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VERONICA MARSDEN CO-ED DETECTIVE

Page history last edited by Archer844 13 years, 11 months ago

Veronica Marsden was a bright, blonde college co-ed, a reporter for the Hillcrest College Chronicle with a nose for trouble. That the ivy-covered walls of Hillcrest concealed so much mystery and intrigues--not to mention a surprise amount of female fighting, never ceased to amaze those unfamiliar with the world of Double-Action Pictures. As fans of the series well-know there were two portrayers of the indomitable Ms. Marsden::

 

KRISTEN BELMONT (Kristen Bell)

 

 

 

 

AMANDA SHEFFIELD, (Amanda Seyfried)

 

 

Debates about about which of them was the better have raged since the films first appeared and so no sign of abating. More neutral-minded mystery fans think both did a fine job.

 

The continuing cast was small, though MONICA KEENE appeared as Veronica's best friend "Sally West", in all six installments.

 

MONICA KEENE (Monica Keena)

 

 

THE FILMS:

 

MYSTERY WALKS THE CAMPUS (1942)

 

Hillcrest College was one of those deceptively idyllic institutions of higher learning that always seemed to pop up in Double-Action Pictures. Polite, conservatively dressed students, male and female strolled around a tree shaded campus that looked like the average movie-goers idea of a small college should look like. However, a banner announcing "INTRAMURAL WOMEN'S WRESTLING TOURNAMENT" hanging over the "Hillcrest Womens Field House" quickly alerted even the sleepiest patron that this wasn't your ordinary school.

 

Inside the gym, we find a collegiate-style wrestling competition in progress and it is indeed all women in those wrestling togs. Some of them are in light colored gold wrestling singlets and are members of "Team Gold", while the others are in darker singlets of "Team Blue" (this is a black and white movie). It quickly becomes apparent that there is a fierce rivalry between the two factions. We can see Team Gold's rather snobby leader "Myra Stanwood" (SCARLETT JEWEL/Scarlett Johnasson) have unpleasant words with Team Blue's more down to earth leader "Nora Jefferson" (NEVE NORTHWOOD/Neve Campbell). From what they say, it appears Team Gold is on a tournament winning streak of the past three years and Myra intends to make sure her senior year ends in another win for her team. However, it is apparent that this year, Team Blue has a new and superior wrestler in "Rae Smith" (REGINA ADAMS/Rachel McAdams) as she puts a bigger girl named "Mary-Elizabeth Loring" (MARY ELIZABETH WINTHROP/Mary Elizabeth Winstead) away in very well-done collegiate-style wrestling. Mary leaves the ring sulking and joins Myra in glaring at Rae as she is congratulated by her teammates. In quick order, Rae disposes of another Team Gold challenger, "Sarah Swift" (SARAH CARSON/Sarah Carter) and the Sarah joins Myra and Mary Elizabeth in scowling at Rae.

 

Watching intently from the crowded bleachers is a blonde young woman with a press pass identifying her as VERONICA MARSDEN--CAMPUS CHRONICLE. Sitting next to her and holding a big Speed Graphic flash camera is (by her badge) SALLY WEST, OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER.  They discuss the rivalry and Sally remarks she wishes Veronica were involved. Veronica says she is a reporter now and has to be objective, but it is clear she'd like a shot at Myra, "she has never forgiven me for beating her the first year I was here. Myra's not a good loser."

 

Veronica goes down and with Sally trailing along to take pictures, she interviews Myra, Nora, and Rae. Rae seems tense about the camera and manages to duck the interview because she is due to fight Team Gold's "Lucy Carr" (LACEY CALVERT/Lacey Chabert). Myra is seen urging Lucy to "see what you can get away with" and sure, enough, she tries to injure Rae's knee, but Rae evades the effort and pins the frustrated Gold Team girl. (Meanwhile, in another match, Myra manages to just beat Nora, and we learn this means Myra will face Rae in the final match next weekend. Myra, having seen Rae demolish her team's best fighters, is plainly not looking forward to the contest).

 

As for Rae, she is more interested in telling Veronica how she wants a degree in physical education so she can teach collegiate wrestling in high school. "It is the absolute foundation for all types of wrestling!" She declares enthusiastically..

