By Richard Harland Smith
The Adventures of Jane Arden
Brief Synopsis
A reporter poses as a jewel smuggler to unmask a criminal gang.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Terry Morse
Director
Rosella Towne
Jane Arden
William Gargan
Editor Towers
James Stephenson
Dr. George Vanders
Benny Rubin
Marvin Piermont
Dennie Moore
Teenie Moore
Film Details
Genre
Crime
Adaptation
Classic Hollywood
Drama
Release Date
Mar
18,
1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the comic strip "The Adventures of Jane Arden" created by Monte Barrett and Russell E. Ross (1928--1968).
Technical Specs
Duration
58m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels
Synopsis
Reporter Jane Arden is convinced that debutante Martha Blanton has a story to tell, and her instinct is proven correct when Martha is killed. Jane is also sure that the man the police arrest is not the man who killed Martha. Ed Towers, the newspaper's editor, fires Jane for incompetence and then meets secretly with her. He hands her an undercover assignment, introducing her to Bill Clifton, a special investigator for the Jewelers Association. Bill explains that Martha was involved in a jewel smuggling ring and was killed when she tried to leave. They suspect the reputable firm of Thayer and Co. of being the ringleader, but have been unable to find any proof of wrongdoing. Jane's first act is to try and sell Thayer and Co. some stolen jewels, using a false name, just as Albert Thayer and Dr. George Vanders are looking for another woman to take Martha's place in the gang. Vanders is impressed by Jane, but Thayer is suspicious. Jane agrees to smuggle in some jewels from Bermuda, but on board the ship, Thayer sees Ed leaving Jane's cabin and has him followed. Learning that he is a newspaperman, Thayer cables Vanders with the news, but Vanders decides to go through with their plans and intends to kill Jane after the jewels are successfully brought into the country. Jane meets Vanders and his accomplice, Lola Martin, on the ship but does not realize that they are involved in the gang. Meanwhile, Thayer kidnaps Ed and holds him hostage. In Bermuda, Lola becomes jealous of Vanders' attentions to Jane and refuses to steal the jewels. Vanders walks in on Jane while she is phoning Bill with the latest plans, but he warns her that Ed is in danger if she does anything to jeopardize the robbery. When they arrive at the party, however, they discover that the jewels have already been stolen. Vanders then realizes that Lola committed the robbery in order to have them all for herself. Jane and Vanders wait for Lola in her room, and when she arrives, Lola tells Vanders that his identity is known and suggests that they escape together. Unknown to Vanders, Ed has escaped and tricked Thayer into a confession. He flys to Bermuda, where he sees Vanders and Lola leaving with Jane. He chases them and finally shoots Vanders. On the boat returning home, Ed reveals that he loves Jane and they kiss.
Director
Terry Morse
Director
Cast
Rosella Towne
Jane Arden
William Gargan
Editor Towers
James Stephenson
Dr. George Vanders
Benny Rubin
Marvin Piermont
Dennie Moore
Teenie Moore
Peggy Shannon
Lola Martin
Edgar Edwards
Bill Clifton
Hobart Cavanaugh
Prisoner
Pierre Watkin
Albert Thayer
Maris Wrixon
Martha Blanton
John Ridgely
Reporter
Joe Devlin
Thug
Raymond Bailey
Thug
George Renavent
Frenchman
Eddie Conrad
Italian
Robert Homans
Irishman
Sol Gorss
Driver
William Gillespie
Driver
Earl Smith
Driver
Nat Carr
Watson
Jack Goodrich
Bill
Jack Gardner
Crapshooter
Don Turner
Crapshooter
George O'hanlon
Crapshooter
Jack Mower
City editor
Eddie Graham
Reporter
Jack Santoro
Reporter
Ed Brian
Newsboy
Donald Goff
Newsboy
Davison Clarke
Dan
Wade Boteler
O'Shaughnessy
Al Herman
Taxi driver
Cliff Saum
Bartender
Anthony Nace
Salesman
William Gould
Detective
Claude Wisberg
Bellboy
Joe Coffin
Cabin boy
Jack Wise
Cigar-counter clerk
Jack Richardson
Steward
Eddie Dew
Wireless operator
Dudley Dickerson
Sam
Hal Craig
Policeman
John Harron
Pilot
John Criner
Vander's driver
Benny Burt
Greek
Crew
Milo Anderson
Gowns
Charles Curran
Screenwriter
Bryan Foy
Producer
Les Guthrie
Assistant Director
Mark Hellinger
Associate Producer
Lee Hugunin
Unit Manager
Lee Katz
Additional Dialogue
Lawrence Kimble
Screenwriter
Charles Lang
Sound
Harold Mclernon
Film Editor
Lex Neal
Comedy construction
L. William O'connell
Photography
Max Parker
Art Director
Russ Saunders
Assistant Director
Vincent Sherman
Screenwriter
Ted Thomas
Dialogue Director
Jack L. Warner
Executive Producer
Film Details
Genre
Crime
Adaptation
Classic Hollywood
Drama
Release Date
Mar
18,
1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the comic strip "The Adventures of Jane Arden" created by Monte Barrett and Russell E. Ross (1928--1968).
