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The Mad Miss Manton

Play trailer Poster for The Mad Miss Manton 1938 1h 20m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
After the murdered body discovered by beautiful, vivacious socialite Melsa Manton disappears, police and press label her a prankster until she proves them wrong.
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The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton

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Critics Consensus

Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck prove a charming pair in The Mad Miss Manton, a madcap mystery that blends comedy and thrills to entertaining effect.

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Critics Reviews

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Frank S. Nugent New York Times 04/22/2024
The producers have done rather well on all counts. Go to Full Review Dorothy M'Aulay Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com 04/22/2024
A mad and merry comedy. Go to Full Review Philip K. Scheuer Los Angeles Times 04/22/2024
The Mad Miss Manton is a comedy belonging to that late un- lamented school of folderol which had, one supposes, already been given a decent burial. But R.-K.-O. presents it as though it were something brand new. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 6h
3/4
The madcap pace can’t completely camouflage a dawdling murder-mystery, but the film maintains enough speed to succeed. Go to Full Review Herbert Cohn Brooklyn Daily Eagle 04/22/2024
A throwback to the school of zany comedies, which had almost played itself out in the first six or seven months of the year, The Mad Miss Manton is an assemblage of madcap antics, confused mystery killings and deliciously bright, sophisticated lines. Go to Full Review Jay Carmody Washington Star 04/22/2024
Director Leigh Jason has kept his farce moving at a suitable farce tempo and contrives to get the fullest value from the various episodes -- tense, funny and somewhere between -- with which the script endowed him. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jack S 05/30/2024 Stanwick and Fonda were a great team and they’re both attractive and amusing in this one. But unfortunately there’s nothing exceptional here. Although mildly enjoyable, “The Lady Eve” it’s not! See more Steve D 05/18/2023 Not really memorable but fun thanks to the cast. See more 08/03/2020 Witty banter, glamorous stars, and a nod toward film noir. A fun classic that doesn't disappoint. See more 08/02/2019 What a delightful murder mystery comedy, Barbara Stanwyck is amazing as always, she and Henry Fonda make a great teaming. Very entertaining, great pace and well produced. Snappy well written screenplay. See more 04/10/2019 Both leads shine and develop some chemistry as this film deliberately lurches here and there to wring as much wry comedy out of the situation as it can. The police are always inept in these detective films and books, as they pretty much are today. Can you imagine living in a time without DNA analysis when the cops pinned anything they wanted on whoever they wanted just to alleviate public pressure? Here it is played for laughs. A good early detective-movie genre. The acting is superb. Again, my eyes hurt after watching so many black and white films. The colorization technology must be better than it was thirty years ago. Color would vastly improve this film. See more Frances H 01/01/2019 Cute, funny comedic murder mystery with Stanwyck and Fonda young and charming, and a cast of classic Hollywood character actors, with a very tongue-in-cheek script. See more Read all reviews
The Mad Miss Manton

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Cast & Crew

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Leigh Jason

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Melsa Manton

Henry Fonda

Peter Ames

Sam Levene

Lieutenant Brent

Frances Mercer

Helen Frayne

Stanley Ridges

Edward Norris

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The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton (1938) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After the murdered body discovered by beautiful, vivacious socialite Melsa Manton disappears, police and press label her a prankster until she proves them wrong.
Director
Leigh Jason
Producer
Pandro S. Berman, P.J. Wolfson
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 21, 2009
Runtime
1h 20m
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