The Corpse Came C.O.D.

When a movie star accepts delivery of gown materials, she finds out that "The Corpse Came C.O.D.," a B film with an above average cast: George Brent, Joan Blondell, and Adele Jergens. Brent plays Joe Medford, a newspaper reporter in hot competition with Rosemary Durant (Blondell) to get the best stories. When star Mona Harrison (Jergens) discovers the body of a studio costume designer in a box of material, she calls Medford instead of the cops and begs for help. She and the designer didn't get along, and it looks as if she's being set up to take the fall.

This is fairly routine stuff brightened by the always delightful and energetic Blondell, whose character follows Medford everywhere, often getting caught. Brent conveys a light comic touch rarely seen in his leading man days of the '30s. By 1947, at the age of 48, Brent was moving into character parts and television. Ditto 41-year-old Blondell. I suppose B movies were a good way to have them use up their contractual obligations. Jergens is appropriately glamorous.

We actually learn more of the background story toward the end of the film rather than at the beginning, so the plot has a little twist that otherwise might not have been there. Otherwise, it's a lot of running, chasing, and hiding, but Blondell's many fans will enjoy it.