Dressed to Kill is one of the most enjoyable 'B' movies I've ever seen. Lloyd Nolan is terrific as Michael Shayne, detective, and his supporting cast is superb to say the least. William Demarest is the best hapless police inspector this side of James Gleason, a youthful Henry Daniell plays a stuck up prig to perfection, Milton Parsons is a bad baddie, and we even get small turns from Mantan Moreland and Billy Benedict. The story is reasonably well written, fast paced, and a lot of fun.
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JohnSeal6 February 2000
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Economical B movie that has a snappy pace and some terrific lines. Among the best "The stork that brought you should have been arrested for dope peddling!" Lloyd Nolan is perfect in the lead, attractive but believably an everyday guy that you'd run into as a private detective. Always a reliable supporting player whether cast as a heavy or a hero he gets a chance to hold down the star spot in this. One of the great things about the old lower budget films was the opportunities it presented for the quality secondary actors in A level productions to play parts with a bit more variety. William Demarest and Henry Daniell play their stock characters but as always extremely well and add zing to the picture. Something that probably came and went without much fanfare at its release this is a snappy little pic that will please most viewers.
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blanche-213 December 2011Lloyd Nolan brightens up the screen as investigator Michael Shayne in "Dressed to Kill" from 1941. While picking up his fiancé (Mary Beth Hughes) from her residential hotel so that they can finally get married, Shayne hears a scream from upstairs. Racing up there, he finds two people sitting at a dining table in costume and quite dead.
Eventually Shayne is led to a play done years earlier by the victims and begins looking at the other performers. Meanwhile, he's constantly tripping over both his angry fiancé and Police Inspector Pierson (William Demarest).
There's lots of comedy in this B movie, mostly provided by Demarest, who is one-upped every time by Shayne. The acting is terrific, with some really neat character actors: Virginia Brissac, Erwin Kaiser, Henry Daniel, and Mantan Moreland. Though in a stereotyped role, Moreland shows his talent as he does in the Charlie Chan films, this time even going into a dance.
Recommended. -
Irie21226 August 2013I sat bolt upright at the end of this movie because it looked as if there was a serious error in the credits. No, I thought, I must be wrong. But I'm not. The movie's streaming on Netflix, so you can see for yourself: 20th Century Fox reversed the names of the two African-American actors who provide some of the brightest points in this bright little movie.
They often entertained as a team, and in this movie Mantan Moreland and Ben Carter play two theater janitors who first appear doing a sweet backstage dance sequence with their brooms while Mary Beth Hughes (too little of her in this movie) sings on-stage but off-screen. I loved it that the filmmakers ignored the girl singer for the greater talents of these two hoofers. Their characters are called Rusty and Sam, with the bigger part going to Rusty, who is played by Moreland, the more famous of the two. But in the final credits, the names are reversed with the roles, crediting Ben Carter as Rusty. Inexcusable. I doubt it ever happened to the Marx Brothers, or even the Ritz Brothers.
Yet IMDb has it right in its Cast and Crew listing. I find that impressive.
The movie's impressive, too-- a B movie with a ridiculously complicated plot with a lot of theatrics, quick-witted dialog, and sure-footed performances by Lloyd Nolan, William Demarest, Henry Daniell, Moreland and Carter, and Mary Beth Hughes-- of whom, as I said, there was far too little screen time. Far too little of her in movies in general, in fact. -
GManfred30 November 2011"Dressed To Kill" was an excellent murder mystery and the third entry in the Michael Shayne detective series of the 40's. It is the first one I've seen and I enjoyed the way Lloyd Nolan fit the title character like an old shoe. It had a great supporting cast and a story to match, unlike many B murder mysteries of this era which are often formulaic and predictable.
This one took considerable thought, and both the denouement and deus ex machina are pretty clever. Shane/Nolan has to solve a double murder in which the victims are killed at a dinner table with two different guns, and along the way we get to meet some very interesting characters, played by some very interesting character actors. We also find out that he knows nearly everybody within shouting distance, which is a formidable number of people as this is New York City. It creates a cheerfully amiable atmosphere, despite the grumpy Chief Inspector, played by William Demarest in his customary bombastic style. Also on hand is Henry Daniell as a theatrical snob, and Mary Beth Hughes, maybe the prettiest B picture girl who never made the jump to more important pictures.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think I will buy the Shayne collection selling on Amazon. Always appreciate good, solid movie-making and "Dressed To Kill" is a sterling example. It played on FMC the other morning. -
AlsExGal18 December 2017But it really is!
