Alicia I love this movie so much

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Casey Duggan It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

JohnHowardReid The four "Nancy Drew" movies are now available from Warner Bros. in an excellent DVD set, I don't advise viewing them in order, as the first of the series, Nancy Drew – Detective is undoubtedly the weakest. Not only are production values slight, but the plot is totally unbelievable. Even halfway competent crooks would make sure they snatched lady bountiful from sight before — not after — she made a public announcement drawing attention both to herself and her bounty. The pity of it is that the actors concerned, James Stephenson (who looks rather odd without his customary mustache) and Charles Trowbridge might have got away with it had they played their roles for laughs. But, no! Even worse, perhaps, is the slow pace with which Clemens unwinds the story. His monotonous, never varied camera style of inter-cutting loosely framed medium shots with dull close- ups doesn't help liven up his sluggishly routine direction one iota. Admittedly, the screenplay's long dialogue exchanges don't help. Fortunately, there is a bit of action at the climax but even this disappoints when it is simply cut short just as it reaches the confrontation stage.Not exactly an auspicious start. Fortunately, the second movie, Nancy Drew – Reporter, represents a considerable and even an astonishing improvement. There are at least five reasons for this remarkable turn-around: (1) The budget was much higher, permitting the use of a large number of sets, peopled with fair crowds of extras; (2) Kenneth Gamet was allowed to write his own script around the Keene characters, not try to adapt one of the silly plots from the books; (3) Arthur Edeson (whom just about everyone would agree is Hollywood's greatest black-and-white cameraman) was assigned to do the photography; (4) the hiring of Edeson seems to have inspired everyone else, including director Clemens and the players. Even the kids are good, while Litel gives one of the most engaging performances of his entire career. Outstanding in the support cast are Olin Howland and Jack Perry. Howland is always a barrel of fun. Perry, however, spent his time in bit parts. Here, as Soxie, he has a decent role for once; (5) Best of all, Reporter all comes to a rousingly funny, enjoyably thrilling and satisfyingly slap-up conclusion.Trouble Shooter builds on the success of the second entry, and in some respects is even more entertaining. This time we have another straight-forward murder mystery. I thought the identity of the killer was revealed a little too early in the piece, but otherwise we are treated to plenty of exciting incidents, including a seat-twitching climax. Clemens utilizes his extensive budget wisely, turning on the pace and making effective use of numerous fascinating locations. The photography is crisp; and the players, especially Miss Wynters, are both engaging and appealing.Unfortunately, this admirable momentum is not carried over into the fourth and final "Nancy Drew". For some reason, it was decided to adapt one of the silly novels (as was done for the first entry), not write an original. The novel has many shortcomings, not the least of which is that the whole plot is given away in the title itself! True, on its own juvenile level, Gamet's screenplay is reasonably well-written. It can also be argued that Clemens has directed with okay competence and that the players are still in fair form. One thing for sure, however: Despite its promising plot premise, "Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase" falls far short of its predecessors. There are no acerbic newsmen like Thomas Jackson, or villainous plug-uglies like Jack Perry, or even young stars of tomorrow like Joan Leslie, Mary Lee, Charles Smith and company in this one.

aimless-46 Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939) was the third in the series of four films about the teenage heroine. All starred Bonita Granville as the title character. But Granville's "Nancy" owes more to the heroines of 1930's screwball comedies than to her literary counterpart. This Nancy alternates between master of deductive reasoning and teenage airhead, causing as many problems as she solves; with nice guy neighbor Ted Nickerson (Frankie Thomas) her comic foil. Granville was extremely expressive and did not seem to mind being shown in unflattering situations (much like Zasu Pitts back then and Miley Cyrus today).In "Trouble Shooter", Nancy and her attorney father head to the country with their housekeeper to defend old family friend Matt Brandon (Nancy calls him Uncle Matt) from a murder charge. Their escapades include poison ivy, an enraged bull, crop-dusting, a rare flower, Ted's new boat, and a rival for Mr. Drew's affections. Nancy is still crushing on poor Ted-who wanders around with a dazed expression on his face for most of the film. Willie Best appears as his standard stereotype character, this time named Apollo Johnson. Also known as "Sleep 'n' Eat", in almost all of his films this early black actor encounters a ghost and gives the audience a wide-eyed look of terror. I don't know why people found this repeated gag so funny back then, maybe Hollywood just thought they did and kept using it. At least in "Trouble Shooter" Nancy has the good grace to exhibit the same exaggerated reaction when the ghost appears. All four films in the Nancy Drew series are surprisingly entertaining and have a lot of charm. "Trouble Shooter" has Nancy at her daffiest. There is more silliness than characterization so I suggest watching at least one of the others first. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

