Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: After Tiny Torgeson is murdered right in front of her, reporter Torchy Blane joins her boyfriend, Det. Steve McBride, in the investigation. Torgeson, they learn, was going to buy the various businesses owned by former gangster Fitz Mularkey, who is going straight after falling in love with Marcia Friel. Fitz, angry over his friend's murder, vows to take matters into his own hands, putting Torchy and McBride in a race to find the killer before Fitz does. Who's in it? The movie stars Glenda Farrell , Barton MacLane , Charlotte Wynters, Robert Paige and Tom Kennedy. Review: I enjoyed The Adventurous Blonde a few days ago and, since that was the third movie in the Torchy Blane series, decided to watch the first one, Smart Blonde , this morning. I wasn't disappointed. At first, the murder mystery seemed a bit too easy. Torgeson (Joseph Crehan) is murdered with Chuck Cannon (Max Wagner) as the clear an obvious killer and because of that, I figured this would just b...

Synopsis: Frustrated with the way Torchy Blane always beats them to the scoop, a group of reporters conspires to embarrass her on the eve of her wedding to Det. Steve McBride by hiring actor Harvey Hammond to pretend to be murdered. Their plot goes awry when Hammond really is killed, and Blane and MacBride investigate. Who's in it? The movie stars Glenda Farrell , Barton MacLane , Anne Nagel , William Hopper and Charley Foy. Review: I was in the mood for a classic murder mystery this morning and picked The Adventurous Blonde because it looked like it might be a halfway decent comedy as well. Even though I wasn't familiar with the Torchy Blane films that preceded it, leaving me a step behind when it came to some of the characters, it ended up being a good choice. I think the thing I liked most about this film was the paring of Blane (Farrell) and McBride (MacLane). There were times when they seemed like an unlikely couple but when it came to the murder, it was clear they ma...