the proceedings but has a formidable opponent in a script that holds her at bay for much of the running time. She spends the first half of the film as a nuisance to the protagonists before her sleuthing finally puts her front and center. Unfortunately when she finally stumbles onto the counterfeiters the narrative makes her virtually disappear until the denouement.
Barton MacLane is reduced to a cipher in the story for most of the running time. He's shunned to the sidelines until the last 20 minutes when he starts unraveling things and must put on his cape to rescue the damsel in distress. MacLane deserved better material in this one.
The true beneficiary of the stars being handcuffed is Tom Kennedy, here elevated to costar billing, as the oblivious and lovable Gahagan. When he's not fracturing the English language or blurting out secret information he's at the track working on his betting system that earns him a fortune. His technique involves mathematics in which he hilariously can't come up with the correct answer but his wrong answers result in winning bets. The consequences of him eating up screen time are a poorly developed plot and a meandering narrative; fortunately Kennedy is a joy to watch.
The usual suspects of supporting players return as well. Frank Shannon and George Guhl enact their roles as McTavish and Graves, respectively, while Joe Cunningham contributes his turn as Maxie with more screen time than usual. John Ridgely appears as Bugs, one of the counterfeit gang, and John Harron has another unbilled role.
Enjoying the most screen time is familiar contract player Willard Robinson as Gilbert. He is a unique character in that he emphasizes brains over brawn and is very analytical in his approach to crime. Robinson takes the acting honors here with his smooth portrayal. Thomas Jackson returns to the Torchy Blane milieu as one of the gang while popular character actor Frank Reicher is also on hand to lend able support.
In his first of two consecutive directorial jobs William Beaudine sets up an intriguing premise and does a swell job incorporating the flavor of a horse racing track by incorporating stock footage. He also does an acceptable job building some suspense at the end as the police search for Gilbert's hideout while unbeknownst to them a time bomb is preparing to detonate inside the house which will obliterate both Torchy and Gahagan. Unfortunately he's saddled with weak material and a B budget.
All in all Torchy Gets Her Man is not up to par with earlier efforts and continues propelling the series into a downward spin. However, there are still enjoyable aspects that make the show worthwhile; chief among them are the antics of Tom Kennedy and the performances of Glenda Farrell & Willard Robinson. It's too bad the script isn't up to the talents involved onscreen and doesn't afford the heroine a more appropriate star vehicle.
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