whpratt1 Enjoyed the Nancy Drew films with all the classic cars, airplanes, old household furnishings, Victrola's (Played LPs with a needle) and just plain late 1930's humor. Bonita Granville(Nancy Drew) made this her final picture and moved on to MGM. The real star of this movie could very well have been overlooked, and he was throughout his entire career, making 117 films and very much unappreciated, his name in this picture was "Apollo Johnson" (Willie Best). This great African American actor brought great acting skills to the screen in "Mr. Moto Takes A Vacation" '39 with Peter Lorre. Willie Best was depicted stealing a chicken in this film, which is what Hollywood type cast him in all his career. In many ways, Willie Best was a great Classic Star who made many people of different races laugh and be happy. Thank God that era is over with !

sdiner82 Of the four classic Nancy Drew films Warner Bros. released from 1938-1939, NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER is perhaps the most imaginative, humorous, creepy and expensively produced of them all. Moving the locale from the Drews' home in River City to the nearby farm resort Sylvan Lake, where Nancy's lawyer father Carson is summoned to prove a relative not guilty of a murder, the breath of rural country air enlivens everyone involved. The widowed Mr. Drew's attraction to a lovely neighbor (Charlotte Wynters) sets Nancy's jealousy in full force, making her relationship with her reluctant (though none-the-less-enchanted) boyfriend Ted, played to droll perfection by the engaging Frankie Thomas, all the more delightful--and in some sequences downright romantic. Aside from the beautifully photographed location backgrounds, the deliciously intricate plot (a transplanted tropical flower, the torching of the local nursery, and farmhand Willie Best's dithering about seeing two "ghosts" on the night of the murder) provides the necessary clues for Nancy and Ted to piece together the identity of the murderer--and enriches their relationship at the same time. Of the four Nancy Drew films, this third entry shines with its subtle, underlying portrayals of the love and dependence that draw the principal characters together--along with good-natured humor (for once, Willie Best is not denigrated by the time's racial stereotypes--he's treated as an affectionate equal by the other characters--and seems to be having a ball poking fun at the "chicken-stealing darkies" he was called to portray in that era of moviemaking). Bonita Granville is as blonde, buoyant, perky and loving a teenager as has ever been presented in movies of any era. And the underrated Frankie Thomas is her equal as the sweetest, bravest, most caring fellow a teenaged girl could ever wish for. The witty, intelligent depiction of their relationship--and unacknowledged love for each other--makes NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER perhaps one of the most captivating portrayals of friendship and family life ever put on screen, with equal praise for John Litel (as Nancy's all-too-understanding father)and the warm and enchanting Ms. Wynters. And all in the guise of a suspense-filled murder mystery (incidentally, the use of a homicidal crop-dusting plane precedes Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" by a good 20 years!). In short, NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER is as unpretentious, disarming and downright lovable an entertainment to come out of Hollywood during its Golden Age. Turner Classic Movies has apparently gotten the message, and the quartet of Nancy Drew movies (after too long a time languishing in obscurity) are now being shown on a fairly regular basis. Don't miss any of them, but put NANCY DREW...TROUBLE SHOOTER at the top of your list. Dated (as other IMDB comments claim)? Perhaps, and more's the pity. A rare and timeless treat? Absolutely!