 

Then Sally snaps Rae's picture. Rae jumps nervously and asks if that is going to be in the local papers. Veronica and Sally shake their head: The Chronicle's sports editor is a guy who thinks it's a waste of space to cover intramural sports. "Now if you were on the school varsity wrestling team--" Veronica begins, but Rae says she "doesn't have time". Nora, who is also Rae's roommate, says "I've tried to get her to join, so has Coach Allison, but Rae keeps saying she isn't isn't interested in varsity sports."

 

However, it turns out that Sally has a nice shot of Lucy's attempted dirty move and Marvin, the Sports Editor can't pass up running it, plus an accompanying shot of Rae.  Lucy is mortified and Myra is furious. She storms the newspaper office to complain about this "biased" coverage. Marvin stands his ground. As Myra and Lucy are leaving who should come in but an agitated Rae, waving the local Hillcrest Daily News, it seems Sally's photo of Lucy & Rae got picked up by the locals and has gone out on the wire service. Sally is rather proud of the pic and can't understand why Rae is so upset. "Someone might see it," Rae mutters and leaves. This puzzles Veronica and has Myra looking devious. "I think, Miss Smith is worried about something--let's see what."

 

Veronica attempts to get a look at Rae's record in the Admissions Office, but she is turned away. The clerk complains she's the second one to ask for that record today--the other was Mary-Elizabeth. Veronica decides to visit the records office after hours, but imagine her surprise to find Lucy Carson and Sarah Swift already there. Lucy knocks Veronica down after a fight and bolts from the room. Veronica discovers most of Rae's file in missing.

 

Veronica decides she's better talk to Rae, but she is startled to discover that the girl now wants to pull out of the tournament. Nora confides she saw Rae walking with Lucy and Mary-Elizabeth and right after that she developed a sudden knee injury. But who is fight at the finals? Nora says that under the rules of the tournament substitutes can be called in. How about Veronica herself? As a past participant she is technically elgible.  Veronica agrees, mainly because she thinks Myra is behind all this and she's like nothing better than to spite her.

 

However, Veronica is convinced at Rae is being blackmailed, but the girl has suddenly decided to go home for a week. Only where is "home"? Rae won't say where she's gone, but Veronica does find out she bought a bus ticket to nearby Rockburg. Veronica decides to go to Rockburg herself, but before she can a new crisis comes up.

 

Myra is furious about the substitution and demands Veronica "qualify" by fighting the last two Team Gold members Rae beat. This forces Veronica into a handicap match, which she wins over Mary Elizabeth and Lucy, but not before the treacherous Lucy causes an ankle injury that will likely make it hard for her to beat Myra. Myra smirks at this.

 

Veronica borrows a car from Nora's brother and then she, Nora and Sally drive over to Rockville in search of Rae. Nobody there has heard of a "Rae Smith"--but then the man at a local gym looks at Rae's picture and says "Oh, that's Mimi Masters' kid sister, Regina Masters. You can find her over at the Rockville Arena, Mimi's got a big show over there, Regina's probably helping her sister out."

 

So Veronica and Sally discover that Rae's secret is that she is the sister of the famous woman wrestler Mimi Masters. Rae has to explain that while she can wrestle pro-style, she thinks collegiate is the purer form of the sport  (her big sister Mimi played by REBECCA RAYMOND/Rebecca Romijn) rolls her eyes at this. "I didn't mean to criticize what you do now, Mimi, but I wanted to find my own way." Rae explains that she couldn't play varsity sports because she's had several professional bouts and doesn't have amateur standing, so she's had to stick with intramural, Sarah, Lucy and Mary got a hold of her records which revealed her real name and pieced the rest together. They threatened to create an embarassing scandal. Mimi says: "You shouldn't let those girls push you around, Regina. Stand up to the bunch of them, They should be ashamed of themselves for what they've done."

 

Veronica adds that she thinks Lucy, Sarah and Mary Elizabeth were only the tools--the one behind this is Myra. Rae agrees to go back Hillcrest and finish the fight. However, Myra has found out about the trip and guesses correctly that they've gone to bring Rae back, she loads her 3  hench girls into her roadster and speeds to Rockville. The three bad girls enter the arena and don some wrestling one pieces and masks so they will be mistaken for trainees working at the adjoining gym. Meanwhile, Rae has invited Veronica, Sally and Nora, to join her in a friendly 4-corner pro-style match with Rae explaining how it's done. (It's clear Rae has a real gift for wrestling instruction be it collegiate or pro-style) .They don wrestling one-pieces to do so. The 4 corner match gives the patrons a good five minutes of quick pro-style action.

