The Mad Miss Manton

I saw this movie long ago and remembered Barbara Stanwyck and all the girls in all of the beautiful dresses and gowns and it just stuck in my mind. I didn't know the name of it until I ran across it on Amazon and realized this was the movie from so long ago that I enjoyed so very much. Barbara Stanwyck is very young and very beautiful and she plays the part of the ditzy , rich debutante but proves she also has a brain. A great murder mystery besides the glamour and beautiful dresses of that era. I really enjoyed watching it again and now I can watch it anytime I want.

I am a huge Stanwyck fan and this is a good story and mystery, especially when the cast includes Henry Fonda. They only did one other picture together that I know of, The Lady Eve, which is by far a better picture. I think The Mad Miss Manton was done much earlier and the 30's had a different style. Barbara is the head of a group of high society girl friends (Dizzy, Park Avenue Dames), who get involved in a murder mystery to clear their friend's name. The period costumes and dialogue alone, are worth the price of this movie. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes Miss Stanwyck; she is a terrific actress and can do both comedy and drama with equal talent. Comedy is much harder to pull off but most of her movies are worth collecting and viewing more than once. They don't write plots like this anymore, screwball comedies.

I saw this movie for the first time a couple of weeks ago on an over the air movie channel. I thought it was absolutely hilarious. I recorded it on the DVR, but every so often, these devices lose all of their content, and I am told buy the cable company that they don't know why it happens. I am on my third DVR. I did not want to take a chance on it being lost, so I purchased it. Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck made a great team, and the whole cast was worked wonderfully together.

Purchased on the heels of ' The Lady Eve ' - an absolutely outstanding light romantic comedy with Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck. That this film stars the same artists, I had hoped that particular lightning-in-a-bottle would be recaptured. (although technically this was their first pairing of three films - with 'Eve' their second go around)While I'm not disappointed, it would be fair to say that this fell short of that high watermark. Obviously, what was missing in 'Mad' was the guiding hand of master director Preston Sturges to steer the material into rich waters. Without him at the helm, this production wasn't as sharp. Mind you, this is still a very enjoyable movie. Unfortunately, 'Eve' spoiled me. <g>In 'Mad' the subject of the movie's title is Ms. Melsa Manton - wealthy young socialite, vivacious bon vivant and all-around troublemaker. She's the alpha amongst her pack of carefree girls; making mischief and having fun, usually one leading to the other.As the story unfolds, Melsa accidentally stumbles upon a crime scene - a dead body in the vacant home of a family she knows. Terrified, she immediately runs to a police callbox for help. But the arriving officers are less than enthused when they recognize the caller. Having been waylaid by Ms. Manton's previous madcap escapades, they're not interested in playing any games. In fact, the coppers are deciding whether or not to just haul her to jail for a night and maybe teach her a lesson.But she insists, not a block away, a murdered corpse. So despite their suspicions, which includes standing around at three in the morning with Melsa dressed as Little Miss Muffet, they go to the alleged scene of the crime.No body.The only person not seriously ticked off - Melsa, who is stunned beyond words. The cops however are not amused. Suddenly, it looks like a night in jail may turn into a real stint in the big house for false reporting of a crime. Again.Step-in newspaper ace reporter Peter Ames. And like the police, he's had it with these trust fund babies tearing up the town. Going on the offensive, he puts them on notice: No more free rides. All the mayhem and destruction they cause will be duly reported to the public. He's going to put an end to their self-indulgent adventures once and for all. And his most vile contempt is for their pack leader.Until he actually meets her.Despite his initial desire to publicly excoriate Melsa and her gang of fellow silver spooners, he can't humiliate her anymore. Love will do that. Plus, the death threats she received are real, so too the assassination attempt on her life - during which Peter himself takes a bullet. So despite all his previous sanctimony, he has to do whatever he can to prevent his would-be-wife from becoming the next victim. Even if that means he has to become her worst enemy by shadowing her every move and turning stool pigeon at every opportunity.But this is Ms. Melsa Manton, she's no timid flower in distress. Despite the dangers, she's plunging head-on to solve the case. No matter what the cost.Again, very enjoyable with many laughs and, of course, that wonderful on-screen chemistry of Fonda and Stanwyck.Movie Note:- Notably, this was filmed during the height of the Great Depression. And it's very difficult to imagine today, but back then audiences loved watching movies about the über wealthy 1%. Lives without any care or worry in the world, free from the horrible reality of brutal work, cold furnaces, bread lines and soup kitchens. Sounds bizarre but that was true back then, and tons of films from this period catered to this odd kind of escapism.Personal Notes:- Mentioned previously, this film is the first of three pairings Henry and Missy did together. Next up for me, from 1941, " You Belong to Me ". And I honestly cannot wait.- Am a monster fan of character actor Sam Levene. During the 1930's, he was often cast as the beleaguered police officer whose constant irritants were three-fold in every movie: 1) Having to correct people about his rank, which was always Lieutenant. 2) Repeatedly berating his junior officers to stop dillydallying or removing themselves from his personal space. 3) Being the butt of much sarcasm, whereupon Sam would produce his famously hilarious double-take.Where are character actors like that today? So sad that everyone wants to be the lead. Sad for them and sad for us, the audience as we're deprived the likes of Walter Brennan, Elisha Cook Jr., and Eugene Pallette of the silver screen. Although, admittedly, Stephen Root does seem to filling in nicely. But we need more of them.

