Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Jimmy L. THE MAD MISS MANTON (1938) is a funny murder mystery. In a plot involving dead bodies lying around here and there and a murderer on the loose, the lighthearted screwball approach comes as a surprise. But it's a pleasant surprise, as the bright script makes this a rather enjoyable watch. (The convoluted "whodunit" aspect is a little weak.)Barbara Stanwyck is a New York socialite who's lost the trust of the police force (led hilariously by Sam Levene) after the evidence of the murder she reports disappears. Henry Fonda is a newspaper editor who smears Stanwyck for her murder "hoax" and party lifestyle. So Stanwyck assembles her ditzy gal pals and leads them on an investigation of the murder she knows was committed. Soon Fonda and the cops get involved, but Stanwyck prefers to solve the mystery on her own, despite the dangers.The murder mystery story doesn't impress as anything too special, but the script is often much funnier than expected. Sam Levene's broad performance as the police lieutenant has some great one-liners. Hattie McDaniel is a hoot as Stanwyck's maid ("I's a pacifist!") and even Henry Fonda has his moments ("She's probably still in kindergarten."). The debutante gang has some goofy characters ("That's communism!") and the story takes some pretty silly turns. Halfway through the movie, I found I was enjoying it more than I'd expected at the start.At only 80 minutes, this is a breezy mystery/comedy with some big names (Stanwyck and Fonda) and a bunch of fun characters. It's not really a top-drawer production, but the movie is enjoyable and worthy of a look.6.5/10

vincentlynch-moonoi The problem with this movie is that things fall into place just a little too easily. For example, when one of the characters is hungry she opens a refrigerator and a body falls out. Too convenient.But, it is a fast moving sort of comedy-mystery, and as long as you don't expect too much from it, it can be a somewhat enjoyable diversion.This seems like a bit different role for Barbara Stanwyck, and she is rather good at light comedy. Same for Henry Fonda. There are character actors you'll recognize, though none play a particularly memorable role here. Even Hattie McDaniel -- just a year away from her historic role in GWTW -- is pretty tame here.This is another of those films that's worth one watch, but I doubt this will end up on your DVD shelf.

wes-connors Out walking her dogs, wealthy New York City "prankster" Barbara Stanwyck (as Melsa Manton) discovers a dead body after investigating a suspicious incident, at an abandoned house. When the police arrive, the body has disappeared; and, nobody believes Ms. Stanwyck. Moreover, handsome newspaper editor Henry Fonda (as Peter Ames) prints an editorial dissing Stanwyck. So, she sues Mr. Fonda for a million dollars; then, she gathers her fur-coated socialite friends together, in an effort to solve the crime. After Stanwyck proves herself, Fonda gets to taste her lipstick. "The Mad Miss Manton" is a not very amusing or interesting comedy-mystery, with strong co-stars Stanwyck and Fonda as the main attraction; in this one, Hattie McDaniel (as Hilda) seems bigger than the both of them.**** The Mad Miss Manton (10/8/38) Leigh Jason ~ Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Sam Levene, Hattie McDaniel

preppy-3 Society deb Melsa Manton (Barbara Stanwyck) discovers a body late one night in a abandoned house. She goes to get the police but when they return the body is missing. The police don't believe her so Manton and her bunch of ditzy friends try and solve the murder mystery themselves. Reporter Peter Ames (Henry Fonda) immediately falls in love with Melsa (after hating her on sight) and helps them.Pretty unknown movie...and it's easy to see why! Stanwyck, a wonderful actress, is woefully miscast as Manton. Fonda hated doing this movie and it shows. He's stone-faced throughout. The movie has plenty of potential but the comedy is either stupid or unfunny. Also I found Melsa's bunch of friends incredibly annoying--they all act like idiots and they're constantly screaming at everything. The romance between Manton and Ames comes out of nowhere and isn't believable for one second. Pauline Kael once wrote that this was written by people who had too much time on their hands. How true! Halfway through I just turned it off in disgust--I was bored and sick of having my intelligence insulted. If you want to see a good movie with Stanwyck and Fonda see "The Lady Eve". This one is hopeless.