Purveyor of Golden and Silver Age classics Warner Archive is particularly timely regarding the March 14, 2018 2-disc DVD release "The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection." This bringing these films from 1938 and 1939 back to life coincides with a new "Drew" series that likely will come to life either on NBC or Netflix.
Of course, future "Dynasty" star Pamela Sue Martin of the '70s "Drew" series always will be the only girl detective of that name for Gen Xers. Those of us who remain young-at-heart and the Millennials who follow us consider Veronica Mars of the CW series of that name the modern equivalent of Nancy Drew.
The recent (review pending) Archive DVD release of the 1931 (non-musical) drama "Alexander Hamilton" is equally timely for obvious reasons. This one glosses over the humble beginnings of out first Secretary of the Treasury but provides insight regarding his scandal and related battle to get the states (nee colonies) to pay what he considers their fair share of the money promised the soldiers who fought in the Revolution.
One bit of trivia regarding the "Drew" novels is that "author" Carolyn Keene is the pen name of a handful of writers. There is conflicting evidence regarding one of those scribes also writing the companion "Hardy Boys" novels under the name Franklin W. Dixon.
The "Drew" movies can be considered a mix between the "Thin Man" series and Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney films. The titular roughly 16 year-old girl (Bonita Granville) is the adored daughter of respected attorney Carson Drew. Her sidekick is adorkable and clumsy literal bot-next-door Ted Nickerson (Frankie Thomas), whom Drew hilariously manipulates and/or dupes into doing her bidding even when it leads to him donning drag or drop trou.
Nancy demanding "push harder Ted" in on one of the four films provides modern audiences a glimpse of the adult life of this current sidekick/future husband with a special male friend on the side.
"Nancy Drew: Detective" begins with our American sweetheart and her fellow students at her private high school celebrating a dowager announcing that she is giving that institution of learning a princely sum. The game is afoot when the lady vanishes.
Of course, Drew (and her personal Ron Stoppable) outsmarts her father and the po po regarding tracking down the bad guys. This film also establishes the pattern of one bad guy who is involved in the underlying conspiracy catching Nancy and Ted in the act of obtaining the figurative smoking gun; this leads to said malfeasor effectively putting the meddling kids on ice until he can permanently silence them.
Being trapped leads to Nancy, Ted, or a combination of the two devising a clever successful escape that typically has them see the light of day just as the Calvary arrives. This often involves a Wa Wa moment that involves humiliating Ted, who is appropriately dressed to nurse a grudge at the end of "Detective."
"Nancy Drew: Reporter" is up next. This one starts with out plucky teen competing to win a prize for writing the best story for the local newspaper. This leads to her trying to prove the innocence of a woman who is accused of killing her surrogate mother in order to collect an inheritance.
This one has surprising violence and peril for a B movie intended for younger audiences. The other distinguishing factor is that the obnoxious kid sister of Ted and her own boy sidekick torment our heroes throughout the film.
"Nancy Drew: Troubleshooter" has Drew father and daughter travelling to the country to help clear an old friend of Carson of a murder charge. This one deserves special credit for involving a clever plot point regarding a variation of the deceased pushing up daisies. "Troubleshooter" additionally expends extra expense and effort regarding the effects in the extended (but nor boring) escape sequence.
Things return to normal in every sense to wrap up things with "Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase," which is a well-known title of a Drew novel. This one has shades of "Detective" in that it involves a plot to prevent a pair of elderly sisters from fulfilling a charitable intent regarding which Nancy has a horse in the race.
The title of "Staircase" facilitates discovering how someone seemingly is coming and going from the home of the aforementioned intended donors.
No mystery exists regarding the appeal of these films; they have the aforementioned fun of the Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney films with the bonus of centering around a beloved literary character. One solved puzzle is that boys of all ages can enjoy these movies as much as the targeted audience of tween girls.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Drew" is encouraged either to email me or to connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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