 

Suddenly, the lights in the training room go out and in rush Myra, Sarah, Lucy and Mary Elizabeth to attack Rae, Veronica, Notra and Sally. There is wild battle in the semi-darkness. Rae manages to get the lights on and so the audience gets to see Myra and her pals get the worst of it, but Myra manages to get her team out and lock the door. This allows the invaders to retrieve their clothes and make a hasty retreat, but it is obvious to Veronica and her friends that it was those Team Gold meanies behind it. Veronica wants to denounce Myra and the others girls to the school authorities, but Regina just asks them to make sure she can fight Myra without interference. "Girls like Myra can't cope with losing. That's the worst thing I could do to her."

 

It is now the tournament finals, Rae returns and announces her name is really Regina Masters. Under that name she fights and defeats Myra in a fair fight. (Mimi Masters and a large delegation of her pro-style friends are on hand to cheer Rae/Regina on to victory. Several times it looks like Sarah, Mary Elizabeth or Lucy might try something, but each time, she is blocked by Veronica, Nora or Sally.

 

Myra practically grinds her teeth at the sight of Team Gold getting the trophy. She forces a smile for the cameras, Then she turns on Sarah, Lucy and Mary Elizabeth (all 3 showing bruises from the arena fight) and they have had more than enough out of her. They pull her into a storage closet and though we don't see it, sounds of slapping, fighting and then wailing are heard. Lucy, Sarah and Mary emerge carrying Myra's tattered gold singlet and toss it to Rae, who is outside the door with Veronica and Sally:  "Myra says you can have this as a trophy. You're the best wrestler in this school. We;re sorry we caused you so much trouble. You won't be bothered by us--or Myra--ever again," they tell her. Rae thanks Veronica for her help: "You aren't really a reporter, Veronica. You're a detective who found the truth and set me free."

 

Veronica later remarks to Sally that she is only sorry she can't write the true story of the tournament. Then Marvin goes by and remarks: "Girls sports are just so dull. At least this one had a little bit of excitement." Veronica and Sally roll their eyes and laugh knowingly.

 

An interesting film, Not big on the mystery angle, but it was rare for collegiate-style wrestling to be seen in a Double-Action picture, as the more visually exciting pro-style was the more often used The large amount of wrestling more than made up for the thinness of the mystery plot.. It is also refreshing to see REGINA ADAMS as principled heroine rather than her usual snotty, if combative society girl. It's also a treat to see NEVE NORTHWOOD, LACEY CALVERT, MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD, SCARLETT JEWELL, and SARAH CARSON, rising young D-A performers. ("It got me started playing 'heel' tough girls," Mary Elizabeth said later. "I loved the wrestling and brawling scenes. I knew I was at the right place when I saw how well they came out on film. The only thing wrong with being the heel was that you had to lose in the end and, I never really liked losing." She laughs when she says that last line). As for Lacey Calvert, she said, "I played so many good girls at D-A that I look back fondly on my bad girl roles. The best part was getting to wrestle with Regina Adams, she really was a great wrestler, but since she was the bad girl she usually didn't get to win, but this time she could turn her skill loose. She really did kick my ass--in a nice way, of course and Monica, who is not too well remembered was a little terrier in a fight scene. She liked brawls the best because she could go all-out. She had a high old time working me over in that Arena scene."

 

Cast:

 

VERONICA MARSDEN: KRISTEN BELMONT (Kristen Bell)

 

SALLY WEST: MONICA KEENE (Monica Keena)

 

RAE SMITH/REGINA MASTERS: REGINA ADAMS (Rachel McAdams)

MYRA STANWOOD: SCARLETT JEWELL (Scarlett Johansson)

 

 

NORA JEFFERSON: NEVE NORTHWOOD (Neve Campbell)

 

SARAH SWIFT: SARAH CARSON (Sarah Carter)

 

LUCY CARR: LACEY CALVERT (Lacey Chabert)

 

 

MARY ELIZABETH LORING: MARY ELIZABETH WINTHROP (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)

 

 

MIMI MASTERS: REBECCA RAYMOND (Rebecca Romijin)

 

 

THE MISSING PROFESSOR (1942) 

 

As if to make up for the lack of mystery element in the initial entry in the series, this second entry features a number of mysteries that our heroine is obliged to solve in order to establish why Professor Hubert Osgood is has disappeared and locate a near-legendary treasure on the campus of Hillcrest College. That Veronica and Sally find themselves fighting two very ornery,but competing females along the way is, of course, what makes this a Double-Action Pictures release.

