"Fast Company" is the first of three films that MGM made as comedy and crime stories similar to other series that were made during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The most well-known of these types of films were those of the Thin Man series. As with it and other super sleuth series - some with comedy and romance, this short series had different actors in the lead roles. But the main characters are Joel and Garda Sloane. They happen to have a unique business in New York City of dealing in rare books. Well, since Joel is an expert on original publications, they make most of their office rent payments and grocery bills by his solving mysteries. In those cases, he winds up saving the insurance company lots of dough, so he gets paid accordingly. Of course, these all have something to do with rare books. One can imagine that it would be hard to come up with many different plots with that as the main subject.
Well, it was worth three films, and in this first one, Melvyn Douglas shines as Joel Sloane, with Florence Rice doing very well as his wife Garda. Much good comedy centers around their relationship when she works as his office secretary. In this case, the office hanky-panky is okay - or maybe isn't even that at all. It's amorous husband and wife romance and comedy, played to the hilt as a boss and secretary affair.
All of the cast are good in this film, and include some prominent names of the day in leading and supporting roles. Among them are Louis Calhern, Claire Dodd, Nat Pendleton, George Zucco and Douglass Dumbrille. While the plot is light, the mystery is a little complicated. The best part of this film is the quick and frequent comedy, almost all delivered by Joel and Garda.
Florence Rice seemed quite good and spontaneous as Garda, and very adept at handling the comedy. She didn't have many leading roles and after being relegated to B pictures during the war, she left the cinema entirely in 1943 and worked for radio and TV in her later years.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Garda Sloane, "Mr. Sloane?" Joel Sloane, "Yes, my child." Garda, "May I have a new dress? Joel, pushing her off his lap, "I have work to do."
Garda Sloane, "Do you love me?" Joel Sloane, "Madly." Garda, "Will you always love me - no matter what happens?" Joel, "Sure." (She puts her arms around him.) Joel, "What is this? What is this? Are you the same girl who wouldn't let me put a sofa in the office?"
Joel Sloane, "Say, where's that $200?" Garda Sloane, "Well, that's just it. I went to lunch, and after lunch everything went blank. When I came to, I'd just bought a dress." (Joel looks menacingly at her.) Garda, "Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute." Joel, "Didn't I buy you a new dress when I married you?" Garda, "Yes, but that was two years ago." Joel, "Was it?" Garda, "And I paid for the dress." Joel, "It's irrelevant. Irrelevant." Garda, "And I paid for the license too." Joel, "Well, sure you did. Husbands like myself don't come along every day of the week." Garda, "And another thing - who paid the hotel bill?" Joel, "You did."
Well, it was worth three films, and in this first one, Melvyn Douglas shines as Joel Sloane, with Florence Rice doing very well as his wife Garda. Much good comedy centers around their relationship when she works as his office secretary. In this case, the office hanky-panky is okay - or maybe isn't even that at all. It's amorous husband and wife romance and comedy, played to the hilt as a boss and secretary affair.
All of the cast are good in this film, and include some prominent names of the day in leading and supporting roles. Among them are Louis Calhern, Claire Dodd, Nat Pendleton, George Zucco and Douglass Dumbrille. While the plot is light, the mystery is a little complicated. The best part of this film is the quick and frequent comedy, almost all delivered by Joel and Garda.
Florence Rice seemed quite good and spontaneous as Garda, and very adept at handling the comedy. She didn't have many leading roles and after being relegated to B pictures during the war, she left the cinema entirely in 1943 and worked for radio and TV in her later years.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Garda Sloane, "Mr. Sloane?" Joel Sloane, "Yes, my child." Garda, "May I have a new dress? Joel, pushing her off his lap, "I have work to do."
Garda Sloane, "Do you love me?" Joel Sloane, "Madly." Garda, "Will you always love me - no matter what happens?" Joel, "Sure." (She puts her arms around him.) Joel, "What is this? What is this? Are you the same girl who wouldn't let me put a sofa in the office?"
Joel Sloane, "Say, where's that $200?" Garda Sloane, "Well, that's just it. I went to lunch, and after lunch everything went blank. When I came to, I'd just bought a dress." (Joel looks menacingly at her.) Garda, "Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute." Joel, "Didn't I buy you a new dress when I married you?" Garda, "Yes, but that was two years ago." Joel, "Was it?" Garda, "And I paid for the dress." Joel, "It's irrelevant. Irrelevant." Garda, "And I paid for the license too." Joel, "Well, sure you did. Husbands like myself don't come along every day of the week." Garda, "And another thing - who paid the hotel bill?" Joel, "You did."