MRS O’MALLEY AND MR MALONE

US, 1950, 70 minutes, Black and white.
Marjorie Main, James Whitmore, Fred Clark, Phyllis Kirk, Dorothy Malone, Clinton Sundberg.
Directed by Norman Taurog.

Mrs O’ Malley and Mr Malone is a brief entertaining supporting feature, intended to be a series but, unfortunately, this was not to be, perhaps Marjorie Main being committed to all the Ma and Pa Kettle films.

Marjorie Main is very enjoyable as the hard-talking, wisecracking Mrs O’ Malley from Montana who wins a radio competition and travels to New York City to receive her prize. She is a fan of murder mysteries and comes across the writer, Mr Malone, played by James Whitmore, and becomes involved in a murder mystery, the moving of bodies through the train, pursued by a detective, played by Fred Clark, and ultimately being arrested and handcuffed with Malone when she arrives in New York City.

Marjorie Main is a kind of toned-down Ma Kettle. James Whitmore is gambler, irresponsible, putting a spin on everything and with an unnecessarily roving eye throughout the film.

The murder mystery is enjoyable, a lot of slapstick, and some funny lines, including Mrs O’ Malley remarking about monotony where she lived “monotony would be exciting and that town”.

Direction is by Norman Taurog, who won an Oscar for Skippy, who directed a whole range of films and was about to direct several Martin and Lewis comedies as well as Elvis Presley musicals.

1. An entertaining supporting feature of the time? The cast? Murder literary? Sleuthing?

2. Brevity, production values, MGM style, the career of the director, Oscar-winner, comedies and musicals?

3. Mrs O’ Malley, in Montana, answering the phone, naming the song, winning the competition, the men in the boarding house, congratulations, her reminiscing, remembering her no-good husband, and the song when he was drunk, tried to fly and fell? Going to New York, the farewell, on the train, reading Malone’s murder mysteries?

4. Mr Malone, gambling, losing his money, the exasperation of the secretary, on the phone, her control of everything? His flirtation? His losing money, the phone calls to friends, refusing to lend money? His persuading Donald, the bookie, to help him?

5. The issue of Kapplar getting out of jail, the $10,000 owing to him, the visit of Marino, the discussions? The prisoner getting out of jail, the press conference, his ex-wife and the divorce, his partner? The problems of the party at the restaurant? Malone going, his ogling the girls, Mrs O’ Malley’s niece, sitting at the table?

6. The band leader, Mrs O’ Malley to the microphone, her banter, her singing of the song? Her paying the bill for Malone?

7. The station, looking Kapplar, Malone mistaking the niece as a passenger, the room next to Mrs O’ Malley? His persuading the man occupying, re-meeting during the trip?

8. Connie, gold-digger, the divorce, on the train, helping Malone, tracking down the money?

9. The girlfriend, talking with Malone, with Kapplar, disguised as a sailor, with the money, her being murdered, the body being moved?

10. Mrs O’ Malley, generous with money, interested in detective stories, investigating with Malone, moving the body, the threats to discovery?

11. Marino, suspicious, with Malone, searching the rooms, finding the body, handcuffing Malone with Mrs O’ Malley? Malone incessantly talking, arriving in Chicago?

12. Working out what happened, Kepler and his being murdered, going off with the murderer’s girlfriend, the sailor disguise, the chase at the Chicago station, the many sailors?

13. Marino and his frustration? Connie the truth? The finding of the bodies, the fan and the money blowing about?

14. The welcome to Mrs O’ Malley at the station, the radio personality and the pursuit, finally settled? The murderer, wanting Mr Malone as his lawyer, and Malone spinning a defence?

15. The intention of making a series – pity that there wasn’t?