Movie Review: Mad Holiday (1936)

Synopsis: After two years of playing detective roles, Philip Trent is in need of a break and attempts to escape his fame by taking a cruise. However, in addition to being accosted by fans, his vacation is interrupted by a fake murder, staged by author Peter Dean, who wants him to star in a movie based on her latest book. If that isn't bad enough, Trent is soon caught up in a real murder mystery when a second and real dead body is found in his cabin.

Who's in it? The movie stars Edmund Lowe, Elissa Landi, Ted Healy, Edmund Gwenn and Edgar Kennedy.

Review: I came across Mad Holiday on one of my movie channels last night and decided to add it to my library to watch this morning. I wasn't completely sure what to expect from this mystery/comedy, but it ended up being an entertaining choice.

I think the thing I liked most about this film was the chemistry between Trent (Lowe) and Dean (Landi). There was a mix of competitiveness and romance that made them fun to watch as a duo. I also liked how they were equal partners; Dean wasn't just there to be a love interest/damsel in distress. I think that added to the movie, especially when she uncovered clues and he added his expertise to the mix. Plus, the pair kept the film lighthearted and, on occasion, funny without reaching a point it couldn't be taken seriously.

The mystery itself was also interesting because there were quite a few suspects, some obvious and some that might be surprise killers on the ship. The fact there was a stolen diamond involved also made the motive fairly obvious, though it was unclear if it was related to the diamond's rightful owner (Soo Yong) or someone who was just looking to make money.

I also found I liked the added twist of Trent's reputation being on the line. The idea of an actor's career potentially being over if he couldn't solve a real murder mystery was intriguing because it toyed with the idea of the blurred lines between real life and make believe.

My only real complaint about the movie is it may have had a few too many characters, making it a bit hard to keep track of who was who. In fact, when the killer was revealed at the end, I needed to pause and rewind the movie to remind myself who he was. Of course, in fairness to the movie, I did watch it before the caffeine kicked in.

Final Opinion: It's a decent murder mystery with a good mix of comedy and a great detective pair. It's worth taking the time to watch.

My Grade: A

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