The Lady and the Mob (1939)

This is one of the wife's absolute favorite movies. Fay Bainter plays a wealthy, eccentric woman who takes it upon herself to drive all the racketeers out of town.When her ex-thug chauffer Frankie O'Fallon (whom she calls Thorndyke, played by Warren Hymer) cannot get rid of the mob by himself, she recruits a mob of her own. It is hilarious watching her learn the lingo of the hoods.

Who is the unseen head of the rackets? You will have to watch it to find out.

 Ida Lupino plays Bainter's prospective daughter-in-law. For old radio trivia buffs, she was at one time married to Howard Duff, who played Sam Spade on the radio program.

Among the colorful characters in the show are Harry the Lug, Blinky Mack, Big Time Tim, Brains Logan and Bert the Beetle. They are reminiscent of the group Bob Hope assembles in The Lemon Drop Kid. Great fun!




Fay Bainter


Warren Hymer (Thorndyke)