Fast And Loose (1939)

A rare book seller (Robert Montgomery) and his wife (Rosalind Russell) become involved in the case of a rare stolen Shakespeare manuscript and a double murder! Directed by Edwin L. Marin (TALL IN THE SADDLE), this mystery comedy is a sequel to FAST COMPANY which came out the year before. A third entry would arrive later the same year (1939) with different casts for all three movies. The mystery itself isn't bad but its execution is poor. The writing isn't very good, it lacks the wit that these type of films need in order to work (THE THIN MAN is a perfect example). Reunited (they had better luck two years earlier in NIGHT MUST FALL),  Montgomery's amateur sleuth has zero charm and Russell as his wife is wasted. Tolerable but just. With Sidney Blackmer, Reginald Owen, Ralph Morgan and Etienne Girardot.