This is a fast-paced comedy/mystery starring Lloyd Nolan as Private Eye Michael Shayne, attempting to solve a double-murder. Nolan seems to figure everything out before the bewildered police inspector, played by William Demarest. The banter between Nolan and Demarest is great. Demarest rolls with the punches, getting conked on the noggin twice, and even getting a chair wrapped around his head. Mary Beth Hughes appears in a subplot as Shayne's fiancée, but their wedding plans keep getting interrupted by Shayne's pursuit of the killer (whose identity did surprise me). Milton Parsons has a juicy part, and Henry Daniell shows a flare for slapstick. Mantan Moreland is hysterical, and I do hope that he laughed all the way to the bank given the roles he was given during his career. Don't think too hard about this one, and you'll have a good time.
I have to admit, though, that just once, it would be interesting if the dumb police inspector actually turned out to be the killer. Now that would be a real surprise. And no, I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying that. -
Lloyd Nolan as Private Investigator Shayne cracks a murder case in the building where his bride-to-be. He gave comic flair in this who-did-it film.
Henry Daniel, a usual heavy in films, is comparatively light as the major suspect, who may have defrauded the victim while carrying on with the latter's wife. Both the wife and Danielle's parts are greatly understated.
William Demarest is effective as the head police officer, often victimized in the film, especially by the real killer.
The movie just proves that even a man can seek revenge even after 26 passing years. The killer is as devious as they come.
As far as the planned marriage goes, you can forget it. We have an assortment of suspects here and most are even comical when you think about it. -
The third Michael Shayne film Lloyd Nolan made for Fox. This one has hard-boiled detective Shayne (Lloyd Nolan) set to marry his sweetheart (Mary Beth Hughes) but a double homicide in a theatre draws his attention away. Nolan is great in this role. He was made for delivering the snappy dialogue that was the best part of the Michael Shayne films. Mary Beth Hughes is very cute but doesn't get much to do here. She appeared in two other Shayne movies, playing a different character in each one. Nice supporting cast includes William Demarest, Henry Daniell, and pretty Sheila Ryan. Demarest is especially fun. Mantan Moreland and Ben Carter also provide some comic relief. It's a good B detective picture helped by healthy doses of comedy. I also liked the moments of weirdness such as when Shayne first discovers the murder victims in their bizarre costumes. It's a good way to pass the time if you like detective stories.
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expandafter28 December 2007Lloyd Nolan's Michael Shayne is a refreshingly human private detective, jumping to wrong conclusions and once not even being able to say his own name correctly (you'll see why). The two policemen assigned to the case are delightfully dense.
Shayne is within hours of being married when he and his bride-to-be hear a scream that he investigates. He has to spend the rest of the movie not only attempting to solve the crime but placating and putting off his impatient fiancée. Secret passageways and trapdoors, people who have changed their identities, magicians' sleight of hand, and a hilarious singing-telegram scene add to the tasty mix.
I really enjoyed this and found the humor a welcome addition to the murder investigation. -
Detective Michael Shayne (Lloyd Nolan) and his girlfriend Joanne (Mary Beth Hughes) are on their way to be married when a scream from a nearby hotel room draws his attention to a pair of theatrical murders.
This was the fourth in a series of Michael Shayne detective films. The first seven were made by 20th Century Fox and starred Lloyd Nolan. The final five were made by Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) and starred Hugh Beaumont. There were also three radio shows (1944–1953) and a television series (1960–1961) based on the Michael Shayne character.
Interesting racial stereotypes, with Otto Han as a Japanese servant with poor English skills and the humorous Mantan Moreland (who was in "King of the Zombies" this same year). -
"Dressed To Kill" is, in my opinion, the least interesting of the first three Michael Shayne movies. The mystery is not bad, but it's not that gripping either, and it has no character depth, unlike the previous entry, "Sleeper's West". The most telling example of that difference can be found in the return of Mary Beth Hughes, who was a three-dimensional woman in "Sleeper's West", but here she plays an entirely different character - the nagging soon-to-be Shayne's wife. She has virtually nothing to do. Third-billed Sheila Ryan has precisely two (2) scenes in the film. The character whom Shayne has the most natural chemistry with is the frustrated police inspector played by William Demarest. One of their best exchanges goes like this: "You saved my life!" - "Think nothing of it. I don't!". ** out of 4.
