The Amazing Mr. Williams

1939
Approved
1h 20m

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Joan Blondell, Melvyn Douglas, and Clarence Kolb in The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939)

Film Noir Comedy Crime Drama Mystery Romance Thriller

Kenny Williams, a lieutenant on the homicide squad, is engaged to Maxine Carroll, the Mayor's secretary--or is he married to his job? Every time he has a date with his longtime fiancée, he i... Read allKenny Williams, a lieutenant on the homicide squad, is engaged to Maxine Carroll, the Mayor's secretary--or is he married to his job? Every time he has a date with his longtime fiancée, he is prevented from keeping it by his devotion to duty. Maxine, in desperation, decides to ta... Read allKenny Williams, a lieutenant on the homicide squad, is engaged to Maxine Carroll, the Mayor's secretary--or is he married to his job? Every time he has a date with his longtime fiancée, he is prevented from keeping it by his devotion to duty. Maxine, in desperation, decides to take action and bring Kenny to the altar. Who will win, Maxine's curves or the glorious figh... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

648

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos9

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Top cast74

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Melvyn Douglas

Police Lieutenant Kenny Williams

Joan Blondell

Maxine Carroll

Clarence Kolb

Police Captain McGovern

Ruth Donnelly

Effie Perkins

Edward Brophy

Buck Moseby
(as Edward S. Brophy)

Donald MacBride

Police Lieutenant Bixler

Don Beddoe

Police Detective Deever

Jonathan Hale

Mayor

John Wray

Stanley

E. Alyn Warren

Clerk

Luis Alberni

Rinaldo
(uncredited)

Jane Barnes

Wedding Guest
(uncredited)

Julie Bishop

Face of Seventh Victim in Newspaper Photo
(uncredited)

Lela Bliss

Citizens Committee Woman
(uncredited)

Dick Botiller

Pedestrian
(uncredited)

Stanley Brown

Elevator Boy
(uncredited)

Maurice Cass

Little Man
(uncredited)

Jack Chefe

Headwaiter
(uncredited)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Third of three pictures that Columbia paired Melvyn Douglas with Joan Blondell from 1938-9. The other films were There's Always a Woman (1938) and Good Girls Go to Paris (1939). They would not work together again until MGM's Advance to the Rear (1964).

Goofs
When Kenny and the Captain are walking out of the hotel together, a moving shadow of the camera falls across a column in the foreground.

Quotes
Maxine Carroll: May I make one suggestion? Ladies usually wear their garters inside their slips. Outside that, you look scrumptious.

Connections
References Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Soundtracks
One, Two, Button Your Shoe
(uncredited)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke

User reviews20

Review

Featured review

9/10

Comedy from a golden year

What was there about 1939 that helped produce so many excellent Hollywood films? Well, whatever it was, the magic may also be found in this Columbia picture. It's a long forgotten screwball comedy that Turner Classic Movies has begun to show. (Maltin's movie book does not contain it.) In nearly every department, Amazing Mr. Williams is a jewel.

It's the story of a first-rate police detective who can never find the time to marry his intended. As the wedding bells are about to ring, he gets called to the scene of a murder. The lady in question has to learn the hard way not only to enjoy the pursuit of criminals but to belong to the police force. There are a lot of laughs in the process.

Melvyn Douglas proved again that he had few peers in light comedy. Joan Blondell was at the peak of her career and is a delight. Edward Brophy and Donald McBride are hilarious.

The film goes on a bit too long, but who cares? The screwball comedies are always able to entertain, and this film belongs right in there with the best.