The Gumshoe Kid

Dumber films will probably appear before year's end, but for now this D.O.A. mystery is all alone in first place. Part comedy, part sex farce, all bomb, The Gumshoe Kid stars Jay Underwood as Jeff, a kid who passes up Harvard to do a little detective work. It's immediately apparent that we're not looking at Ivy League material. Jeff has the brains of a gnat, and the charm of a road apple. He's taken in by his detective uncle (played by Vince Edwards, whom you may recall as Dr. Ben Casey), and given the job of tailing a woman (Tracy Scoggins of Dallas fame). After her lover is apparently killed, and Jeff has recorded the killing on film, the pair are chased by a couple of police officers for the final hour of the film. As it is, the movie is pretty bad. What makes it insufferable is that Underwood continually walks to the side of the screen, dons a fedora, and explains the gumshoe's view of life for whatever viewers are left. It seemed like such a good idea (though it more likely stemmed from the paucity of creativity which went into the film) that by the final reel, some of the other actors are also winking and whispering moronic nothings into the camera. Trust me, Raymond Chandler's turning over in his grave because of this one. Not recommended. (R. Pitman)