Steinesongo Too many fans seem to be blown away

YouHeart I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

GarnettTeenage The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

dougdoepke Lively little Drew programmer. It's really a personality feature since the plot is secondary. Happily, three of the four kids truly sparkle, while Ted (Donaldson) supplies a sober contrast. Granville's Nancy is irrepressible, a driving spark that ignites the proceedings. She can be a little much at times, but that bubbly charm carries her through. And what about those two scamps, Mary and Killer(!). Youthful actors Mary Lee and Dickie Jones bring the two little wildcards to life. I really enjoyed their goofy song and dance. In passing-- Note how well dressed the passers-by in the street scenes are. I guess Warner's popped for a lot of extras for the set-ups. Too bad, however, that the studio didn't see fit to list Jack Perry in the credits. His Soxie may be an ugly thug menacing the kids, but he certainly has enough scenes to deserve credit listing. I don't rate movies like this because they're in a category all their own. Still, this one merits high ranking in teen-type entertainment that even geezers like me can enjoy. I did take away a lesson, however—if sweet little Nancy asks for your hat, do not give it to her. I repeat, do not let her have it.

wes-connors In her second case for the movies, pretty teenage sleuth Bonita Granville (as Nancy Drew) enters a "young newspaper reporter" contest. Naturally, she sheds her human interest story assignment for something more dangerous, and decides to cover a murder trial. Soon, Ms. Granville is re-investigating the case, eventually putting herself in danger. Granville, looking more and more curvaceous, enlists the aid of young wavy-haired neighbor Frankie Thomas (as Ted Nickerson), who looks swell in boxing trunks. ("One Round Lugan, the Frisco Flash!") This entry's story isn't as well-paced as the first, but the teen detectives are still very appealing. John Litel (as Carson Drew) leads an entertaining supporting cast.****** Nancy Drew... Reporter (2/18/39) William Clemens ~ Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel

kidboots This was a really fun and snappy series. The only question I have is why only four???? There were several Nancy Drew books of which only the last film (Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase) was based.Bonita Granville showed her versatility as an actress - a few years before she played a psychotic school girl in "These Three" and now she was in a series in which she played a typical all American girl. The supporting cast was tops as well. John Lytell, who had been a dependable supporting actor, played her dad, Carson Drew and Frankie Thomas was excellent as her long suffering boyfriend Ted Nickerson. If you recognise the voice of the City Editor Bostwick, it is Thomas E. Jackson, who played Sergeant Tom Flaherty in "Little Ceasar" (1930).Nancy wins a journalistic prize at school and she gets a chance to be a reporter for a day. Disgusted at the topics they are given (Squirrels in a park - a day in the life of a goldfish) she secretly changes topics and now finds she is investigating a murder of an elderly lady. While she is leaving court she is sideswiped by a speeding car. In hot pursuit she chases the driver to the house where the elderly lady was murdered. The trail leads to a boxing gym and a comical scene involving Ted masquerading as "One Hit Louie". There is a pretty girl, behind bars begging Nancy to let her father, Carson Drew, defend her. Most of the film is played for laughs and you lose sight of the mystery. Ted's pesky little sister and her pal (Mary Lee and Dickie Jones) are heavily featured - they are all involved in a musical quartet at a restaurant, they have to "sing for their supper". The comedy gets in the way of the mystery. Bonita Granville is very peppy and resourceful as Nancy although I think this is the weakest entry in the series.

Hitchcoc While a really lightweight bunch of fluff, this has enough action and pleasant enough characters to manage to tell a pretty good story. I never did figure out exactly how the sought for evidence would exonerate the falsely accused young lady (he apprehension seemed to be based on some pretty flimsy evidence). But the spunky group of amateurs, including some fun kid actors, worked pretty well. I especially enjoyed the singing in the Chinese restaurant. Nancy is a bit too spunky for my tastes (actually, she seems a bit old), but how can you criticize a movie like this. There are some good comic performances. One character that really doesn't work is Nancy's father. What a dull performance. None the less, it worked OK and probably was enjoyed by the moviegoers of the time.