Bess Armstrong is P.I. BT Brady. Two years prior to "Moonlighting", but just AFTER "Remington Steele" had started, clearly the female detective was in the frying pan in hollywood. Some fun names in this film -- Celeste Holm (loved her in "All About Eve"), Hermione Baddeley (Maude's maid!), José Ferrer, Elisha Cook. Roddy McDowall and Ray Walston. some big names from hollywood history. Brady gets caught up in the murder investigation of a writer. She was one of the last to speak with him, and the cops want answers. It's all pretty wacky. Baddeley keeps babbling, and no-one knows what she's talking about, or why she is there. Apparently she is also a mystery writer, as was the dead man. And Litto (Walston) is mixed up in this somehow. It's not bad. keeps on rolling. a couple of running gags. and it picks up speed and gets more interesting in the second half. Directed by Jerry Jameson, who had also done LOTS of tv... and airport 77.
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ksf-226 March 2018
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Female PI B.T. Brady (Bess Armstrong) is hired by a mystery writer to deliver his latest script to his publisher. But after the writer is murdered, Brady feels she owes it to her client to uncover his killer. There are no lack of suspects with a slew of other jealous writers and a jilted agent, Brady's got her hands full. There's also a police lieutenant dogging her every footstep. He knows Brady has more information than she's giving up. After a death threat, Brady realizes she's on the right track, but may have bitten off more than she can chew.
It's pretty easy to see This Girl for HIre's TV roots. The sound recording, cinematography, and acting all scream TV film pilot. And while I see why it was never picked up, This Girl for HIre isn't a complete waste. Armstrong makes a harmless, if not charming, lead. While I never bought her "tough guy" routine (and that trench coat and fedora were way too much), she's more than capable of pulling off the comedic aspects of the role. She stumbles and bumbles her way to the solution. The film's finale is really nice with some moderately suspenseful moments. I can't believe I didn't guess the identity of the killer. Looking back, it was so obvious. Finally, I would have liked to see Brady bring the case to a conclusion without the help of the male police officer. He didn't do much, but she should have wrapped things up on her own.
The old-school Hollywood trappings were also a bit much. Screening The Big Sleep in the den, the wood paneled boat of a car, and the voice over a la Bogart were more pandering than humorous. However, a supporting performance from Hollywood legend Celeste Holm was a real highlight.
So, overall, This Girl for Hire is a decent little time-waster if you go into it with lowered expectations.
5/10