Blonde for a Day_1946_Sam Newfield_PARENTE

Judging from the third in PRC's "Michael Shayne" series of detective dramas, Producer Sigmund Neufeld and Director Sam Newfield are more at home in the western field. Their westerns generally contain plenty of snap, sparkle and shooting, all of which are lacking in "Blonde for a Day." Four murders take place, it is true, and the hero's best friend gets a going over by a couple of gangsters, but it all takes place off-screen. On screen Hugh Beaumont, in the character of Michael Shayne, analyzes the killings in a series of monologues, and tracks down the killer with conversation rather than with cunning. Marjorie Hoshelle, the most attractive of the feminine members of the cast, turns out to have committed the crimes, though for what reason is never made clear in Fred Myton's screenplay. Presumably she just didn't like people. There's some labored comedy concerning members of the Los Angeles Police Department, and citizens of that town may be grateful that local law officers are not quite so moronic as Cy Kendall's characterization would indicate.