Directed by William Clemens, Nancy Drew… Reporter is the second film in the Warner Bros. Nancy Drew series starring Bonita Granville as the plucky teenage detective. Released during the golden age of B-movie mysteries, this installment blends lighthearted comedy, amateur sleuthing, and a dash of newsroom chaos.
Plot Summary
Nancy Drew enters a local newspaper’s amateur journalism contest and quickly finds herself investigating a real murder case. A young woman is accused of killing a wealthy matron, and Nancy is convinced of her innocence. With help from her loyal (and often reluctant) friend Ted Nickerson (Frankie Thomas), Nancy dives into the mystery—snooping through evidence, dodging danger, and even performing in a musical number to gather clues. Her determination leads to a dramatic courtroom showdown and, of course, the truth.
Cast Highlights
- Bonita Granville as Nancy Drew
- Frankie Thomas as Ted Nickerson
- John Litel as Carson Drew (Nancy’s father)
- Dickie Jones, Mary Lee, and Larry Williams as comic relief sidekicks
- Thomas E. Jackson as the gruff City Editor
- Betty Amann as Eula Denning, the accused
- Olin Howland and Sheila Bromley in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film features a high-speed car chase filmed on the streets of Burbank, just outside the Warner Bros. studio gates
- It marked the film debut of Charles Smith, who later played “Dizzy” in the Henry Aldrich series
- Nancy’s car is a 1936 Chevrolet Standard Six Cabriolet, a stylish ride for a teenage detective
- The film fell into the public domain due to a copyright lapse, leading to many poor-quality VHS and DVD releases—until Warner Bros. restored it from the original negative in 2007
- Also notable: the film debut of Florence Halop, who would later become a familiar face on TV sitcoms
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