Producer: Pandro S. Berman. Copyright 21 October 1938 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 20 October 1938 (ran one week only). U.S. release: 21 October 1938. Australian release: 26 January 1939. 80 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Melsa Manton, a spirited heiress, leads a group of six high society girls in a series of mad pranks which culminate in an attempt to solve a baffling murder.PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Epstein manages to ingeniously combine a pretty amusing screwball romantic comedy with a suspenseful murder mystery.COMMENT: Definitely one for the connoisseurs, The Mad Miss Manton proved too mad for the general public's taste on first release. But when I finally caught up with it in the 1950s, I was absolutely thrilled. I loved the bizarre situations and characters, split my sides laughing at the continuous wisecracks and was sick with suspense at the scary climax when the mystery finally unraveled in spine-tingling fashion. The breezy pace with which director Leigh Jason slings it all together is yet another cause for enjoyment. Stanwyck whirlwinds through the movie with her usual aggressive aplomb, and finds her match in Fonda's snappy but stylish newspaperman. The character players, with the exception of Sam Levene's too heavy detective, are a marvel. Epstein gives them all wonderful opportunities to shine. Stanley Ridges delivers one of his best performances and James Burke, sobbing through a gruesome rendition of "Home on the Range", is especially funny. You'd think Epstein had fashioned his screenplay for the express purpose of providing employment for as many actors as possible. In fact, the sets are often so crowded with extras, Epstein even plays that over-embellishing for a few laughs. And the parade keeps on coming. Right to the end. You keep wondering who's going to turn up next. John Qualen, for instance, has an effective scene right at the climax. Yes, The Mad Miss Manton is crowded with production values: hordes of extras, glossy sets, atmospheric lighting, fast pacing. Style!

Henry Fonda is no match for the bevy of beauties in "The Mad Miss Manton." For that matter, he can't even come close to Barbara Stanwyck. There isn't any real chemistry between the two leads in this comedy mystery, and I don't think there needs to be in this particular instance. Because this film is all about the "gals" – the bunch of socialites who congregate around gang leader Stanwyck, who plays the wealthy Melsa Manton. Fonda plays newspaper editor Peter Ames who is little more than a shill for the Manton minions. I think Fonda plays the role very well. His opening scene is a tirade against the spoiled society revelers who seem to enjoy creating problems for the police and civil order. After meeting Manton, he seems to fall for her at once – like a lovesick puppy. From there on, Ames gets himself in one scrape after another with the girls. I think they subdued and tied and gagged him at least three times in this film. It was very funny each time. After the crime is solved and everyone is happy, Ames turns out to be a male gold digger. Well, he may love Manton, but he loves her money as well. All of the cast of this film are very good. The film seems to suffer a little in its production quality. The plot is OK, but the screenplay seems a little weak and disconnected at times. The directing and editing also seem weak. It's still an enjoyable film to watch. One can imagine Cary Grant or Fred MacMurray in the role of Peter Ames. Either of them might have put a little more fire in Miss Manton.

In a turn around on their usual pairings, Barbara Stanwyck and her girlfriends discover a dead body. Then the body disappears. This causes them to be labeled troublemakers for the authorities in the local newspaper.Henry Fonda is a newspaper columnist who writes a column condemning the ladies. Then he meets them and at first is still trying to tell them they are nuts. Then enters the real killer who is worried about the ladies leading everyone to him.This RKO production is a delight from start to finish. At a little over 90 minutes, there is no doubt this is designed as a B picture but has an A list cast, a great under card for any main feature in it's time. This comedy holds up pretty well as it has a better script than a lot of B's had at the time.

Society deb Melsa Manton (Barbara Stanwyck) discovers a body late one night in a abandoned house. She goes to get the police but when they return the body is missing. The police don't believe her so Manton and her bunch of ditzy friends try and solve the murder mystery themselves. Reporter Peter Ames (Henry Fonda) immediately falls in love with Melsa (after hating her on sight) and helps them.Pretty unknown movie...and it's easy to see why! Stanwyck, a wonderful actress, is woefully miscast as Manton. Fonda hated doing this movie and it shows. He's stone-faced throughout. The movie has plenty of potential but the comedy is either stupid or unfunny. Also I found Melsa's bunch of friends incredibly annoying--they all act like idiots and they're constantly screaming at everything. The romance between Manton and Ames comes out of nowhere and isn't believable for one second. Pauline Kael once wrote that this was written by people who had too much time on their hands. How true! Halfway through I just turned it off in disgust--I was bored and sick of having my intelligence insulted. If you want to see a good movie with Stanwyck and Fonda see "The Lady Eve". This one is hopeless.