The Mad Miss Manton (1938)
Reference View | Change View
- Passed
- 1h 20min
- Comedy, Mystery
- 21 Oct 1938 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Barbara Stanwyck | ... |
Melsa Manton
|
|
| Henry Fonda | ... |
Peter Ames
|
|
| Sam Levene | ... |
Lieutenant Brent
|
|
| Frances Mercer | ... |
Helen Frayne
|
|
| Stanley Ridges | ... |
Edward Norris
|
|
| Whitney Bourne | ... |
Pat James
|
|
| Vickie Lester | ... |
Kit Beverly
(as Vicki Lester)
|
|
| Ann Evers | ... |
Lee Wilson
|
|
 |
Catherine O'Quinn | ... |
Dora Fenton
|
| Linda Perry | ... |
Myra Frost
(as Linda Terry)
|
|
| Eleanor Hansen | ... |
Jane
|
|
| Hattie McDaniel | ... |
Hilda
(as Hattie McDaniels)
|
|
| James Burke | ... |
Sullivan
|
|
| Paul Guilfoyle | ... |
Bat Regan
|
|
| Penny Singleton | ... |
Frances Glesk
|
|
| Leona Maricle | ... |
Sheila Lane
|
|
| Kay Sutton | ... |
Gloria Hamilton
|
|
| Miles Mander | ... |
Mr. Thomas
|
|
| John Qualen | ... |
Subway Watchman
|
|
| Grady Sutton | ... |
D.A.'s Secretary
|
|
| Olin Howland | ... |
Mr. X
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Frank Anthony | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
|
| Irving Bacon | ... |
Mr. Spengler - the Process Server (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Harry A. Bailey | ... |
Booking Sergeant (uncredited)
|
| Ed Brady | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
|
|
| Lynton Brent | ... |
Clerk (uncredited)
|
|
| John Butler | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Harry Campbell | ... |
Harold (uncredited)
|
|
|
James Carlisle | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
| Eddy Chandler | ... |
Detective with Machine Gun (uncredited)
|
|
| George Chandler | ... |
Newspaper Man (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
William Corson | ... |
Ronnie Belden (uncredited)
|
|
|
Tom Costello | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
| Wade Crosby | ... |
Writer (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Oliver Cross | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
|
| Virginia Dabney | ... |
Secretary (uncredited)
|
|
| George DeNormand | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Mary Jo Desmond | ... |
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
|
| Paul Everton | ... |
Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Tom Ferrandini | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
|
|
|
Harry Fleischmann | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
| Bess Flowers | ... |
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
|
|
| Byron Foulger | ... |
Assistant News Editor (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Otto Fries | ... |
Homicide Detective (uncredited)
|
| Charles Halton | ... |
Popsy - the Lawyer (uncredited)
|
|
| Vinton Hayworth | ... |
Peter's Secretary (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Donald Kerr | ... |
Ben - Melsa's Chauffeur (uncredited)
|
| Mike Lally | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Buck Mack | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
| George Magrill | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
|
|
| Matt McHugh | ... |
Frisco - False Waiter (uncredited)
|
|
| Charles McMurphy | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
|
|
| Robert Middlemass | ... |
District Attorney (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Lillian Miles | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
|
|
Robert Mitchell | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
| Leonard Mudie | ... |
Managing Editor (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Ted Oliver | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
|
| Emory Parnell | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
|
|
| Harvey Parry | ... |
Stuntman (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Gerald Pierce | ... |
Newsboy (uncredited)
|
| Fred Rapport | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
|
|
| Jack Rice | ... |
Doctor (uncredited)
|
|
| Walter Sande | ... |
Jim - Investigator for Peter (uncredited)
|
|
| Buster Slaven | ... |
Messenger Boy with Telegrams (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Cy Slocum | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
|
|
Michael Stark | ... |
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
|
| Bert Stevens | ... |
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Jean Stevens | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
| Brick Sullivan | ... |
Police Detective (uncredited)
|
|
| Charles Sullivan | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
|
| William Tannen | ... |
Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Carlie Taylor | ... |
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
|
| Edward Thomas | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
|
| Charles Trowbridge | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
|
| Russell Wade | ... |
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Pauline Wagner | ... |
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
|
| Pierre Watkin | ... |
Mr. Fenton (uncredited)
|
|
| Barrett Whitelaw | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Douglas Williams | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
|
| Clarence Wilson | ... |
Norris' Attorney (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Jane Woodworth | ... |
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Leigh Jason | ||
Written by
| Philip G. Epstein | ... | (screen play) |
| Wilson Collison | ... | (story) |
| Fred F. Finklehoffe | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Arthur Kober | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| John Monks Jr. | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Hal Yates | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| P.J. Wolfson | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Roy Webb | ||
Cinematography by
| Nicholas Musuraca | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| George Hively | ||
Casting By
| Robert Palmer | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Van Nest Polglase | ||
Costume Design by
| Edward Stevenson | ... | (gowns) |
Makeup Department
| Mel Berns | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Pandro S. Berman | ... | in charge of production |
| Sid Rogell | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Eddie Donahoe | ... | assistant director (as Edward Donahue) |
Art Department
| Carroll Clark | ... | associate art director |
| Darrell Silvera | ... | set dresser |
Sound Department
| Richard Van Hessen | ... | sound recordist |
| George C. Emick | ... | sound cutter (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Cliff Bergere | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| George DeNormand | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Harvey Parry | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Cy Slocum | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Ralph E. Black | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Katherine Doyle | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Staton | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- RKO Radio Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (United States) (theatrical) (as An RKO Radio Picture)
- RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada (1938) (Canada) (theatrical) (as RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada, Ltd.)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as RKO Radio Pictures, Ltd.)
- RKO Pictures (Australasia) (1938) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Radio Pictures of Panama (1938) (Panama) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Pictures de México (1938) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Pictures Argentina (1938) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Radio Films S. A. (1938) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Radio Films Lda. (1938) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Radio Films S. A. E. (1938) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Radio Cinéma (1938) (France) (theatrical)
- Kinografen (1938) (Norway) (theatrical)
- C&C Television Corporation (1955) (United States) (tv)
- RKO Home Video (1984) (United States) (VHS) (hard plasric clamshell with vintage short)
- Turner Home Entertainment (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2006) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- RCA Victor (sound recording system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Madcap debutante Melsa Manton finds a body in a deserted house. Of course, the police don't believe her. Stung by Peter Ames' front page editorial decrying her "prank," Melsa enlists seven fellow debs to help her investigate. The wisecracking young ladies proceed to run circles around the police, the suspects, and the press.
Written by Rod Crawford |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | HER AIM IN LIFE WAS EXCELLENT! BUT SHE ERRED AND HIT HIS HEART! (print ad - Lubbock Avalanche Journal - Midway Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - August 15, 1943 - all caps) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $383,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Supporting player Vickie Lester took her name from Janet Gaynor's character in A Star Is Born (1937). Unfortunately, she never achieved stardom and, after only a handful of films, she retired from the silver screen and opened a dress shop selling original gowns of her own design. See more » |
| Goofs | When Melsa first calls the police at the beginning, the police cars are rushing to the Lane mansion. As they pass "Jones Drug Co" and "Barber Shop", the signs are backwards indicating the film has been flipped over. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Henry Fonda (1978). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Home on the Range See more » |
| Crazy Credits | During the opening credits, a flashlight lights up each page of credits. See more » |
| Quotes |
Helen Frayne:
If you kill her, you have to kill all of us! Dora Fenton: Oh! You're always talking communism. See more » |