 

The story opens on the even of Hillcrest College's annual Founders Day celebration, which of course is going to to be a major story for the Chronicle. Veronica is in the Chronicle offices when she gets an excited phone call from retired Professor Hubert Osgood who tells her he has a big story for her: "I've broken the code to the Ebenezer Hill Treasure!". This sounds good to Veronica and Sally, but Marvin (who now seems to be editor-in-chief) yawns and says "everyone" knows Professor Osgood is a "crank" about the Hill Code--the mysterious document with numbers that supposed leads to the $100,000 in gold and silver coins the eccentric founder of Hillcrest College left the school when he died  "40 years ago". No one has ever been able to crack the code, though Professor Osgood (according to Marvin) announces he's done it "every couple of years or so". However the resulting searches found nothing and the professor has become a faculty anmd administration pest. Still, Veronica thinks there could be a story and heads over to the Professor's house to talk to the old man.

 

At the house, a large, but badly kept old place ,though the Professor has a "volunteeer student researcher" named Rose Kellar (played by ROSE MCDONALD/Rose McGowan), who doesn't seem to much like visitors. The Professor is indeed eccentric who thinks he has finally figured out the Code, but seems to think "sinister forces" are out to steal it first. "I've take precautions", he says, "but by tomorrow I can lead you to the treasure and that old windbag Ebenezer Hill will stop having the last laugh on us."

 

On the way out, Rose tells Veronica she is "just using the old guy for a story. Stay away or I'll make you stay away." Veronica though smaller than Rose, refuses to be bullied. There is a shoving match and Rose goes down. Rose bounds to her feet and tries to tackle Veronica, who stops her cold with a elbow in the gut. As Rose is gasping for breath, Veronica says: "I'll be back at noon tomorrow as Professor Osgood asked."

 

Just as Veronica and Sally are leaving, a taxi pulls up and out hops  another young woman. They duck into the shubbery to watch as the young woman (CLARE KNIGHT/Clare Kramer) comes to the door carrying a book-sized package. Veronica and Sally hear her announce "I'm the Professor's niece, Olivia Osgood. He sent something to me and asked me to bring it to him today." Rose eagerly welcomes the newcomer in, sounding much warmer than she ever did to Veronica and Sally. The two watch through a parlor window as Olivia hands over the package to an eager Professor. Then Rose comes over to pull the curtains. The have to leave.

 

The next day, Veronica calls the Professor who sounds suddenly very agitated and begs her to come over right away. Veronica hurries over only to have Rose inform her that the Professor has left on a trip with his niece. Where she won't say, but Veronica sees signs of a struggle in the house before Rose slams the door in her face. Veronica notices that the Professor's car is still in the garage and the one local taxi hasn't been to the place since Olivia Osgood's arrival yesterday. However Veronica finds a snoopy neighbor lady who saw a strange car come and gpo from the place not a half hour before Veronica arrived with Sally, though she couldn't see who got into the car.

 

Veronica calls the police, but is told the Professor has to be missing 48 hours or that there is some evidence of a crime. Since she admits she was told the Professor and his niece have gone on trip, she realizes this is not going to work. Then Sally rushes up. Sally had been watching the Osgood house. She reports Rose took the Professor's car and took off in it. Not having a car themselves, they are unable to follow, but Veronica plays a hunch that ROse left in such a rush--she might not have locked the back door Sally saw her exit from. Sure enough it is unlocked and our pair go in calling "Professor, I'm here!"

 

A look around shows that the Professor was indeed trying to break the code. Veronica says the code was based on some unknown book or document. Each word in the document was numbered and the code is made up of those numbers. Clearly the problem was what document old Ebenzer Hill used. That must have been the book Olivia brought. However someone has taken the Professor, Olivia and all his research. But where?

