Connianatu How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

Melanie Bouvet The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

gridoon2018 That title goes to "Nancy Drew - Trouble Shooter", in my opinion. But "Detective" may be the (relatively) "grittiest" of the series - which is ironic, because it's also the only one where no murders occur. However, it has a real sense of danger sometimes, as the bad guys take Nancy very seriously and try to intimidate her into stopping her investigation. Bonita Granville gives a typically bright and spirited performance, and she has excellent chemistry with both John Litel (Nancy's loving father) and Frankie Thomas (her on-and-off boyfriend Ted, who is sometimes the unsung hero of these films - here he is even the one who makes the smartest realization: that they should look not for the place that the pigeon was going TO, but the place it was coming FROM). Technical note: this is the only one out of the 4 Nancy Drew films in the official DVD collection that has a severely damaged print on two or three instances. **1/2 out of 4.

wes-connors The "Brinwood School for Young Ladies" is buzzing about the arrival of wealthy sponsor Helena Phillips Evans (as Mary Eldredge). Pretty teenage sleuth Bonita Granville (as Nancy Drew) and the girls hope the woman's offer of $250,000 will be used to install a swimming pool. When the elderly woman disappears just before making the donation, Ms. Granville suspects foul play. Her father, lawyer John Litel (as Carson Drew), and others try to veer Granville of the case; but, she is determined to find the missing woman. Granville enlists help from young wavy-haired neighbor Frankie Thomas (as Ted Nickerson).The "Carolyn Keene" characters were unfamiliar to this commenter, but this certainly seems like a satisfactory adaptation. Granville, who made an impression in "These Three" (1936), is an attractive, determined, intelligent, and charming heroine. Unlike most early "teen" stars, Granville appears natural and endearing, even with expressions like "I'll bet you $23.80" and "I should say not!" Mr. Thomas, who made an impression in "Wednesday's Child" (1934), is similarly appealing and unaffected, for a 1930s movie juvenile. Thomas says "Let's keep it clean" and makes the "drag" scene. "Nancy Drew - Detective" shows how well a "small" genre film can be done. Granville and Thomas make a cute team. ****** Nancy Drew - Detective (11/19/38) William Clemens ~ Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel

bkoganbing The first of the four Nancy Drew mysteries that Bonita Granville did for Warner Brothers finds her trying to find an old woman who donated some big bucks to her high school for a swimming pool and promptly disappears.Our intrepid heroine to four generations of young girls goes into action to find what's happened to the old dame. The high school benefactor has fallen into the hands of a gang of crooks led by James Stephenson. They've got an interesting way of communicating by carrier pigeons.When Nancy discovers that she and her ever helpful boyfriend Ted Nickerson go in hot pursuit of the bird. Of course as things developed in the series the biggest pigeon for Nancy was Ted as played by Frankie Thomas.No heavy drama here, but Granville and Thomas are enormously appealing, though gloriously out of fashion with a new Nancy Drew coming to the silver screen.

jcholguin I have never read a Nancy Drew book, I was more into the Hardy Boy books and the only exposure to Nancy Drew was a television series in the 70's. After seeing this very old version of Nancy Drew starring Bonita Granville, a familiar name involving a dog named Lassie, I vote this film as the best and most interesting story for someone that is unbiased. Granville plays Drew with excitement and girlish energy. A mind that is continuing thinking of "possibilities" when an old lady disappears. John Litel plays Carson Drew which I believe showcases the talent of Litel with poise, wits and fatherly love. Lastly, Ted Nickerson, a boy that Nancy likes and uses is played by Frankie Thomas. This is a solid mystery team for the whole film.