Nancy Drew... Reporter

Before Veronica Mars, there was Nancy Drew, the teenage amateur detective with an attorney father created in a series of juvenile novels by "Carolyn Keene" (not a real name). Nancy Drew...Reporter was the second of four films that starred Bonita Granville as the title character for Warner Bros. Directed at a fast pace with crackling dialogue and humorous and suspenseful moments throughout, this movie is a breeze at just 68 minutes. Wonderful supporting cast includes John Litel as Nancy's father, Frankie Thomas as Nancy's boyfriend Ted, and Mary Lee and Dickie Jones as Ted's sister and her friend who cause trouble wherever they go. The last two had a future association with Gene Autry with Lee appearing in some of his '40s movies and Dickie (later Dick) also appearing with him then starring in later TV series "Range Rider" and "Buffalo Bill, Jr." for Autry's production company. Though it stops the story, there is a wonderful swinging version of Nursery Rhymes as sung by Granville, Thomas, Lee, and Jones. Dickie would also be famous as the title character voice of Walt Disney's Pinocchio. Well worth seeing for fans of Drew and '30s programmers. P.S. Joan Leslie and Florence Halop appear as classmates of Nancy in the newsroom field trip sequence.

A very enjoyable movie. Oh sure, there will be the people who analyze everything to the last degree who will find things to complain about. But for a fun, lighthearted 68 minutes be sure to watch the movie. Since I never read a Nancy Drew book I don't know how close it was to the character, but this one was about teenager Nancy getting herself into and out of plenty of scrapes and near disasters. She takes on a murder case as a mis-representing cub reporter and gets her father lawyer to help the accused lady whom she feels was framed and innocent. She sneaks into the murder house where one of the bad guys is hiding and watching her. I found myself feeling the suspense. Bonita Granville does a great job. I didn't like her in the part at first but she won me over fast. She apparently did other Nancy Drew movies and now I will have to keep a look out for them. She also did some Andy Hardy movies with Mickey Rooney and was a producer of the Lassie TV series. The younger sister of the male lead was Mary Lee and was in some Gene Autry movies and if that was her really singing in this movie, wow what a voice for a young girl! The younger brother Dickie Jones went on to become Buffalo Bill Jr on TV when he was a bit older and I remember watching and liking him in that show. John Litel as the father and of course, he was in so many movies over the years and always did a professional job. The movie is just plain, good old fashioned fun - give it a watch.

You can get this movie on DVD nearly anywhere for a dollar, usually a double feature with a Dick Tracy movie. It is well worth the investment. It is fast paced, and entertaining. Bonita Granville could give any current teen queens a run for their money. The other main character, Ted, (played by Frank Thomas, Jr.) reminds me of a young Jimmy Stewart. Also,in this movie,two other child actors play roles that were probably used as the basis for ChimChim and Spreidel in the Speed Racer cartoons. They are annoying, popping up throughout the movie, but show off their talent in a musical number. Great voices! The story also gives a look at what life was like in the 1930s. At least for the upper middle class. It is interesting to see the old cars and camera equipment used by Nancy and her "boyfriend". This movie is great for families with teens and small children. Adults will also find the hour long movie worthwhile.

Bonita Granville is "Nancy Drew, Reporter," in this 1939 B feature, which also stars Frankie Thomas and John Litel. This particular story is not based on any of the books. Nancy is one of a group of teens vying for an award from the local newspaper, and of course, she steals an assignment off of someone's desk that will put her at an inquest. She decides that the woman accused of murdering an elderly woman is innocent and goes after evidence that will clear her.

Granville isn't the Nancy of the books, but the Nancy of the books isn't probably the best Nancy for the movies. I always think of Nancy as a very serious young woman with a sharp mind for mysteries. Granville is energetic, conniving, and a fast driver. She gets into trouble as well as danger. For some reason, her boyfriend Ned is now her boyfriend Ted (Thomas). Nancy's girlfriends aren't in the film. Instead, Ted has two brat siblings that follow them around.

The most interesting parts of the film are actually its depiction of life in 1939, with the old houses, the pay phones, and the fact that Nancy always looked more formally dressed than one sees today.

Very entertaining.

A pleasant movie with old cars, chase scenes singing etc. Bonita is very charming as Nancy and the relationship with her boyfriend is developed just right. Teds sister and sidekick really dont offer much and could have been done away with or limited.All in all its far beter than todays sex and violence.