Irving Reis (1906–1953)

Interesting cast of familiar faces can't make up for poor script. There's no mystery here; it's just one thing happening after another, and most of the cast is playing it more for laughs. Except Sanders, who appears to be sleepwalking through it. Despite the promise of being based on Raymond Chandler's Farewell My Lovely, there's nothing here to recommend.

A teenager falls for a grown man, who is forced to date her.

It's hilarious enough to be one of the best comedies of its era, despite the cringe-inducing disaster of a premise and mess of a story.

Concept: F
Story: D
Characters: C
Dialog: A
Pacing: A
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: C
Acting: B
Music: C

Enjoyment: B

GPA: 2.3/4

2024 movie #173. 1942. A busboy (Fonda) in unrequited love with a mean nightclub singer (Ball), takes care of her when she's paralyzed by her gangster boyfriend. Kind of sappy but Ball, playing much against type, is good in this. Fonda is at his obsequious best.

2026 movie #101. When a 17-yo girl (Temple) sneaks into the room of a middle-aged painter (Grant), he gets arrested. The girl's guardian (Loy) agrees to drop the charges if he'll date her until she loses her crush on him. Pretty funny if you can get past the ick factor.