An action-packed slog

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Detective Michael Shayne (Lloyd Nolan) boards a Hawaii-bound ocean liner on the trail of stolen industrial diamonds and a Nazi smuggling ring.I have never heard of the Michael Shayne series, and I know by starting here I am jumping in the middle. Hopefully I didn't miss much, but the story still makes plenty of sense. And actually, it is really, really good. I get the feeling this was something of a B-picture, but today (2017) it feels more fun and fresh than some of the A-pictures of the time.It serves as an interesting blend of detective fiction and spycraft, and has the interesting distinction of being set at least partially in Hawaii. As I understand it, the film was released in 1942 but was probably filmed in 1941... thus they had no idea just how crucial Hawaii would be to the World War II story. In fact, if this was filmed prior to Pearl harbor, America was not technically even in the war yet!

Number four of the twelve-picture Michael Shayne series. In this one, Shayne tackles Nazi agents who have stolen industrial diamonds that, while valuable, are neither blue nor white – and a long way from perfect. But, never mind. Aside from a slightly disappointing climax, this is a well-nigh perfect little "B" with an outstanding cast and A-1 technical effects. Lloyd Nolan's fans will be glad to see their hero get away with another of his famous impersonations. He's a bogus Southern colonel this time. Co-star, Mary Beth Hughes, is forceful too; but the plum female role is taken by Helene Reynolds who plays so delightfully and with such captivating ease, one wonders why she didn't become a major star. George "Superman" Reeves come across well too, but the guy who has all the male contingent (including Lloyd) well and truly beaten, is Curt Bois, who enjoys a made-to-order role as an over-solicitous steward.

"Blue, White and Perfect" is probably the best Michael Shayne film made up to that point. As amusing as watching Shayne butt heads with a police inspector was in previous entries, here the almost total absence of an inspector leaves more room for an array of memorable supporting characters, such as those played (very well) by George Reeves and Helene Reynolds. The film also benefits from having nearly its entire second half set on a ship; for some reason this series seems to work best on long-distance means of transportation (don't forget the train in "Sleeper's West"). And there is a genuine surprise at the end - actually, two surprises, if you count the cliffhanger. **1/2 out of 4.

The Michael Shayne series was a great gig for Lloyd Nolan as he didn't get to play many leads. "Blue, White, and Perfect" from 1942 is a fun entry into the series, and for us boomers, another chance to see George Reeves without his Superman cape. The film also features Helene Reynolds and Mary Beth Hughes.In this one, Shayne takes a job as a riveter, at first to watch for sabotage, but after a robbery of industrial diamonds, to ferret out the criminal. Actually the job is a great cover as his fiancée, Merle, is pressuring him to get out of the detective business.The trail leads to Hawaii. Since this film was released in January of 1942, it looks like it was filmed before Pearl Harbor, so the placement of the story in Hawaii is interesting, plus the fact that we seem to be on the trail of not Japanese, but Nazis. In order to get money for passage on the ship, Shayne convinces Merle to make a $1000 deposit on a ranch. Clever if low! On the ship, he meets Juan Arturo O'Hara (Reeves) and an old client, Helen Shaw, who now owns a dress shop in Hawaii. It gets pretty dicey from there as someone tries to kill Shayne, by not only shooting, but drowning! Director Herbert Leeds keeps the action going at a snappy pace. Highly entertaining, with a lively performance by Nolan, and a charming one by Reeves, whose career never regained its momentum after his war service.Very good.