Dressed to Kill (1941)

“The stork that delivered you should be arrested for peddling dope.” 6 May 2020

Having bought a new suit, Detective Michael Shayne (Lloyd Nolan) is on his way to be married when he hears a woman’s scream.  As you might expect, he has to investigate. Shayne discovers two dead bodies and a mystery.  The wedding will have to wait while he investigates.  

Unlike the film I wrote about yesterday, Dressed to Kill is a mystery/comedy that works.  The mystery elements are fairly strong for a movie of this type.  Not only must Shayne discover the killer’s identity, he also has to figure out how the murder was committed.  And I’m always a sucker for a crime scene riddled with secret passages.  As for the comedy elements, most worked for me.  Sure, some of it is that 1940s style cornball comedy, but I found it entertaining.  The dialogue is well written and comes fast and funny.  

What I like about Lloyd Nolan is that he’s the perfect guy for this kind of role.  He can play both a tough talking detective or the clown with a one-liner.  He’s believable and equally good at either.  Here, he’s joined by the wonderfully funny William Demerest and, in a criminally small role,  the always enjoyable Mary Beth Hughes.  Another acting highlight for me were the scenes featuring Ben Carter and Mantan Moreland.  Their bit with Nolan where he’s working to discover how the murder took place is very funny.  Even though Carter and Moreland regrettably and predictably play to stereotype, they’re a joy to watch.

It’s not perfect, but I found Dressed to Kill an entertaining experience.  Entertaining enough for a 7/10.

7/10