Simply A Masterpiece

Good movie but grossly overrated

Don't Believe the Hype

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Prior to America's entry into WWII, two Fifth Columnists are in a car wreck while carrying a load of pamphlets that read "Don't let them dope you with democracy pills." That's catchy. Not. The action takes place in and near Washington D.C. and Senator Monrose and his aide, Cortland Grant, ask Nick Carter to investigate. As a sweetener, Grant has invited five "models" to entertain Carter. One of the models is a German refugee who the bad guys try to recruit as a Fifth Columnist by telling her that her family is in a concentration camp ( now that's an interesting reference). Escorting the models is the dumb and ditsy private detective Chris Cross. Sometimes dumb and ditsy can be amusing but not in this case; Joyce Compton as Chris is more annoying than funny. And that Nick Carter fell for her is just not believable. On the other hand, Donald Meek as Bartholomew the beekeeper is less annoying and more amusing that he was in the first film in the series. For me, the most interesting supporting actors were Chill Wills and Tom Conway. Conway went on to play The Falcon in an entertaining B detective series. There is one great line in the movie. Carter asks Senator Monrose if he would be willing to do something a little dangerous that might involve getting a knife in the back. Monrose replies, "Son, I've been a politician for forty years and a knife in the back is an old story to me." The movie is entertaining enough and worth a watch if for no other reason than it stars Walter Pidgeon.

As a rule, I enjoy the detective films made back in the 30s and 40s. But this film is punishing. The character played by Joyce Compton is especially annoying. How Walter Pigeon could be interested in her is beyond me.The only plus was the chance to spot all the bit players who populated the film. If this was considered the best of the series, I have no desire to see the others.I'm sure Tom Conway was delighted that his role was so short, and Edward Ashley couldn't muster any real enthusiasm for his part either.My 2 was generous!

This is a series B-movie from MGM, and since it had a much higher budget and production values by Bs at Monogram and Columbia Studios, it was rather pretty to look at--even if the plot was a bit silly and some of the characters were ridiculous.Walter Pidgeon went slumming in this film, as the usual A-list actor was cast as the detective, Nick Carter. His sidekick (practically a requirement in all B-detective films) was a highly unusual choice, as Donald Meek looked and acted nothing like the usual assistant. At first, I did not like this (though I usually love Meek in films). I think this was because they made Meek's character too bizarre and downright loopy! Him and his stupid bees--what a dumb plot idea. However, later, when you see Meek (one of the smallest and most harmless looking supporting actors) beating the snot out of the Nazi spies, the film really heated up!! Oddly, Pidgeon seemed mostly asleep in the film--and did very little. Most of the time, cute little Donald Meek was the one who sprang into action to save the day!! While I liked Meek, I definitely detested the lady detective played by Joyce Compton. While she often played ditsy ladies in films, here she is practically an imbecile and was a major hindrance to the plot. No detective is THAT stupid and I tired of her one-note performance.Still, despite its many flaws, the film was fast-paced and reasonably fun--making it an excellent time-passer.

Walter Pidgeon played Nick Carter, detective, in only three films from 1939 - 1940. Sky Murder was the last of the series and it is a real bomb. Walter himself is not too bad, but the rest of the cast does very little to deliver a film that is worth watching today. There are lots of detective sidekicks, but Walter Meek's portrayal of "Beeswax" Batholomew is simply annoying. Fortunately Tom Conway is not on screen long enough to warrant serious criticism. The plot involves fifth columnists, damsels in distress, and the interference of a female private detective that should have been left on the cutting room floor. A critical car chase suffers from continuity problems. Most of the gags fall flat. A murder does take place in the sky and by the time we see the solution, it is hard to care. Not worth your time.