Tue 12 May 2020
FASHION MODEL. Monogram Pictures, 1945. Robert Lowery, Marjorie Weaver, Tim Ryan, Lorna Gray, Dorothy Christy, Dewey Robinson, Sally Yarnell, Jack Norton, Harry Depp, Nell Craig. Director: William Beaudine.
With the title it has, you’d hardly expect a film called Fashion Model to be a murder mystery, but no kidding, that’s exactly what this movie is. And quite an enjoyable one it is, too. It takes place in a high class dress salon, and the object of interest is a valuable diamond brooch. Suspected is the stock boy, a young man played quite effectively by Robert Lowery, and his girl friend, one of the models, played even more effectively by Marjorie Weaver.
Both of the two leading actors display a flair for comedy as well, and truth be told, there is more comedy in this movie than there is mystery, a screwball affair that I found entertaining from beginning to end. Marjorie Weaver was a vivacious brunette who never quite made it out of B-movie fare such as this (Charlie Chan, Michael Shayne, etc.), and unfortunately her career pretty much ended with this film.
Of special note, perhaps, one of the cops on the case (Dewey Robinson as an a second-in-command to Tim Ryan) displays an IQ of about 80, tops. I think 1945 was about the end of the line for such embarrassments to police forces all across the country, wasn’t it?
May 12th, 2020 at 6:06 pm
I’ve found these little gems more fun to watch than many better films of late. Aside from the surprise of coming on them there is the pleasure of seeing some young talent that didn’t become major stars doing their best and often quite well.
May 14th, 2020 at 6:01 pm
I just watched this and thought it was average. Generally I love good B movies, and anything in the Falcon/Saint/Charlie Chan/Mr Moto style. Anything with James Gleason. Anyway if you google “monogram noir movies†you get some great choices. If you leave out “movies†you get results for handbags. The TCM message board looks great.
May 14th, 2020 at 7:46 pm
When I was growing up as a kid and able to watch only what the local TV station decided to show us at night, I could only dream of being able to sit at my computer screen and choose from hundreds, literally, of old movies to choose from to watch. Well, actually, I couldn’t even conceive of such a future, much less dream about it.
May 14th, 2020 at 8:51 pm
Steve, I actually think about this quite often when I come across something like “Big Deal on Madonna Street†free Online or watch “Dark Passage†or “Once upon a time in the West†on my streaming service. In 1990 on holiday in Paris, I took a 70 minute metro trip across the city to watch a late night showing of “Hellzapoppinâ€, on the basis I would never see it otherwise.