DETECTIVE COMEDY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 18

DETECTIVE COMEDY

Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Fussell take the places of Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice in Metro-Doldwyn-Mayer’s amusing sequel to ‘Fast Company”—"Fast and Loose," a :oming attraction at the Avon. The 'amous “New York Times” critic, Frank Nugent, wrote of these detective tcmedits; "The pictures have much in tommcn: a sense of humour, a facile style, genial performances, and just enough puzzlement to keep us from suspecting the least suspicious member of the cast. The comedy of ‘Fast and Loose’ is jauntily paced, and proSts as much from its writing as, from :he deft light-comedy playing of Mr Montgomery and Miss Russell in the auisance roles, of Reginald Owen.

Etienne Girardot, lan Wilkes, Sidney Blachmer, and Ralph Morgan and other? in the suspect-victim group.” “Fast and Loose” unwinds rapidly round the kernel of the story: the desire Of many persons to gain possession of a rare and valuable document, or at least to prevent Montgomery and his charming fcreen wife. Miss Russell, from gaining possession of it. Montgomery is seen in the role of Joel Sloane. a young devil-may-care dealer. in rare books who inevitably finds himself in the role of amateur detective surrounded by mystery which he eventually solves. Miss Russell plays his charming wife. Garda, and shares ail his adventures, as well as having a few of her own. Montgomery has been assigned by an absent-minded client, played by Etienne Girardot, to purchase a certain rare and precious book. His search leads him and his wife, as week-end guests; to the Torrent estate. There, Reginald Owen, another guest, is mys-

6 ‘Fast and Loose” for Avon

teriously attacked, and Montgomery proves that the rare book, still in the cracked safe, is a forgery. ' Before Montgomery solves the multimysteries that revolve round the disappearance of the rare book and the substitution of a faked copy, Miss Russell is held captive by gangsters and rescued by her husband. Together they face death in a faked motor , collision and three mysterious murders are committed.

Montgomery solves the mysteries in one of the most unusual climaxes seen on the screen. ‘‘Fast and Loose” is a different kind of picture for Montgomery and Miss Russell, and one that establishes them as one of the leading comedy teams on the screen. The picture is expertly knitted together in the

smooth direction of Edwin L.-Marin, with the help of George Folsey’s wellknown photography. ,