 

Veronica checks Rose's room. It has been emptied, but checking the trash out back reveals a matchbook from the "Club Tinsel", a popular though somewhat shady nightclub just outside of town. Veronica calls the college to find out just where Rose is supposed to live. She finds out Rose Kellar was expelled for failure to attend class two years ago. Says the papers were sent to 1100 Millwood Road--the address of the Club Tinsel! Veronica shows a photo Sally took of Rose to a couple guys known to frequent the club and they say Rose worked there as a hostess, She also seemed very chummy the club owner a guy named Cal Fisher.

 

Veronica and Sally then invade the Club posing as would-be employees. Rose spots them and jumps Veronica after shoving Sally into a closet. Nice brawl between them, but Veronica's wrestling skills subdue Rose until Cal comes in and drags her off his employee. Cal denies knowing anything about any Professor or treasure, but warns Veronica and Sally to keep their mouths shut. He then takes them out to his car with Rose watching them, intending to drive them back to town. However, no sooner does he step through the door when he is hit over the head with a garbage can lid and knocked out. Olivia Osgood then jumps Rose and knocks her out!  Veronica and Sally are left blinking in surprise.

 

"Come on, if we take Fisher's car we can get to my Uncle," Olivia says. "By now he'll have the code ready and we can get to the treasure ahead of these two."

 

Veronica protests she wants to call the police, but Olivia insists there isn't time and hurries them to the car. From there they race back to town. Olivia explains that while Fisher and his men took Uncle Hubert and herself prisoner to force him to cooperate, her uncle did the work so slowlym Fisher and Rose went back to the club. She was able to knock out the hood and get away with her uncle. They pull into a motor court where Professor Osgood is happily ready with the code. "I told you Ebenezer was a windbag--the document was his speech congratulating himself for founding the college. I knew there was only one copy of that speech left--in my brother's library in Chicago. I pretended to mail a copy to myself to throw off my enemies--but Olivia here brought it to me. I just hadn;t counted on Rose beingf a traitor."

 

However the translated Code proves to be in the manner of a treasure hunt. Veronica proves very helpful in following the clues around. Finally, they are led to the cellar of Old Main, the school's original building. Here in the secret room is the treasure. Unfortunately, it turns out Cal Fisher and Rose are right behind them, letting them do all the work in hunting the treasure.  Trouble is: when they open the secret room there isn't any treasure! It is gone. Furious, Rose jumps Olivia. Then they both turn on Veronica and Sally. All the while a dumbfounded Cal and Professor Osgood are watching. Veronica has tripped a silent alarm on the way in, so campus police appear to separate everyone.

 

Chief Tanner of the Hillcrest police questions Veronica who explains who stole the treasure: Olivia Osgood. She had found a copy of the code in her father's papers, but not until her uncle called did she realize Ebenezer's speech was the key. So she decyphered it herself. Followed the clues and got the treasure. All those gold and silver coins were heavy she could only move them to a trunk that is in a closet in the cellar which she padlocked with her own lock. (Veronica noticed it was new). She planned to come back later and remove them. It turns out her side of the family lost most of its money and the coins (worth far more as collectibles than their face value) could solve them. Olivia is furious all her hard work has been undone. She was trying to con Veronica and Sally into covering for her by rushing them into the treasure hunt (though Veronica makes clear she suspected what Olivia was trying to do). She wouldn't have had to do any of it if Cal and "that tramp of his Rose" hadn't got mixed up in it."

 

Rose again has to be dragged off Olivia, Olivia also takes a swing at Veronica but the reporters blocks the punch and KO's her with one of her own. "She had that coming," says Veronica and Rose says. "Good work." The chief orders Rose, Fisher and Olivia taken away to face charges.

 

The final scene is Professor Osgood being honored by the school for finding the treasure which will now establish a scholarship fund in his and Ebenezer's name. The Professor tells Veronica and Sally he couldn't have done it without their help. Even Marvin tells them: "Good job, Marsden. Next big event, you get to cover it." Veronica beams, unaware this will lead to her most dramatic case so far.

 

CAST:

"VERONICA MARSDEN": Kristen Belmont (Kristen Bell)

 

"SALLY WEST": Monica Keene Monica Keena)

 

"OLIVIA OSGOOD": Clare Knight (Clare Kramer)

 

"ROSE KELLAR": Rose MacDonald (Rose McGowan)

 

 

 

 

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