Watch Nancy Drew... Reporter

Nancy Drew... Reporter is a 1938 film directed by William Clemens and starring Bonita Granville as the iconic teenage detective, Nancy Drew. The movie is based on the popular book series by Carolyn Keene and follows Nancy as she investigates a case of corruption and fraud in a small town. The movie begins with Nancy arriving in the small town of River Heights to visit her friend, Ted Nickerson (Frankie Thomas). However, she soon finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving a road construction project that has gone over budget and is causing considerable economic hardship for the town. When Nancy’s father’s law firm is tapped to investigate the matter, Nancy seizes the opportunity to put her sleuthing skills to work.

Determined to uncover the truth, Nancy sets out to interview the parties involved in the project. She soon realizes that there is more at stake than just mismanagement of funds – there is a web of deceit and corruption that goes all the way to the top. Nancy is aided in her investigation by Ted, who is proving to be quite the sidekick, and local newspaper editor, Ted Nickerson (John Litel), who has his own reasons for pursuing the case.

As Nancy’s investigation continues, she becomes increasingly convinced that the contractor responsible for the project, Ray Sydney (Larry Williams), is at the heart of the corruption. She goes undercover as his secretary to gain access to his private files, and uncovers evidence that he has been embezzling funds and making payoffs to local officials. With the help of Ted and Mr. Nickerson, Nancy sets out to expose Sydney and his co-conspirators and bring them to justice.

The movie is a classic whodunnit story, full of suspense and intrigue. Bonita Granville is perfect in the role of Nancy Drew – she’s smart, resourceful, and always one step ahead of the bad guys. Her chemistry with Frankie Thomas, who plays Ted, is also enjoyable to watch, and the two make a great team. John Litel is also excellent as Mr. Nickerson, the gruff newspaper editor who is all too willing to help Nancy and Ted in their investigation.

Aside from the excellent performances, the movie is also notable for its depiction of Nancy as a strong and independent young woman. At a time when films were heavily dominated by male protagonists, Nancy Drew... Reporter was a refreshing change of pace. Nancy is never depicted as a damsel in distress – she’s always in control of the situation, and she never resorts to using her femininity to get what she wants. In fact, the movie even pokes fun at the idea of Nancy as a typical “girly girl”, with Ted jokingly calling her “Sissy Drew” at one point.

Overall, Nancy Drew... Reporter is an entertaining and engaging movie that holds up surprisingly well today. It’s a great showcase for the character of Nancy Drew, and it’s easy to see why she remains such a beloved figure in popular culture. If you’re a fan of classic mysteries or just enjoy a good old-fashioned detective story, then this movie is definitely worth checking out.

Nancy Drew... Reporter is a 1939 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 8 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.