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If ever a "B" could be said to have a surfeit of production values that movie is Dressed To Kill, the third in the seven-picture Fox series (that was then taken over for a further five films by Producers Releasing Corp). Just look at that cast! It's so richly extensive in name players that some of the top-billed people like Sheila Ryan are in and out before you can blink an eye. Mary Beth Hughes' fans are not well served either as she has an unsympathetic role (which she plays well). On the other hand, Mr Nolan exerts his fulsome presence in almost every scene and does his level best to squeeze the other players out of the action. Fortunately, it's mighty hard to steal scenes from a master of slapstick like William Demarest (the bit in which he falls into the orchestra pit is a hoot!) and director Eugene Forde is also on hand to see that actors like Henry Daniell get a fair shake. Forde even slows down his admirably fast pacing on occasions to allow his players time to breathe. Mystery fans will be pleased to note that the identity of the killer is very cleverly (but not unfairly) concealed. Beautiful camera-work and great sets add to the movie's appeal. In short, a most entertaining "B" that will appeal to everyone who can at least tolerate Lloyd Nolan.
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No, not the Sherlock Holmes entry nor the Brian DePalma slasher. This is a fast-paced comedy/mystery starring Lloyd Nolan as Private Eye Michael Shayne, attempting to solve a double-murder. Nolan seems to figure everything out before the bewildered police inspector, played by William Demarest. The banter between Nolan and Demarest is great. Demarest rolls with the punches, getting conked on the noggin twice, and even getting a chair wrapped around his head. Mary Beth Hughes appears in a subplot as Shayne's fiancée, but their wedding plans keep getting interrupted by Shayne's pursuit of the killer (whose identity did surprise me). Milton Parsons has a juicy part, and Henry Daniell shows a flare for slapstick. Mantan Moreland is hysterical; no one can bug his eyes out like this guy.
I have to admit, though, that just once, it would be interesting if the dumb police inspector actually turned out to be the killer. Now that would be a real surprise. -
bkoganbing19 May 2015In this entry in the Michael Shayne series at 20th Century Fox Lloyd Nolan is about to be married to Mary Beth Hughes. The plan is to go to Niagara Falls just as soon as he can dig up a proper suit to be married in for the wedding pictures at City Hall.
But Nolan and Hughes stumble into a murder of a theatrical producer and his leading lady at the next door theater where the producer had a private entrance to his suite at the hotel and a few other hideaways and by ways. The man led quite a busy life with the ladies.
In fact the whole thing revolves around a show he produced 25 years earlier and a performer whose wife he stole at the time. But being that the victim was an all around rat there are no shortage of suspects.
Nolan makes a deal with one of the newspapers for an exclusive if he beats the cops to the solution. Not that it is all that hard because William Demarest the chief inspector is from the Keystone Academy of Police. Still there are laws about interfering with a police investigation. Stuff that private detectives like Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe or even Jim Rockford avoid doing or at least get caught at doing Shayne does with abandon.
Other than the fact that the perpetrator commits a third murder of a witness you do feel kind of sorry for him. Nolan fits the role better than the glove fit OJ. -
secondtake25 August 2013Dressed to Kill (1941)
There are several movies by this name, and this is one of the lesser of them, a comic detective yarn with an improbable murder and some fun settings. Key to its success--because it isn't half bad--is the leading man, Lloyd Nolan, who has an ease and likability that makes his scenes fun to watch. And he's in every minute of the movie.
This is one of a series of Michael Shayne movies (that's the detective's name), and the first seven of the thirteen movie versions star Nolan. It says something that I'd be willing to see another, for sure. But I think this is a television level drama (before t.v., but that kind of budget and level of intensity). These aren't like the great detective movies of the 30s and 40s, and not a bit like the noirs of the 40s and 50s, just to be clear.
One of the surprising high points is the script--very witty, and unrelentingly clever. Nice
Expect very good production values, a decent supporting cast, and a kind of over-convoluted Agatha Christie kind of plot with lots of characters that are really hard to get to know in just over an hour. In the big picture these are a little like the Sherlock Holmes or the Mr. Wong movies with Boris Karloff. Fun, but no great shakes. -
In this Michael Shayne movie, there's a very strange mystery. A woman and man are both found shot and sitting at the same table. The woman had been shot with a handgun and the man with a rife. But, they were discovered after only ONE shot was heard! Now Shayne being a somewhat shady private dick, he began exploiting this to his own benefit...by getting rich folks to pay him to keep them out of the case! But there is one minor problem...Shayne begins working this case when he's supposed to be with fiancee...getting married!
In addition to Shayne, there are lots of very good support...including the Vaudeville act of Ben Carter and Mantan Moreland. Overall, it's an unremarkable but pleasant B-mystery...nothing really special but still handled pretty well by Twentieth Century Fox. -
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 -
arthur_tafero12 October 2023Lloyd Nolan was always a dependable commodity as an actor, and this role is no exception. Adding to his talents is the very funny William Demarest, he of the perfect Vaudeville comedy timing. Together, they are quite entertaining, while both are trying to solve a bizarre murder mystery. The other talent in the film is strictly B movie level, but Demarest and Nolan lift this mediocre script out of the realm of the dreary, and into the realm of entertaining. There is also an appearance of Rochester (he of Jack Benny fame), which is an additional light touch. Two actors are killed and the suspected killer is a member of the original cast from several years back. An interesting concept.
