IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.
Edward Keane
- Adam Thorne
- (as Ed Keane)
Tommy Bupp
- Spud Murphy
- (uncredited)
Betty Jane Graham
- Brinwood Student
- (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes
- Telegrapher
- (uncredited)
Vera Lewis
- Miss Van Deering
- (uncredited)
Jack Mower
- Radio Station Technician
- (uncredited)
John Ridgely
- Radio Station Technician
- (uncredited)
Cliff Saum
- Farmer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Nancy says to her father, "I'll bet you $23.80..." -23.80 refers to the amount of the weekly paycheck amount given to WPA workers during the Depression. It became an amount often used when jokingly betting someone to emphasize a large amount.
- GoofsWhen Hollister writes a carrier pigeon note following the police visit, in the long shot he is writing in a landscape orientation but in the closeup showing the message the notepad is in letter orientation.
- Quotes
Boy: Aw, quit disturbing the molecules!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Jack Wrather: A Legacy of Film and Friendship (2022)
Featured review
Is it a kidnapping? And, if so, what's Nancy to do?!
Back in the 1930s and 40s, Hollywood made a ton of mystery films. Big studios, small studios and mircoscopic studios...they all churned out these pictures by the dozens. And, the Holy Grail of all these studios was finding a series that took off and resulted in an extended series...such as The Lone Wolf, The Falcon or Charlie Chan. Well, in the case of Warner Brothers, they tried something a bit different--to create two series in which the protagonists were women! Torchy Blaine and Nancy Drew were given the Warner Brothers gloss and when seen today they seem better than the average mystery films. "Nancy Drew: Detective" was the first of four films starring Bonita Granville. And, they all are worth your time.
The story begins with a nice rich lady promising to give Nancy's school a large endowment. However, before she can arrange this, she disappears...and her financial manager keeps making excuses as to where she went. Nancy smells a rat and decides to investigate. And, with the help of Ted (in drag), they take a huge risk by sneaking into an old mansion out in the country.
This film features good writing, an unusual story and nice acting....and like all four films is worth your time. Fortunately, they're often shown on Turner Classic Movies and they are currently on YouTube as well.
The story begins with a nice rich lady promising to give Nancy's school a large endowment. However, before she can arrange this, she disappears...and her financial manager keeps making excuses as to where she went. Nancy smells a rat and decides to investigate. And, with the help of Ted (in drag), they take a huge risk by sneaking into an old mansion out in the country.
This film features good writing, an unusual story and nice acting....and like all four films is worth your time. Fortunately, they're often shown on Turner Classic Movies and they are currently on YouTube as well.
helpful•52
- planktonrules
- Dec 25, 2017
- How long is Nancy Drew: Detective?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $131,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 6 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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![Bonita Granville in Nancy Drew: Detective (1938)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWQ2ZTAwZGYtZTg4MC00MGQ5LWFhZjAtOGM1MWM4ZTk4NDRjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTk2MzI2Ng@@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)
Top Gap
By what name was Nancy Drew: Detective (1938) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer