In an obvious tie-in with the forthcoming new big-screen incarnation of the forever young girl sleuth, Warner Bros. has packaged together all four Nancy Drew B-flicks from 1938 and 1939, starring the spunky, charming Bonita Granville in the title role. Although I'm sure I must have caught one or more of these when I was a kid (most certainly the kind of films famed Detroit movie host Bill Kennedy would have shown on his beloved TV show), I can't say that Nancy Drew, Detective, Nancy Drew, Reporter, Nancy Drew, Trouble Shooter, or Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase were familiar to me when I sat down to watch them. But what an utter surprise and delight they turned out to be. Moving like steam locomotives, these B movies were constructed and executed for maximum speed and clarity (as only the old Hollywood studio system could churn out B's), with stops along the way for beguiling comedy sequences and some unexpectedly modern touches in the acting. I was most impressed with the two-disc, single-sided The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection; it's one of my favorite collection of movies this year.

NANCY DREW, DETECTIVE

At the Brinwood School for Young Girls, Nancy Drew (Bonita Granville) is hot on the trail of the kidnappers who have taken Mrs. Mary Eldredge (Helena Phillips Evans), a wealthy alumnus who planned on leaving a sizeable endowment for Brinwood. Nancy enlists the aid of her father, Carson Drew (John Litel), a lawyer and only slightly disapproving parent who indulges Nancy's flighty sleuthing, in the search for Mrs. Eldredge. Next-door-neighbor and would-be boyfriend Ted Nickerson (Frankie Thomas) is also pressed into service by Nancy, although he's much more unwillingly than Carson Drew to get involved in Nancy's hair-raising schemes. When a homing pigeon turns out to be the key to finding the kidnappers' lair, Nancy and Ted come up with an elaborate scheme (which includes Ted dressing up as a nurse) to gain entry to the nursing home where Mrs. Eldredge has been committed against her will. Will Nancy and Ted foil the kidnappers?

I was a big Hardy Boys fan as a boy, but I'm pretty sure I never read a Nancy Drew mystery. But from what I could gather, the original, unadulterated Nancy Drew stories (before they were modernized) featured a Nancy who was rather more poised and refined than Granville's hyperactive movie Nancy. Whether that interpretation is an affront to fans of the original stories, I don't know. What I do know is that Bonita Granville is an absolute doll as feisty, gutsy, ever-so-slightly smart-assed Nancy Drew. Granville, who made a name for herself playing devilish little children (she was the original "bad seed" squealer child in William Wyler's These Three), brings just the tiniest bit of naughtiness to her characterization of Nancy Drew, making this screen Nancy breathless, smart, and spunky, with a "can-do," all-American attitude that's entirely winning.

Granville's interaction with the wonderfully laid-back John Litel as her father, probably made all the little girls in the audience envious of their playful, loving relationship. Litel never yells at Granville's antics; in fact, he's more prone to laugh at them, even when those schemes put Nancy and himself in danger (there's a marvelous moment where Nancy and Carson are being chased in a car, and instead of the cliched reaction we all expect, the characters are amused by the situation). Equally matching Litel's chemistry with Granville is Frankie Thomas' dry, humorous turn as Ted Nickerson. Famous later to millions of kids as TV icon Tom Corbett: Space Cadet, Thomas shows a real dead-pan flair as the put-upon, wise-acre Ted. Watching Granville and Thomas together, I didn't get the feeling that I was watching actors from the 1930s; there wasn't that usual stiffness or the rigid colloquialisms that pop up in films featuring adolescents from that time. Granville and Thomas - as well as Litel - seemed decidedly modern in their approach. I laughed out loud when Nancy gets mad at Ted; just before she's ready to spout off, Ted wearily says, "Keep it clean; keep it clean." Moments like that made my jaded kids laugh, too, proving that a film almost seventy years old can entertain new, young viewers - if they get a chance to watch them.

Directed by B-movie veteran William Clemens, Nancy Drew, Detective moves assuredly through its fast sixty-six minutes. With not an ounce of fat on it, Nancy Drew, Detective may not always take the time to explain every convenient coincidence in the simple plot, but that breeziness is precisely what makes Nancy Drew, Detective and the other three Drew films (all directed by Clemens with screenplays by Kenneth Gamet) work so well. Concise, witty writing and even wittier acting drives these films to success, not intricate plotting. Nancy Drew, Detective is a terrific start to the series, setting the proper tone for the following sequels.

The DVD:

The Video:
There's a lot of print damage to Nancy Drew, Detective. Warners didn't do a thing to digitally fix them, and they certainly didn't go back to the original negs to strike a print (if they even exist). Still, as I've said before in other reviews, print anomalies like dirt, scratches, and even major splice repairs, are part of the nostalgia of watching old movies from this period. The sometimes shaky print quality is not a drawback.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English mono audio track accurately reflects the original theatrical presentation. Close-captioning is also available.