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bill-68820 August 2009Watching this and other Mike Shane entries in this series is truly a treat. They simply don't make them like this any more! Lloyd Nolan is a glib, fast-talking, somewhat arrogant Mike Shane but these traits only add to the character. This one was filmed on a set--unlike some of the others--and the viewer doesn't get a time-travel perspective of the way things looked in 1941. Even so, this little film is well worth watching and owning. Black cast members are given roles of ghost-fearing janitors and one--Mantan Moreland--has his name misspelled in the credits. Oh, if you like double-breasted suits, this film is for you. Shane and other male members of the cast wear them in every scene.
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kapelusznik1818 November 2015***SPOILERS*** Just when private detective Michael Shayne, new suit and all, was about take his long suffering girlfriend night club singer Joanna La Marr down to city hall to tie the knot things really started jumping. That's when he hears a scream upstairs from his hotel room at the Du Nord and gets himself involved in a double murder of both Broadway producer Louis Lathrop and his lead singer Desiree Vance. Putting the wedding off Shayne soon starts to poke his nose into the crime to the distaste of the man in charge of the murders Inspector Pierson who feels, rightfully so, he's messing up the evidence at the crime scene.
Shayne not at all disturbed in what Inspector Pierson feels about him soon uncovers evidence that the two were involved in a reunion of their 1915 hit play "Sweethearts of Paris" who's star in the play Carlo Ralph played the leading role of "Beppo the Dog". Shayne indistinctly feels that somehow Ralph, he doesn't really say why, somehow had something to do with both Lathrop and Vance's murders in finding a dog custom, as a calling card, over Lathrop's dead body. The problem is that Ralph supposedly died in German captivity during WWI back in 1916 some 25 years ago.
****SPOILERS Shayne uses all his skills and talents to track down Lathrop and Vance's killer and in the process has the hotel maid Emily found dead in her room from poison that she supposedly took. In a suicide letter Emily states that not only is she former actress Lynne Evens but that she murdered both Lathrop and his lover Desiree Vance for cheating on her. That's because Vance was romantically involved with Lathop who dropped her for Vance when her back was turned! As Shayne soon found out this was all a BS story on the real murderers part who in fact turned out to be the supposed long dead Ralph coming back from the dead or so everyone thought. That's to get his revenge for being chested out of his salary in his leading part as "Beppo the Dog" in the play by Lathop while in German custody. As for Shayne his involvement in the case got his soon to be fiancée Joanne La Marr so mad that she dropped him and went back to her first love Bruce who at least unlike Shayne put her first before anything else! -
coltras3528 November 2023Detective Michael Shayne and his girlfriend Joanne are on their way to be married when a scream from a nearby hotel room draws his attention to a pair of theatrical murders, the victims dressed up in fancy costumes. Knowing that he can make a pretty good stack of dough off of this case, especially since the hotel wants to keep the crime quiet ("Tell them not to bring the bodies through the lobby!"), Shayne takes on the case. He's willing to put love on hold to get a mystery solved.
Lloyd Nolan is likeable and very much on the ball as Michael Shayne, a private investigator who solves a bizarre case but also makes a bit of money on the side. He's quick on the mark as well as with his wits, but its William Demerest as the not-so smart inspective who steals the scene with his one liners. It's a fun mystery with some screwball humour, good production values, a really cool theatre with plenty of doors in which the killer could enter and an interesting cast of suspects and a very odd murder. Solid mystery. -
dougdoepke21 December 2011Despite some notable features, this programmer fails to rise above standard detective shows of the time. Nonetheless, the opening scene is a hoot, as a double-breasted Shayne (Nolan) gets harassed by an aggressive clothing salesman. In fact, Nolan's the best thing about the film. His fast-talking brash personality holds a center of attention. I'm just sorry we don't see more of Mary Beth Hughes whose brassy personality is a perfect foil for her meandering fiancée, Shayne. Then there're two exotics from the period—creepy Milton Parsons (Max) in a beard no less, plus snooty Henry Daniell (Julian) getting sympathetic treatment for a change.
That initial murder scene remains a grabber. The dog's head plopped onto one of the corpses is like nothing I've seen and shows real imagination. The trouble, for me at least, is that the whodunit part never really gels, despite clever touches with the murder weapon. At the same time, the pacing is uneven, better suited at times to character study than to plot. There's also the standard dumb cop humor, plus Mantan Moreland doing his familiar bug-eyed comedic bit.
All in all, it's an unexceptional entry, mainly for fans of Nolan, myself included.