Joan of Arc... and Nancy Drew

Nancy’s (female) friend George finds inspiration in Joan of Arc…

“The idea of a girl soldier appeals to me.  What terrific courage she had!”….  Nancy smiled.  “I wish we had Joan on this trip with us.  She was a pretty good detective, too.” 

- The Mystery of the 99 Steps (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, 1966) 

 

 

Image: Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Difficult and the Impossible

“With an inward smile she recalled a placard she had seen recently in a store: The difficult we do right away.  The impossible takes a little longer.”

- Beverly Gray’s Scoop (1954)

 

High Praise for Nancy

Is there a brilliant girl detective in your life?  Have you just been rescued from terrible danger or had a troubling mystery resolved in spectacular fashion?  Don’t forget to pay your heroine an appropriate compliment…

“Miss Drew, you’re the most ingenious girl I’ve ever met! … I wish I could think that fast.”

 - Nancy Drew and the Bungalow Mystery (1960)

Darkness at Assateague

An evocative image from The Haunted Lagoon (1959), an installment of The Dana Girls Mystery Stories.

Adventure Calls... and Trixie Answers

“Honey wanted to be the kind of detective who sat in an office and directed other people… Trixie was just the opposite.  The more involved a situation seemed to be, the better she liked it.  Adventure – even danger beckoned her and found her willing… Trixie was scrupulous, though, about doing work that was expected of her.”

- Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Code (1961)

"You got types?"

Only you, Myrna Loy.

Nick and Nora Charles… probably the cutest detective couple in movie history.

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4vjitQH-tU

 

No Romance Tonight!

Chuckling to herself, Nancy said aloud, “Romance and detective work won’t mix tonight!”

- Nancy Drew and the Bungalow Mystery, 1960 edition.

 

Bringing Up Baby

Katharine Hepburn’s character in “Bringing Up Baby” – described in the trailer as “a flutter-brained vixen with love in her heart” – may not be her most feminist role.  Yet the amazing Ms. Hepburn somehow manages to make Susan Vance simultaneously mischievous, anarchic, clever, and utterly endearing.  Cary Grant’s snowballing exasperation with Susan is priceless – especially because, deep down, he loves every minute of it.

Trailer:

 

Ending (Spoilers!):

Following Trixie

One night, coming home from the movies, Honey’s brother sees her shivering and asks whether she is cold – ready to offer her his scarf ...

‘Not cold,’ she answered.  ‘Those western pictures frighten me.’

‘How you could have followed Trixie into some of the tight spots she led you into, I’ll never know,’ Mart said.

‘I didn’t know about them until I was into them.’ Honey sighed.  ‘When I did know I’d have been more frightened to have her go on alone.’

 

- Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Code (1961)

 

Jane and her Parachute

“The leap from the plane had been so sudden Jane had no time to analyze her feelings while she fell…. She tried to relax as the chute neared the ground… landing in a parachute was anything but a lark.”

- Jane, Stewardess of the Air Lines (1934)

Trixie's Big Idea

When the principal cracks down on clubs at school, Trixie needs to find a new project to justify the “Bob-Whites of the Glen”… 

‘How about something to help UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund?’  Trixie asked.  Then she added, dramatically, ‘That would cover the whole world!’ 

‘Say, Trixie, that really sounds like something,’ Mart said, excitedly.  Just let the school board try to put the heat on us when we’re doing something for the United Nations!’ 

- Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Code (1961)

 

 

Illustration by Paul Frame

Nancy Drew, Detective

Original art, adapted from the cover art of the Grosset & Dunlap 1959 edition of Nancy Drew Mystery Stories.

Party like Nancy Drew

Celebrate the New Year like Nancy Drew – with sleuthing, historical costumes, and just a little bit of cross-dressing.

“Helen was holding up a man’s purple velvet suit.  It had knee breeches and the waistcoat had a lace-ruffled front… ‘I think I’ll wear this and be your partner, Nancy,’ Helen said.”

 

- Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1930)

 

 

 

Plucky Penny

“Are you all right?” the fireman asked, taking her arm.

“Quite,” Penny smiled.  “You needn’t hold me.  I’ll not faint.”

“You have pluck, Miss…” 

- Penny Nichols and the Black Imp (1936)
 

Who can turn the world on with her smile?

Happy Birthday, Mary Tyler Moore!

You’re gonna make it after all.

Photo: Bob Willoughby
Source: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1166907136/nm0001546

Jane Gets the Job!

“There’s danger, there’s a lot of responsibility, and there’s a great deal of work at times,” he went on.  “You may be trapped in almost any kind of weather – rain, snow, hail, sleet, fog.  You must be calm and resourceful and courageous.”

- Jane, Stewardess of the Air Lines (1934)
 

"Jeepers, Honey!"

“Lucy Radcliffe wouldn’t go back to bed,” Trixie replied obstinately.  “She would just toss her gorgeous red hair back from her face, set her jaw firmly, and stick at it until the case was solved.  Jeepers, Honey!  How I wish I were a spy.  Lucy leads such an exciting life.”

- Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Ghostly Galleon (1979)

Nancy, Undaunted

In the classic television series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary Richards is told by her employer, Lou Grant, that she’s got spunk.  He proceeds to add: “I hate spunk!”  

In The Hidden Staircase, Nancy has a memorable encounter with an owl that has been let into a “haunted” house.  When Rosemary, the daughter of their host, notes that “Owls have very sharp claws and beaks and they use them viciously on anybody who tries to disturb them,” Nancy insists, “I’ll stay here and try getting Mr. Owl out of the house.  Have you a pair of old heavy gloves?”  A few moments later, Nancy’s “lightning movement” allows her to grab hold of the bird.  Undaunted by the pain caused by its pecking, she runs across the room with her captive, and releases it out the window.  “Operation Owl” was a success! 

Nancy Drew has spunk – and who except Lou Grant could hate that? 

Sojourner Truth on Christmas

“Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
 

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.”

 

- Sojourner Truth, addressing the Women's Convention in Ohio, 1851

 

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.asp

Justice and Excitement

“I only want to see justice done.  And I do have evidence!”  Penny’s face brightened with excitement.

 

- Penny Nichols and the Black Imp (1936)