The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

79% of users liked it
(159 ratings)

Wealthy socialite Melsa Manton (Barbara Stanwyck) is taking her pooches for a walk in the dead of the night when she stumbles upon a dead body and a car fleeing the scene of the crime. She alerts the police but the corpse has disappeared by the time they arrive, and the lieutenant, knowing of her… More Wealthy socialite Melsa Manton (Barbara Stanwyck) is taking her pooches for a walk in the dead of the night when she stumbles upon a dead body and a car fleeing the scene of the crime. She alerts the police but the corpse has disappeared by the time they arrive, and the lieutenant, knowing of her madcap reputation, believes she was playing a practical joke. After newspaper editor Peter Ames (Henry Fonda) takes her to task in print, she sues him for libel and enlists the aid of her society friends in tracking down the body and finding the killer. Eventually, Ames comes around to believing Melsa's story and aids her in her search. It isn't long before the two antagonists find they're attracted to each other -- but they have to catch the murderer before they can settle down and live happily ever after. Fonda and Stanwyck would team up again in You Belong to Me and The Lady Eve. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Leigh Jason
Written By: Philip G. Epstein, Wilson Collison
Genres: Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 21, 1938 Wide

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A mildly funny screwball comedy-mystery thriller that is overall more thirties stylish than witty.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
The Mad Miss Manton succeeds as a romantic comedy more than it succeeds as a mystery.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Doctor S

Stanwyck is fun to watch as leader of a gang of idle Park Avenue society women who try to solve a murder outside the law and Henry Fonda's newspaper. Some silly sequences and questionable romance between the stars, which includes Fonda threatening to beat some sense into Barbara… More
Stanwyck is fun to watch as leader of a gang of idle Park Avenue society women who try to solve a murder outside the law and Henry Fonda's newspaper. Some silly sequences and questionable romance between the stars, which includes Fonda threatening to beat some sense into Barbara three different times - now there's a match made in counseling! I had an easier time following the trail of suspects in <i>The Big Sleep</i> but at least they don't take themselves too seriously. A minor entry in each resume.

Cast

            Barbara Stanwyck as Melsa Manton

            Henry Fonda as Peter Ames

            Sam Levine
            
            Frances Mercer as Helen Frayne

            Stanley Ridges as Edward Norris

            Sam Levene as Lt. Mike Brent

            Whitney Bourne as Pat James

            Vicki Lester as Kit Beverly

            Ann Evers as Lee Wilson

            Catherine O'Quinn as Dora Fenton

            Linda Terry as Myra Frost

            Eleanor Hansen as Jane

            Hattie McDaniel as Hilda

            James Burke as Sgt. Sullivan

            Paul Guilfoyle as Bat Regan

            Penny Singleton as Frances Glesk

            Leona Maricle as Sheila Lane

            Kay Sutton as Gloria Hamilton

            Miles Mander as Fred Thomas

            John Qualen as Subway watchman

            Grady Sutton as District Attorney's Secretary

            Olin Howland as Mr. X/Red the Safecracker

            Irving Bacon as Spengler the Process Server

            Eddy Chandler as Detective

            Otto H. Fries
            
            Charles Halton as Popsy the Lawyer

            Vinton Haworth as Peter's Secretary

            George Magrill as Policeman

            Matt McHugh as Waiter

            Robert Middlemass as District Attorney

            Leonard Mudie as Managing Editor

            Ted Oliver as Detective

            Emory Parnell as Doorman

            Jack Rice as Doctor

            Walter Sande as Investigator

            Charles Trowbridge
            
            Pierre Watkin
            
            Clarence H. Wilson
            
            Jack Arnold as Peter's Secretary

            Mary Jo Desmond as Extra

            Buck Mack
            
            David Ward as D.A.'s Secretary

            Vickie Lester
            
See full cast