I love the screwball comedies of the 30s and 40s -- this one doesn't disappoint. Barbara Stanwyck is one of my all-time favorite actresses and is paired up with the comedy of a very young Henry Fonda. Don't look for realism or logic because this is just pure entertainment. The supporting cast is great fun as well.

On her way home from a costume party, young, rich Miss Manton finds a body. The body disappears, the police don’t believe her, but she and her troupe of debs pursue the case. There’s a harrassed police detective, a skeptical newspaperman—all the ingredients of a fast talk comedy, all nicely served up.

This is one of the best screwball comedies of all time. Right up there with HIS GIRL FRIDAY and BRINGING UP BABY. Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda and a quick glance of Penny Singleton, the future Blondie in the movies. Won't regret it.

This is one of the most entertaining movies I have ever watched!! Miss Manton is a wealthy socialite who with the help of her friends solve a murder with some very humorous antics!

like Lady of Burlesque in which Barbara Stanwyck certainly excel her acting ability it is a murder mystery comedy. Where the amateurs detectives end up solving the crime. The mad Ms Manton leads a group of young ladies who spend their time playing pranks on the police, the newspapers and everyone else in New York until they stumble on a real murder and then no one will believe them. There is the love story where the newspaper report out to expose the ladies and discredit them falls in love with Barbara and lets face who wouldn't. I certainly would. It is well scripted and the ladies end up making themselves heroines and police less so. If you don't think ladies look gorgeous in real fox furs then this mite not be for you as they are wearing them for most of the film. My only criticism being Henry Fonda who in my personal opinion can not act. Even so I have given 5 stars as it is a great entertaining film which unfortunately I do not think is widely available for zone 2. This one is for zone 1 and you will need an all regional dvd player.

I know this film is ancient, but it still makes me laugh. The plot is ridiculous, the acting totally over the top, but it's worth it just to see Henry Fonda playing a bit of an idiot. The production on the DVD is not bad for a black and white movie, unlike some which are unwatchable.

This comic crime drama is a bit dated and lacking in real suspense. Yet, it is well worth watching, for STANWYCK`S sake, though i`m not fond of FONDA as an actor. It can`t compare to LADY EVE. Good picture and sound.

Although this is the first pairing between Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck, there is nothing commendable about this film. 'The Lady Eve' is far superior.

Picture quality a bit off.