The Amazing Mr. Williams

With a clever and inventive script, perhaps any cast could give good performances, but "The Amazing Mr. Williams" has a wonderful, top-notch cast.

Sorry I've never heard of director Alexander Hall, but it's obviously my loss. As good as the players are, they couldn't have created such an enjoyable ensemble production without a very able director.

Probably there is no reason to list all the actors because you can see that in the IMDb listings, and, really, they were ALL so good, it would be a shame to leave out anyone.

This is a fairly low-budget movie, since it's from Columbia, but it is an incredibly high-quality motion picture, one I recommend very highly.

There is a very good print at YouTube. Please watch it.

Delightful minor film, juggling comedy and detective, romance and drama genres as nimbly as Lt Kenny Williams (Melvyn Douglas) balances his devotion to his girl Maxine Carroll (Joan Blondell) and his duty to the force as an ace detective.

This hodge-podge may not appeal to all viewers today, but in its day, it had something to offer every member of the movie-going family, and the resolution to the rather tired feeling-versus-duty plot is original and refreshing, and well worth the wait.

"The Amazing Mr. Williams" contains what must be among the most outrageous blind dates in film history, and its bright comic repartee sparkles. Ludicrously frocked, Melvyn Douglas delivers some of the best lines: "I'd walk down Main Street in a Turkish towel before I'd let any woman control my life!" And the effervescent Joan Blondell lets her barbs fly with typical aplomb: "Good grief! You look like my Aunt Nellie!'

The crime-solving here is standard fare, although a fine cast of character actors helps bring the material to life.

From today's vantage point, "The Amazing Mr. Williams" is perhaps most interesting for its insightful commentary on gender as a socially defined construct, all the more malleable for its seemingly rigid boundaries. While much of the gender commentary takes place in a superficial battle of the sexes, at times it is both subtle and penetrating, playing out not only in some of the finer details of the film, but in the battle of genres that reaches its culmination in the final scene.

The only other review of this movie as of this date really trashes the stars and the movie itself. I usually like to read the user comments to give me an idea of what to expect from a movie I don't know much about. It's unfortunate when there aren't many comments for a certain tile, because when there is only one review and it unreasonably trashes the movie and cast, you don't get an idea of what to expect. I read the review before watching this title and I don't know where all the venom for this movie and the stars came from. Douglas and Blondell were both very talented and attractive people who usually delivered, even when the material was not the greatest. I found the movie and the performances fun and enjoyable. It isn't one of the great all-time classics, but a pleasant and funny diversion-much more than you can hope for in most newer movies. If you are a fan of these stars, you will not be disappointed.

What was there about 1939 that helped produce so many excellent Hollywood films? Well, whatever it was, the magic may also be found in this Columbia picture. It's a long forgotten screwball comedy that Turner Classic Movies has begun to show. (Maltin's movie book does not contain it.) In nearly every department, Amazing Mr. Williams is a jewel.

It's the story of a first-rate police detective who can never find the time to marry his intended. As the wedding bells are about to ring, he gets called to the scene of a murder. The lady in question has to learn the hard way not only to enjoy the pursuit of criminals but to belong to the police force. There are a lot of laughs in the process.

Melvyn Douglas proved again that he had few peers in light comedy. Joan Blondell was at the peak of her career and is a delight. Edward Brophy and Donald McBride are hilarious.

The film goes on a bit too long, but who cares? The screwball comedies are always able to entertain, and this film belongs right in there with the best.

This is the third of three films Melvyn Douglas made with Joan Blondell in 1938 and 1939. It seemed that Columbia Pictures was trying to generate some momentum with the two but it apparently didn't take. It's too bad, as I really liked the two together--at least in the two films I saw (this one and "There's Always a Woman"). They seemed to have good chemistry.

This one begins with Douglas as a police lieutenant. For some odd reason, the Captain seems to want to destroy Douglas' love life with Blondell. Every time they plan a date, the Captain insists that Douglas needs to respond--even on his off days. This puts Douglas in the dog house with his girlfriend and eventually it causes Douglas to do something really crazy. The Captain, again in an effort to break up Douglas and Blondell, sends Melvyn on an errand to escort a convict to prison. But, Douglas is afraid to tell Blondell that their date has been canceled--so he brings the convict with him on the date--figuring he can drop off the guy at the prison later! And naturally, it blows up in his face and the police end up looking pretty bad.

Eventually, after many further indignities, Douglas has finally had enough. He knows the only way to get her back is to quit his job once and for all. But, like a retired fire horse, he just can't get it out of his system and despite telling Blondell he'd quit, he is tricked by the boss into investigating a murder/robbery. The notion of Douglas freeing a convicted murderer is just plain nuts. Why didn't he just let the guy stay in jail while he investigated instead of putting himself in jeopardy of a long prison term for such an act. And, sadly, at the point in the film the plot seemed to drag--mostly because it became more of a standard mystery film at this point. Like Nick and Nora Charles and Douglas and Blondell in "There's Always a Woman", the two pair up to solve a crime....and the film becomes all too ordinary

Overall, I liked the characters and the story had some nice moments, but the final 1/2 of the film is a bit of a let-down. Not bad, but after such a nice start, not all that great either.