IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Nancy Drew, contest-reporter for the local newspaper, clears a young woman of murder charges.Nancy Drew, contest-reporter for the local newspaper, clears a young woman of murder charges.Nancy Drew, contest-reporter for the local newspaper, clears a young woman of murder charges.
Frankie Thomas
- Ted Nickerson
- (as Frank Thomas Jr.)
Thomas E. Jackson
- Bostwick - City Editor
- (as Thomas Jackson)
Hooper Atchley
- Chemist
- (uncredited)
Irving Bacon
- Tracy
- (uncredited)
Sam Bagley
- Trainer
- (uncredited)
Al Bain
- Gym Spectator
- (uncredited)
Frankie Burke
- Bellboy
- (uncredited)
Glen Cavender
- Newspaper Office Worker
- (uncredited)
- …
Loia Cheaney
- Newspaper Office Worker
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe high speed car chase with Nancy trying to catch up to another driver who damaged her car was largely filmed on the streets of Burbank, right outside the gates of Warner Brothers' studio, where this film was made.
- GoofsThe license plate on Nancy's car late in the film is different than it was during the rest of the film.
- Quotes
City Editor Bostwick: Why anyone is simple minded enough to want to work on a newspaper I've never been able to find out.
Nancy Drew: Why Mr. Bostwick, journalism is a very noble and glorious career. With all the adventure and romance and everything I'd think you would just love it.
- ConnectionsEdited into Who Dunit Theater: Nancy Drew - Reporter (2015)
- SoundtracksPretty Baby
(1916) (uncredited)
Music by Tony Jackson and Egbert Van Alstyne
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Sung by John Litel while putting Nancy to bed
Featured review
Not the Nancy of the novels, but still fun!
Although it took a few minutes for me to accept Bonita Granville as Nancy Drew, once I did, I really enjoyed this little film. Having read both some of the modern 'Nancy Drew Files' (and having submitted a manuscript for one) and one of the original 1930 stories, I was taken slightly off-guard by Granville's somewhat flighty, scheming character.
Still, Granville did make a good Nancy Drew. While she seemed to fluster and fright much more readily than the Nancy of the novels, she still showed the ingenuity, spunk, determination and courage. She was a wee bit more manipulative of her father, successful attorney Carson Drew, and of Ted (Ned in the books) Nickerson, the boy next door.
Ted was solidly played by Frankie Thomas, certainly not the athletic, confident Ned of the modern books, but an ideal sidekick for the movie Nancy. Thomas' wiry build and facial contortions added to the comic effect.
In fact, while the Nancy Drew novels have always been detective/adventure stories, the movie version at least Nancy Drew Reporter was really a comedy. And a cut little comedy it was. The cast went well together and the script was cute. I wasn't bothered by the one musical number. Actually I found that young Mary Lee, later a Roy Rogers sidekick, had a very charming voice.
John Litel as Carson Drew was certainly different than the father in the books. The Carson Drew of the novels is a very serious, stoic attorney, who rarely shows much life. Litel's Drew was a pleasant surprise as a doting, affectionate father. He was quite charming when he carried Nancy to her bed, forcing the hyper teen to hit the sack, serenading her all the while. I suspect an identical scene filmed today would lead to speculation about the nature of the father-daughter relationship. This was 1939, though, and Nancy fibbing to the newspaper editor with fingers crossed behind her back was about as naughty as things got.
Overall, this is still a fun little family film. For its time and place, I would have to call it at least a solid '7.' This may have been a 'B' movie but, just like in high school, a 'B' is not usually a bad thing.
Still, Granville did make a good Nancy Drew. While she seemed to fluster and fright much more readily than the Nancy of the novels, she still showed the ingenuity, spunk, determination and courage. She was a wee bit more manipulative of her father, successful attorney Carson Drew, and of Ted (Ned in the books) Nickerson, the boy next door.
Ted was solidly played by Frankie Thomas, certainly not the athletic, confident Ned of the modern books, but an ideal sidekick for the movie Nancy. Thomas' wiry build and facial contortions added to the comic effect.
In fact, while the Nancy Drew novels have always been detective/adventure stories, the movie version at least Nancy Drew Reporter was really a comedy. And a cut little comedy it was. The cast went well together and the script was cute. I wasn't bothered by the one musical number. Actually I found that young Mary Lee, later a Roy Rogers sidekick, had a very charming voice.
John Litel as Carson Drew was certainly different than the father in the books. The Carson Drew of the novels is a very serious, stoic attorney, who rarely shows much life. Litel's Drew was a pleasant surprise as a doting, affectionate father. He was quite charming when he carried Nancy to her bed, forcing the hyper teen to hit the sack, serenading her all the while. I suspect an identical scene filmed today would lead to speculation about the nature of the father-daughter relationship. This was 1939, though, and Nancy fibbing to the newspaper editor with fingers crossed behind her back was about as naughty as things got.
Overall, this is still a fun little family film. For its time and place, I would have to call it at least a solid '7.' This may have been a 'B' movie but, just like in high school, a 'B' is not usually a bad thing.
helpful•226
- mlevans
- Jan 25, 2006
- How long is Nancy Drew... Reporter?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 8 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was Nancy Drew... Reporter (1939) officially released in Canada in English?
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