Mr. Dynamite

Lloyd Nolan plays Tommy Thornton, a professional baseball pitcher nicknamed 'Mr. Dynamite'. During some free time just before the big game, he goes to a carnival for a few laughs. Instead, he gets pulled into the world of espionage and murder. At first, he thinks a lady is the killer, but after chasing her down, he teams up with her and they decide to investigate the case themselves. Naturally, they go where they aren't supposed to and the cops soon think THEY are the killers! So, do they then go to the police and turn themselves in and let the cops investigate? Nah...this is 1941, the era where amateur sleuths are FAR more successful than the cops!

So, obviously, the biggest problem with the movie is the whole investigating crime and espionage on their own...a dopey cliche to say the least. Apart from that the only other major problem is the ventriloquist dummy....who is incredibly racially offensive....so hold on to your seat! Apart from these things, it's an agreeable B-mystery....the sort of film they made by the hundreds back in the day. Nolan, in particular, is good in it.