Minor mystery notable mostly as the final film of Carole Landis before her suicide. The mystery is average but what makes this stand out is that approximately the final third of the picture shoves the main plot aside to present a variety show since the main male lead Carroll Levis, a well known radio personality of the time, could not act and to spare him and the audience they had him emcee this concoction containing some good musical performances and some weak comedy bits. Avril Angers, a noted comedienne, is saddled with a character that is supposed to be charmingly daffy but comes across as idiotic. As for Carole Landis the Ping Girl performs her part professionally although its obvious that the quality of her films was declining if this cheapie was the best that was being offered. If you aren't familiar with her she looks well, slim and well put together but once you realize that she was only 29 years old when this was made her appearance becomes shocking. She is dangerously thin and looks at least five to ten years older at times, plagued by the aftereffects of malaria and other diseases she had incurred while entertaining the troops during WWII plus a very messy private life the strain was obviously beginning to take its toll.
Review of Brass Monkey
