Cheap Nancy Drew Reporter (Video) (William Clemens) Price

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Customer Reviews of Nancy Drew Reporter

BED BUG HOTEL!
Bonita Granville was a delightful ball of fun during the 1930's in this "B" series from WB. This entry was one of the best in the series. She looks cute as a button dressed by Milo Anderson and brings energy to the "B" script by Kenneth Gamet. Director William Clemens keeps everything moving quickly for an enjoyable bit of fun for young mystery fans, and film buffs fond of the always terrific Bonita Granville. <
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>Nancy gets her chance as a reporter along with some other girls as a promotion run by the local paper. There's a fifty dollar prize and a medal for the student who turns in the best story after three days. The weary editor hands out some generic fluff to each girl but, of course, Nancy is more interested in the big story involving the death of rich elderly woman, and off she goes to the inquest instead. <
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>When the verdict turns out to be murder by a rare poison used in photograhy, Nancy is hot on the case! Betty Amann is the innocent girl, Paula Denning, Nancy tries to clear by beating everyone to the container with the real killer's fingerprints on it. But a boxer named Soxie (Jack Perry) with a disfigured ear wants it too and uses his girlfriend (Sheila Bromley) to grab it from her in a crowd. <
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>Nancy can't do it alone so enlists the help of her pal Ted (Frank Thomas Jr.) with a new hat. Granville and Thomas were good together and it was endearing that he didn't quite realize he was Nancy's boyfriend. Dickie Jones and Mary Lee were also fun as Ted's young siblings wrangling their way into everything. There's a fun scene where they end up having to sing for their meal at the Mandarin Cafe while in hot pursuit of the story. <
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>John Litel portrayed Nancy's dad, Carson Drew, in the series and there is one especially nice scene between the two that is filled with warmth and the fun of a father/daughter relationship. Nancy tricks him into helping the Denning girl but with Nancy and her pals on the case, the outcome is never really in doubt. <
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>There is a delightful entry with a marvelous ending typical of the series. This one is a fine mix of energy and humor and won't disappoint fans of the sweet Bonita Granville, a young and shining star from the era who deserves to be remembered.

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Engaging Sleuthing Film
"Nancy Drew ... Reporter" is an enjoyable 68-minute black & white detective film from 1939. <
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>Nancy (Bonita Branville at 16), has entered the "River Heights Tribune"`s contest for best student reporter. She assigns herself to a murder case in which a woman was poisoned by a new photography chemical. Nancy interviews the accused individual and learns that the poison's container may permanently record the fingerprints of those who touch it. Nancy is determined to find the container and win the release of the accused. Since Nancy's father, successful lawyer Carson Drew (John Litel), is reluctant to help at first, she turns to her friend, Ted Nickerson (Frankie Thomas at 18). Nancy and Ted get mixed up with a boxer, a will, a policeman dressing as a woman, and wax cylinder recordings. Nancy does many clever things, including figuring out phone numbers and escaping locked utility rooms (funny!) on the way to success. <
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>The mystery story itself is not difficult to follow, and we come to know the bad guys early on. The main pleasure is the natural, easy-going working relationship between Nancy and Ted. Bonita Branville does a good job of balancing sleuthing rigor with being Daddy's girl and Ted's pal. Frankie Thomas injects light comic touches in being Nancy's slightly overwhelmed assistant. The Nancy of the film feels more girlish and flexible than the Nancy of the early book series. <
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>I have seen quite a few of the films released by Alpha Video, and this one has a much higher picture and sound quality than just about all of them. <
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>Given the times and the source material, there is no sex or gore. The only skin scene is a brief boxing match between an attractive Ted and an unattractive bad guy. <
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>The one annoyance is the presence of two brats, Ted's younger sister, Mary, and her sidekick, Killer Perkins, who show up to pester the two leads. One prank does contribute to the final scene but seems a high price to pay. <
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>At this point, "Nancy Drew ... Reporter" is the only film from its series to make it to DVD. It would be nice to have the rest released too. <
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Is it Ned or Ted?
I am now uncertain if she called her neighbor Ted or Ned after reading the other reviews! I thought it was Ned her boyfriend as I could not see a married man (saw wedding ring on his finger while using the phone)helping out Nancy.His wife would be angry and why would she not call on Ned her boyfriend? I also missed her girlfriends Bess and George and wanted a longer more involved mystery that they all could be in,including the maid!Now I will have to watch it over again to make sure who is who!Seems like they tried to make a "filler" movie,but Granville is still great as Nancy Drew!!