THE GIRL WHO DARED (1944)

This unmistakably B-movie with a confusing title was produced by Republic Pictures to tell the harrowing weekend tale about a large cast arriving at a mansion to argue and accuse one another of murder. A second plot concerns stolen radium which may be easy to find in all the shadowy darkness. This well-performed mystery was directed by the Western matinee staple, Howard Bretherton, who would end his directing career with two television episodes of, The Adventures of Superman. This could be the only film with two future DC Comics characters. See my note below. It is a bit confusing to keep the character names straight to say nothing of the twin ladies who swap clothes. Who is related to whom or how these people seem to know each other takes a while to unravel. You will witness the ever-present shadowy figures, lightning, thunder, a pair of hands that clip telephone wires, and women who faint easily while a drink of water is offered to revive them. Frankly, I would consult a physician about the fainting spells. The levity is provided by the butler, Willie Best. Highly respected in the business and one of the hardest-working character actors of Hollywood's golden era. 

The opening is somewhat clever. First, the background image under the opening credits is a skull and crossbones symbol. When the credits fade, the camera zooms out to reveal it to be part of a personal invitation as it is being signed. Secondly, brother and sister, Kirk Alyn and Lorna Gray stop at a service station with minor car trouble. Upper crust Alyn impatiently yells at the lowly mechanic to “look” at the engine, it has a “bad miss” in it. The guy in the overalls, Peter Cookson, is the assumed mechanic. He overhears their party destination and then informs them the engine “looks” like it will need more time to fix. They accept his offer to drive them to the party then he returns to the station, removes the overalls, and thanks the lazy station owner for the use of them to change his own tire. 

John Hamilton and his on-screen wife are hosting a weekend party that has been all the rage. At least they think so. One of those events you know comes around every year in which you dread an invitation but feel you have to accept. The planned main event—the only event—is to have their six guests experience the ghost of a sunken pirate ship that appears annually, late at night, right on cue. Like teenagers on a scavenger hunt, everyone gets into their rain slicker and hikes amid lightning and thunder to Heron Point. Off in the distance is Hamilton’s theatrics. To make sure the guests sleep well, he later tells them the ghost was not real, just a device he created for the annual party (yay). Over the years one would think word had gotten around about this charade. Especially as Hamilton says no one comes up here except by invitation. The “ghost thing” quickly wears thin as one cast member is murdered before returning to the house. Then another, later on.

Cookson returns and removes the distributors from all the guest’s sedans, not allowing anyone to escape. When greeted at the door, it is not long before he sounds like the guy in control. No one questions “the mechanic” or why he is interested in what goes on at the ostentatious house. After everyone discovers he is no longer in the house, they assume he is the murderer. But he has better things to do with his time. Find stolen radium. It is at this point I assumed Gray is the “girl who dared” carry a handgun loaned to her by her cousin, Hamilton, for safety. She is not afraid to point it, finding Cookson twirling around in the woods with what appears to be a nightclub waitress’s cigar and cigarette display case, but with knobs and lights, supported by a strap around his neck. My initial interest would have been about that case but she ignores that and accuses him of murder and...well...walking around funny. She learns that Cookson is actually an insurance detective and (Missy) he knows how to use his radium detecting equipment. Before returning to the house they discover a secret tunnel and the dead bodies. The ending wrap-up is done in a whirlwind fashion, so you should probably take notes throughout the movie.

Note: There were many atmospheric, house ghost movies during this decade. One may wonder about their constant appeal but guess it was an escape from the war. At only fifty-five minutes, it made for a shorter evening for moviegoers. A likable movie to discuss around the office water cooler or cigarette machine on a Monday. Kirk Alyn continued to act into the 1980s but will always be remembered as the first actor to play Superman. The dependable, low-tier actor, John Hamilton, ended his career a decade later famously as editor of the Daily Planet on television’s, The Adventures of Superman series.