The Extras:
The original trailer for Nancy Drew, Detective is included.

Final Thoughts:
Nancy Drew, Detective is the first film in the series, introducing us to the delightful, slightly frazzled interpretation of the girl detective by the youthful, buoyant Bonita Granville. It's a winner, and a great start to the franchise.

NANCY DREW, REPORTER

Coming into the big city to participate in an intern program at the daily paper, Nancy Drew vies with other cub reporters for a $50 dollar prize and a medal for the best newspaper article. Her editor, the grumpy, disapproving Bostwick (Thomas Jackson), tries to fob off some throwaway puff pieces at the kids, but naughty Nancy switches messages with a real reporter, and tries to cover the big murder mystery down at City Hall. Eula Denning (Betty Amann) is suspected of killing Kate Lambert for her estate. Lambert was poisoned using a rare chemical found only in high-tech photography techniques - of which Denning is an expert. Naturally, Nancy doesn't believe she did it, following suspicious-acting Soxie Anthens (Jack Perry) who is also watching the trial, and who almost runs over Nancy making a fast getaway when he learns that Denning is to be charged with murder. Soon, Nancy has involved Ted Nickerson (Frankie Thomas) in her pursuit, as well as her lawyer father, John Litel. After some fancy detective work, Nancy has narrowed down the murderer to Miles Lambert (Larry Williams), but will Ted and Nancy live to see him put in jail?

Definitely the funniest entry in the series, Nancy Drew, Reporter is an utterly unexpected delight, with the delicious addition of Ted's little monster of a sister, Mary Nickerson (Mary Lee, of Gene Autry fame), and Killer Parkins (Dickie Jones), a neighbor kid who's the equal to terror Mary. Clearly, director Clemens and screenwriter Gamet were obviously taken with little Mary Lee, because they showcase her in two memorable scenes that don't really have anything to do with the mystery at hand - and at only sixty-eight minutes, those two scenes are a big part of the running time. First, Mary and Killer are introduced, pulling a prank on Nancy by setting off a smoke bomb in her car. The vicious, almost psychotic facial expressions of mean little Mary are truly hysterical. And second, there's a marvelous, totally unnecessary sequence where the gang must literally sing for their supper at a Chinese restaurant. Making up songs out of common phrases, all the troupers delight, but it's Mary Lee's scene all the way, with the little belter showing great savior faire at knocking out her number. It's a real pity neither Mary or Dickie showed up again in the Drew films.

Granville and Thomas are no slouches here, either, with Thomas doing a funny double talk routine to get out of trouble, while Nancy does a hilarious move, checking her hair in the rear view mirror during a hair-raising car chase. There are so many modern comedic touches like those in Nancy Drew, Reporter - I particularly like it when they both say the same phrase, and then automatically "pinkie swear" each other without any expression - that I re-ran a few scenes like those, just to enjoy them again. The finale, with Ted and Nancy using a neon hotel marquee for a combination joke/help message, puts the capper on this delightfully insolent little mystery, making Nancy Drew, Reporter my favorite of the four titles.

The DVD:

The Video:
There's quite a bit of damage to the print used for the Nancy Drew, Reporter transfer, including distracting "rain" effect damage during Ted's "One-Round Loogan" boxing sequence. Although I don't mind print anomalies in old titles like Nancy Drew, Reporter, this is pretty severe. Warners could have tried to fix it up just a little.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English mono audio track accurately reflects the original theatrical presentation. Close-captioning is also available.

The Extras:
The original trailer for Nancy Drew, Reporter is included.

Final Thoughts:
The funniest entry in the Drew series, Nancy Drew, Reporter benefits from Mary Lee's devilish, adorable turn as Ted's little sister. Granville and Thomas are excellent, as usual, with chemistry between them to spare. Speedy and bright, Nancy Drew, Reporter is a supremely accomplished little B programmer.

NANCY DREW, TROUBLE SHOOTER

With Nancy on summer vacation - it's always summer vacation in these films - Carson Drew decides to go up to "Uncle" Matt Brandon's (Aldrich Bowker) farm for a little R & R. Or at least that's what he wants Nancy to believe. Actually, Matt is under arrest for the murder of his neighbor, whose body was found on his property. Sheriff Barney Riggs (Roger Imhof) refuses to see reason, instantly suspecting Matt instead of looking around for other likely suspects - particularly Clint Griffith (Erville Alderson), the shifty, mean farmer who stands to gain from Matt's incarceration. Luckily, Ted and his family happen to be up at the lake by Matt's spread, so Nancy has yet another opportunity to cajole the hapless Ted into helping her clear Matt's name. If that isn't enough for Nancy's summer vacation, she suddenly realizes that her widower father has become infatuated with lovely next-door-neighbor, Edna Gregory (Charlotte Wynters).