Technical Specs
Duration
58m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels
Articles
Adventures of Jane Arden -
Jane Arden was a nationally syndicated comic strip created by Monte Barrett and Russell E. Ross which focused on the adventures a girl reporter whose existence was likely inspired by the Stratemeyer Syndicate's Hardy Boys novels but who hit the ground running three years ahead of the introduction of bobbysoxer sleuth Nancy Drew. Running in syndication from 1927 until 1968, the daily inspired not only film and radio adaptations of its own but paved the way for such iconic lady newshounds as Superman's Lois Lane and Brenda Starr, Reporter. After actress Ruth Yorke provided the voice for Jane Arden in a short-lived radio adaptation, Warner Bros. acquired movie rights to the character as a vehicle for one of its newest acquisitions, 20 year-old Rosella Towns. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, as Rosella Townsend, the university professor's daughter was spotted by studio head Jack Warner as a participant in a department store fashion show and was offered a Hollywood contract. Rechristened Rosella Towns, the newcomer found herself acting opposite Ronald Reagan in such films as Sergeant Murphy (1938), Cowboy from Brooklyn (1938), and Secret Service of the Air (1939). The Adventures of Jane Arden (1939) was intended as the first in a series but subsequent entries never materialized and Towns was soon demoted to bit player - the same year she turned up in uncredited bits in Dark Victory and The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. Married to writer Harry Kronman in 1942, Towns retired after playing a supporting role in Republic's A Gentle Gangster (1943). She died at age 96 in 2014.
By Richard Harland Smith
By Richard Harland Smith
Adventures of Jane Arden -
Jane Arden was a nationally syndicated comic strip created by Monte Barrett and Russell E. Ross which focused on the adventures a girl reporter whose existence was likely inspired by the Stratemeyer Syndicate's Hardy Boys novels but who hit the ground running three years ahead of the introduction of bobbysoxer sleuth Nancy Drew. Running in syndication from 1927 until 1968, the daily inspired not only film and radio adaptations of its own but paved the way for such iconic lady newshounds as Superman's Lois Lane and Brenda Starr, Reporter. After actress Ruth Yorke provided the voice for Jane Arden in a short-lived radio adaptation, Warner Bros. acquired movie rights to the character as a vehicle for one of its newest acquisitions, 20 year-old Rosella Towns. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, as Rosella Townsend, the university professor's daughter was spotted by studio head Jack Warner as a participant in a department store fashion show and was offered a Hollywood contract. Rechristened Rosella Towns, the newcomer found herself acting opposite Ronald Reagan in such films as Sergeant Murphy (1938), Cowboy from Brooklyn (1938), and Secret Service of the Air (1939). The Adventures of Jane Arden (1939) was intended as the first in a series but subsequent entries never materialized and Towns was soon demoted to bit player - the same year she turned up in uncredited bits in Dark Victory and The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. Married to writer Harry Kronman in 1942, Towns retired after playing a supporting role in Republic's A Gentle Gangster (1943). She died at age 96 in 2014.
By Richard Harland Smith
