One of the best films i have seen

Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

Absolutely brilliant

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

It's up to the great Barbara Stanwyck to turn fluff into something special. Granted, with her speaking the lines, it sounds better than it could have been, a rather ordinary and far fetched story that RKO was already making starring the yet not A listers Lucille Ball and Ann Sothern. With Stanwyck cast, the film becomes an A picture where all eyes are on the great lady of the screen in front of them. Cast as a dippy socialite hiding a brain underneath the fur, Stanwyck is walking her foofy dogs one night and stumbles across a dead body. Well known to local law enforcement for being part of a group of dippy Park Avenue socialites getting into trouble, and now, she wants them to help her solve the crime, leading to more murder and trouble with not only the law but determined reporter Henry Fonda as well. Future "Blondie", Penny Singleton, features into the plot line, and shows a bit of what kept her fresh playing one part for 12 years. Surrounded by a group of starlets who seem to be working hard to keep up with her, it's obvious that Stanwyck was their den mother, not only as the character, but as their mentor and teacher as well. Fonda, apparently unhappy with this part, doesn't let that show, and the chemistry with Stanwyck later confirmed in two other movies, is obvious. I recognize the set from two other RKO movies of the same year, "Carefree" and "Bringing Up Baby", but this is unique and special because of the spark that she brings in. Soon to win an Oscar, Hattie McDaniel is very funny as her maid, delivering each line with gusto.Moments of suspense and some great screwball one liners give this an important place in the comedy hall of fame. This flies by in 80 minutes and is an exercise in true artistry. Barbara Stanwyck once said that whatever she had, it obviously worked, even if she couldn't identify it, but to use a word that she taught TV costar Linda Evans years later, what she had was presence.

Henry Fonda is no match for the bevy of beauties in "The Mad Miss Manton." For that matter, he can't even come close to Barbara Stanwyck. There isn't any real chemistry between the two leads in this comedy mystery, and I don't think there needs to be in this particular instance. Because this film is all about the "gals" – the bunch of socialites who congregate around gang leader Stanwyck, who plays the wealthy Melsa Manton. Fonda plays newspaper editor Peter Ames who is little more than a shill for the Manton minions. I think Fonda plays the role very well. His opening scene is a tirade against the spoiled society revelers who seem to enjoy creating problems for the police and civil order. After meeting Manton, he seems to fall for her at once – like a lovesick puppy. From there on, Ames gets himself in one scrape after another with the girls. I think they subdued and tied and gagged him at least three times in this film. It was very funny each time. After the crime is solved and everyone is happy, Ames turns out to be a male gold digger. Well, he may love Manton, but he loves her money as well. All of the cast of this film are very good. The film seems to suffer a little in its production quality. The plot is OK, but the screenplay seems a little weak and disconnected at times. The directing and editing also seem weak. It's still an enjoyable film to watch. One can imagine Cary Grant or Fred MacMurray in the role of Peter Ames. Either of them might have put a little more fire in Miss Manton.

Mildly amusing screwball comedy. Amateur sleuths showing up the cops was common fare in the anti-cop 1930's. Here, in a novel twist, the sleuth isn't a man; instead it's a pack of giddy socialite girls, of all things, led by the kookie Miss Manton (Stanwyck). They swarm around looking for clues, simply overwhelming everyone else. At least it's a lot of eye candy for the guys. Stanwyck does a pretty good job of acting pixilated, not what you'd expect from her usual no-nonsense tough cookie, while Fonda tries to keep up, but is definitely in a secondary role. Truth is, however, that each is acting outside their strongest suit.But my money's on Sam Levene as the head cop. He's got the screwball style down pat and is often hilarious. Catch his reaction shots and general exasperation with the amateurs who stay one step ahead of him. The whodunit part is nothing special and really just an excuse for the parade of antics. As a comedy, the movie doesn't make the front rank of screwballs so popular at the time, but is generally pleasing with a different take on who gets to chase down the guilty party.

Barbara Stanwyck was 31 years old playing opposite stone-faced 33 year old Henry Fonda in this comedy love story/murder mystery, and if you want to see how Barbara steals every scene, this is a good one to watch. This movie was selected by TCM as one of the films to highlight for their series "Black Images in Hollywood" due to the presence of Hattie McDaniel just prior to her Oscar-winning performance the next year in "Gone With the Wind." Hattie plays a sassy-talking maid for delicious comic relief. But it's a small role for Hattie and the main focus is on the delightful Barbara. There is an interesting scene at the end of the movie which foretells the use of S.W.A.T. teams today in both the cinema and on the streets. All in all, this is a pleasant movie to while away an afternoon with a friend, and who knows, you may even want to re-visit it again in a few years.