Much more a straight-ahead mystery than the previous two Drew films, Nancy Drew, Trouble Shooter downplays just a tad on the comedy, concentrating more on the specifics of the mystery plot. While there are still delightfully funny scenes with the always running and jumping Granville (her efforts to cook a full meal on a wood stove is particularly memorable), mystery is definitely the focus of this third Drew effort, and the mechanics of the plot are swiftly and competently executed. Modern viewers, however, may cringe at the inclusion of Willie Best's stereotypical Apollo Johnson character, but it's important to remember that despite the demeaning role he's given here, Best was considered one of the finest, most underappreciated comedians in Hollywood (not surprising considering the roles he was offered), and he delivers the goods - regardless of how we now see his role in these more enlightened times. A big slapstick finale, with Ted flying a plane with terrified Nancy onboard, evens up the comedy/mystery ratio, and provides a nice topper to the previous antics.

The DVD:

The Video:
Again, there are problems with the print used for this Nancy Drew, Trouble Shooter transfer, with ragged splices and dirt rampant. However, it's not as egregious as the previous title, and again, within acceptable nostalgic tolerances of such print problems.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English mono audio track accurately reflects the original theatrical presentation. Close-captioning is also available.

The Extras:
An original trailer for Nancy Drew, Trouble Shooter is included.

Final Thoughts:
More straightforward B-movie mystery than fluffy, eccentric comedy (such as the previous title), Nancy Drew, Trouble Shooter is still entertaining nonsense with Granville and Thomas comfortable in their established roles. The mystery may not be much of a mystery, but it's a pleasure to see so many old pros do their stuff on the screen.

NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE

In the final Granville Nancy Drew film, Nancy becomes involved in a plot to scare away two spinster sisters, Miss Rosemary and Miss Floretta Turnbull (Vera Lewis and Louise Carter), from their rambling mansion. Nancy had been instrumental in convincing the sisters to donate their home for the purposes of a children's hospital. But the terms of the sisters' father's will dictate that they stay in the house every night for a period of twenty years following his death. Soon, someone is murdering everyone who comes near the sisters and the mansion, in an effort to get their hands on the mansion (which will revert to the city's ownership should the sisters default on the will's terms). Nancy engages "Ice Man" Ted Nickerson to help find the "hidden staircase" in the Turnbull mansion that holds the key to the mystery.

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase is such an accomplished, entertaining B-programmer, I'm at a loss to understand why the series was abruptly ended after only two years and four features. All of the actors are immersed into their characters, perfectly meshing with the requirements of the short, swift plots and the slightly-smart-ass dialogue. The plot, such as it is, is fairly ingenious, with lots of entertaining red herrings and suspicious characters that keep you occupied during the film's brief running time. And the finale, perfectly structured and executed by director Clemens, is a suspense-filled action sequence that kept even my CGI-saturated kids on the edge of their seats. Ted and Nancy are trapped in an underground Civil War tunnel, pursued by the film's killer, and battling a rising water table due to a punctured water main. It's as entertaining a cliffhanger ending as anything I've seen in a while, made all the more delightful by the interplay between Granville and Thomas. Granville in particular is a real marvel in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase; for lack of a better word, she's utterly modern in her approach to the role, never coming off as cliched or outdated. When Nancy wallops the killer with her deadly wedgie mules, it's a hilarious moment, but played within the context of the film, it puts Nancy firmly in the forefront of female movie heroines. Yes, Ted helps her out in her adventures, but she's more than his equal, and a great role model for young viewers - even today.

The DVD:

The Video:
The video image for Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase is much better than the other three, with noticeably less print damage. Since the films are so short, compression issues aren't a concern with an adequate bit rate.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English mono audio track accurately reflects the original theatrical presentation. Close-captioning is also available.

The Extras:
There's an original trailer for Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase included.

Final Thoughts:
Assured, polished, and supremely confident in its writing, direction and performances, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase is probably the sharpest of the four Drew films; it's too bad it turned out to be Granville's last appearance as the famous girl sleuth. With an exciting, action-filled finale, the funny, suspense-filled Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase is a winner, and ends the series on a high note.

Final Thoughts on the Collection:
The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection is an unexpected, utter delight, with the effervescent, bubbling, breathless Bonita Granville just about perfect as the whip-smart, slightly sarcastic, all-American girl sleuth Nancy Drew. Frankie Thomas is dry perfection as the put-upon Ted Nickerson, and John Litel is the kind of father every girl would want. Told with the speed and economy that only a 1930s Hollywood B-programmer could summon, with witty scripts that playfully tease the mystery plots with a surprisingly modern tone, The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection featuring Nancy Drew, Detective, Nancy Drew, Reporter, Nancy Drew, Trouble Shooter, and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, is one of the brightest, breeziest DVD releases this year. If only Warner Bros. had put just a modicum of effort into cleaning up the prints -- and with perhaps a few more extras included, like a little background documentary -- I would have given The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection DVDTalk's highest rating. As it stands, it still deserves a highly recommended rating.