Torchy Blane in Panamais a 1938 Americanmystery filmdirected byWilliam Clemensand starringLola Lane,Paul Kelly,andTom Kennedy.[1][2][3]Released on May 7, 1938, the fifth film in a series ofTorchy Blanemovies byWarner Bros.It is followed byTorchy Gets Her Man(1938).
| Torchy Blane in Panama | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | William Clemens |
| Screenplay by | George Bricker |
| Story by | Anthony Coldeway |
| Produced by | Hal B. Wallis Jack L. Warner |
| Starring | Lola Lane Paul Kelly Tom Kennedy |
| Cinematography | Tony Gaudio |
| Edited by | Thomas Pratt |
| Music by | Howard Jackson |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 59 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Torchy, Steve, and Gahagan are on the trail of a bank robber aboard an ocean liner traveling fromNew YorktoLos Angelesvia thePanama Canal.
Plot
editWhen policeman Gahagan witnesses a bank robbery during a parade of the Loyal Order of Leopards, he rushes off to call his Boss, Steve McBride. Moments after Steve arrives at the bank, reporter Torchy Blane, Steve's girlfriend, arrives and does her own investigating. She is miffed to find another reporter there ahead of her. When Steve ignores her after she finds a lodge button wedged in a teller's cage, Torchy writes the story in her newspaper.
Determined to scoop the other newspapers, Torchy convinces Steve that the perpetrator of the recent bank robbery will travel with the Los Angeles delegation of Leopards through the Panama Canal and exchange the stolen money outside the country. After Steve leaves on an ocean liner without Torchy, she decides to parachute into the ocean, forcing the ocean liner to rescue her. On board, she ignores Steve and talks to all the Leopards, trying to identify the thief. Her attention focuses on Stan Crafton after Gahagan tells her that he did not know the secret Leopard handshake.
A search of his room comes up empty. When Stan sees Torchy leaving his room with Steve, he decides to sneak off the boat in Panama with the money, which he has hidden in a stuffed leopard mascot. Torchy sees him leave and follows him after leaving a note for Steve explaining the situation. As soon as the ship docks at the other end of the Canal, Steve flies back to look for Torchy. In the meantime, Stan has caught Torchy spying on him and plans to kill her. Steve spots her wet clothes drying on Stan's balcony and breaks in, shooting him. Gahagan helps Torchy with her newspaper story and Steve proposes again.
Cast
edit- Lola Laneas Torchy Blane
- Paul Kellyas Steve McBride
- Tom Kennedyas Gahagan
- Anthony Averill as Stan Crafton
- Larry Williams as Bill Canby
- Betty Compsonas Kitty
- Hugh O'Connellas Skinner
- James Conlonas Botkin
- Joe Cunningham as Maxie
- Frank Shannonas Captain McTavish
- Eric Stanley as Captain McDonald
- John Ridgeleyas Reynolds
- George Guhl as Desk Sergeant Graves
- George Regasas Gomez
- James Nolanas Ship's Officer
- Jack Moweras Ship's Officer Nelson
- John Harronas Aviator
Production
editTorchy Blane in Panamais the first of two Torchy Blane films to star an actress other thanGlenda Farrellas Torchy andBarton MacLaneas Steve. Farrell and MacLane returned to the series for three additional films, with the last film in the series,Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite(1939), featuringJane WymanandAllen Jenkins.
Home media
editWarner Archivereleased a boxed set DVD collection featuring all nine Torchy Blane films on March 29, 2011.[4]
References
edit- ^"Torchy Blane in Panama (1938)".Turner Classic Movies.Retrieved2015-08-30.
- ^"Torchy Blane in Panama (1938)".All Movie.Retrieved2015-08-30.
- ^"Torchy Blane in Panama".American film Institute: catalog of feature films.Retrieved2015-08-30.
- ^KEHR, DAVE (May 7, 2010)."The Torchy Blane Collection".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 1,2016.