the leading man is my tpye

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

It was on a dark stormy night when a wealthy man and his second wife played witness to the bearing of a body. The interruption of his daughter with the news that she has just married brings more problems to her family. Along comes Lloyd Nolan as her old pal, Detective Michael Shayne, who pretends to be her husband, and of course, he finds himself become involves with the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the corpse.A delightfully fast moving mystery with both supernatural and comic elements, this is one of the better B mysteries of the golden age of B movies. Nolan gets lots of opportunity to display his knack for street smarts and wisecracks. Paul Harvey is also very good as the wealthy political bigwig with scandal breathing down his neck as well as an obvious opportunistic wife and incorrigible daughter who has given him nothing but trouble. There's also a dumb private detective who needs some education from Shayne as to how to handle such complicated cases. This is truly enjoyable with a great conclusion that isn't quite a surprise but handled quite nicely.

A young woman awakens at night to see a man with glowing eyes staring at her. This man shoots at her but misses and when she tells others, there's no evidence she was there! They act as if it's some sort of dream, but she's sure it isn't.Now how Michael Shayne gets involved is pretty odd. This same woman later meets him along the road and asks him to pose as her husband. She is apparently married but wants to pass Shayne off as her new husband. None of this made sense--why didn't she just bring her real husband? Why didn't she just tell people that he was a private detective--especially when he found the bullet shot at her--proving someone DID shoot at her! Odd indeed! In the midst of this mystery, a man takes off from the mansion and is chased by Shayne and the police chief. The car crashes and the man is thrown. The chief very quickly pronounces him dead. Inexplicably, the body disappears later! Was he really dead or did someone steal the corpse? This is all getting very strange and confusing (especially for the audience), as there are lots and lots of seemingly divergent plot points in the film. Supposedly, this is all related somehow to some strange magician, Zorah Bey.This is an enjoyable Michael Shayne film, mostly due to the seemingly relaxed performance by Lloyd Nolan as Shayne. However, the story is a tad confusing and seems to perhaps have too many twists and turns...but it never is dull. For lovers of B-detective films, this one is certainly worth finding.

All the Lloyd Nolan Michael Shaynes are worth viewing—and this one rates as close to the best! Breezy, nonchalantly aggressive and off-handedly slick Nolan is not only handed a really spooky mystery but is required to impersonate the heroine's husband as well. This aspect leads into some risible, if innocent fun which the players, the actors and the screenwriter all manage to blend with plenty of flesh-creeping thrills and fascinating intrigue. Olin Howland's equally enjoyable comic turns are also integrated into the action with considerable flair and know-how.Marjorie Weaver, although none too enticingly costumed, makes a winning, convincing, vivacious heroine. Blonde siren, Helene Reynolds, also makes quite an impression, although her role was sufficiently strong to dispense with some last act padding. By "B" levels, production values come across as surprisingly lavish, with lots of action and changes of scene, plus a cavernous main set. Leeds' stylish direction also proves quite an eye-opener, though he was helped along by Joe MacDonald's attractively atmospheric camera-work.

What a great old film. I am lucky enough to have found over the years a mint 16mm sound print an a very good vhs copy (Captain Bejoiu). The story starts out with a very mysterious burial scene on a cold windy nite. There is the "Old Forboding Mansion" and the usual cast of 20th Century stock players including Paul Harvey who is great as Dudly Wolfe. But as usual, Lloyd Nolan steals the show as Shayne with his whimsical irish humor and dapper acting. Marge Reynolds is great as his wife? With the reoccuring thunder storm as a backdrop and the "undead" body with glowing eyes trying to kill any and everyone in the house, it makes for a spine-tingling murder mystery that is as good as most of the sad new ones w/o the sex and overdone violence. 1942 appears to be one of the best years for movies in Hollywood. So many great features with outstanding character actors of the time. LeRoy Mason is great as the "undead" killer who stocks the remaining frightened guests and family at the Wolfe Mansion. If it shows up on Fox Movie Channel, do yourself a favor and watch it!