Charlie McCarthy, Detective

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Charlie McCarthy, Detective
Charlie McCarthy, Detective.jpg
Directed by Frank Tuttle
Written byDarrell Ware
Robertson White
Produced byJerry Sackheim
Frank Tuttle
Starring Edgar Bergen
Robert Cummings
Constance Moore
Cinematography George Robinson
Edited byBernard W. Burton
Music by Frank Skinner
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • December 22, 1939 (1939-12-22)
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budgetover $363,000. [1]

Charlie McCarthy, Detective is a 1939 American comedy film starring Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy and Robert Cummings. [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Scotty Hamilton is a reporter who works for a crooked editor. Bill Banning is another reporter who is about to expose the editor's ties to the mob. When the editor is killed, both reporter Banning and mobster Tony Garcia are suspected. However, Hamilton's friend Edgar Bergen solves the case (without much help from Charlie McCarthy).---who does not help matters by conducting a running feud with hot-tempered cop Inspector Dailey(Edgar Kennedy)

Cast

Uncredited

Production

The film was announced in June 1938. It was the second movie Bergen made for Universal following Letter of Introduction. [4] [5] Bob Cummings was assigned in October 1939. [6]

Filming took place from November to December 1939. [7]

Reception

The New York Times called it "a nondescript omlette". [8] Variety wrote "whatever box office reaction" the film "is able to generate depends on the ability of Edgar Bergen and his wooden stooge to carry this inadequate script and inept direction. Picture wilj have to struggle as top half of the dualers. It won't assist the screen progress of Bergen and his pal." [9]

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References

  1. "United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit - Universal vs Cummings". Internet Archive. p. 93.
  2. Charlie McCarthy, Detective Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 8, Iss. 85, (Jan 1, 1941): 83.
  3. Vagg, Stephen (29 October 2024). "Movie Star Cold Streaks: Robert Cummings". Filmink. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  4. NEWS OF THE SCREEN New York Times (2 Aug 1939: 24.
  5. NEWS OF THE SCREEN: New York Times (3 June 1938: 16.
  6. DRAMA: Los Angeles Times 30 Oct 1939: 13.
  7. "United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit - Cummings vs Universal 1944". Internet Archive. p. 565.
  8. THE SCREEN IN REVIEWB y FRANK S. NUGENT. New York Times 25 Dec 1939: 29.
  9. "Charlie McCarthy Detective". Variety. 20 December 1939. p. 47.