This misleading title promises something in a low-budget Pine Thomas programmer that lightly attempts to enter the world of film noir but fails in its efforts. Moving into a domestic life before returning in character roles and as Josephine the Plummer, former child actress Jane Withers is the height of late 1940's fashion as a scandal magazine photographer who risks her head by taking pictures inside an illegal gambling establishment. The opening of the film is promising as she frantically attempts to flee from the establishment's owners, finally hiding inside the private garage of a stunned homeowner who demands to know why she's on his property. "Give me a second, I'll think of something", she blithely tells him, and after showing her boss pictures that she took, her career seems to be on an upswing. But the magazine's health obsessed owner (Paul Harvey) intends to sell it, so the staff pool their money together and buy it, with the help of a little embezzlement. They decide to focus their efforts on a reclusive socialite who doesn't allow her photo to be taken and end up involved in a murder surrounding her estate. Out goes the whole intrigue about the gambling establishment (never even mentioned again) and in comes this new plot line which never really shows how dangerous the streets are.
Not your every day leading lady, Jane Withers is actually pretty good as the tough-talking photographer with a knack for being at the wrong place and the wrong time but ending up smelling like roses rather than compost. Her physical looks give the impression that she might have been good in the type of comedy roles that Joan Davis was playing at the time, but after more than a decade in the spotlight as a popular child actress, she chose to be a wife and mother instead. Her slight speech impediment doesn't get in the way, however, of her being convincing, but unfortunately, lacks the right chemistry with leading man Robert Lowery. They seem more like best buddies than potential love interests, so when they pretend to be married maid and valet for wealthy socialite Elaine Riley, it isn't quite believable. Charles Coleman adds some amusement as a somewhat bemused but bewildered head butler, and Will Wright is extremely funny as the police chief who keeps telling Withers and Lowery, "I'm in charge here", then simply ordering everyone else to do what they had suggested. I won't say that this is totally awful. It just fails to keep one steady mood in spite of some interesting qualities.
Not your every day leading lady, Jane Withers is actually pretty good as the tough-talking photographer with a knack for being at the wrong place and the wrong time but ending up smelling like roses rather than compost. Her physical looks give the impression that she might have been good in the type of comedy roles that Joan Davis was playing at the time, but after more than a decade in the spotlight as a popular child actress, she chose to be a wife and mother instead. Her slight speech impediment doesn't get in the way, however, of her being convincing, but unfortunately, lacks the right chemistry with leading man Robert Lowery. They seem more like best buddies than potential love interests, so when they pretend to be married maid and valet for wealthy socialite Elaine Riley, it isn't quite believable. Charles Coleman adds some amusement as a somewhat bemused but bewildered head butler, and Will Wright is extremely funny as the police chief who keeps telling Withers and Lowery, "I'm in charge here", then simply ordering everyone else to do what they had suggested. I won't say that this is totally awful. It just fails to keep one steady mood in spite of some interesting qualities.