Ginger Rogers is the last of the Myrna Loy hopes (producers, studios) as sidekick to the variety of sleuths played by William Powell in the 30s. Entering the decade with his successful Philo Vance series (The Kennel Murder Case) he hit the jackpot when teamed up with Myrna in The Thin Man series but that did not stop producers from testing other couplings such as Jean Arthur in The Ex Mrs.Bradford and Ginger Rogers in Star of Midnight. Adequate at best they go pale with the spirit of Nora hovering over them so much you find yourself wishing she would walk through the door and tell Jean and Ginger to beat it, she'll take it from their.
Clay Dazzle, wealthy dilettante detective (Nick by any other name) does a pal a favor to avoid a scandal and instead gets mixed up in a murder mystery. Flaky society girl Donna Martin with a major crush on Clay tags along for the ride. Sound familiar? Rogers in the midst of partnering in an even greater duo is rather ditsy and passive and like Arthur displays little chemistry with the focused Powell. She is more obstacle than full partner and her verbal chops just not up to sparring with him.
The mystery itself is both convoluted and contrived and with Rogers unable to hold her own with Powell Star of Midnight falls fast.
Clay Dazzle, wealthy dilettante detective (Nick by any other name) does a pal a favor to avoid a scandal and instead gets mixed up in a murder mystery. Flaky society girl Donna Martin with a major crush on Clay tags along for the ride. Sound familiar? Rogers in the midst of partnering in an even greater duo is rather ditsy and passive and like Arthur displays little chemistry with the focused Powell. She is more obstacle than full partner and her verbal chops just not up to sparring with him.
The mystery itself is both convoluted and contrived and with Rogers unable to hold her own with Powell Star of Midnight falls fast.