I was making a few early judgements when I found out that this 1935 movies was based on a book by Earl Derr Biggers, the mind behind Charlie Chan (wince). Still, this movie is very amusing and not just from a writer's point-of-view.
Our hero, Magee, is a novelist (a term his temporary landlord and landlady do not recognize) who is attempting to fulfill a betthat he can write a novel in 24 hours starting at midnight. He chooses a particular out-of-the-way mountain inn, thinking it will give him the peace and quiet he needs. He starts off rather superstitious, not placing his hat on the bed or crossing the path of a black cat. It turns out he is right to be superstitious as he no sooner open his typewriter case then a man enters the house with a key The author has been assured that he has the only key to the Baldpate Inn.
At first, the obvious criminal type amuses Magee because he has written it so many times. He remains calm as a gun is put in his back and hast to prove that he’s rented Baldplate for the purposes of writing. Then Magee outsmarts and locks up the criminal, just as a woman enters with her own key.
Magee’s next guest with a key is Mary, a woman who stops him from calling the police. He had seen her previously at the station, instantly taking a liking to her. She on the other hand is more suspicious of him, not believing his motives for being in the old inn. As the next person enters with his own key, Magee intends to prove his authorship by making up a character for the newbie. However, the man says that everything he makes up is true.
In case you haven’t figured it out, each key brings a new person and more intrigue, including a hermit writing his own book on the evils of women, a woman claiming to be a blackmail victim, and various crooks who keep calling Magee “Wise guy”. The whole affair continues to distract Magee, especially since he keeps coming in contact with his favorite cliches. All of the shenanigans revolve around thousands of dollars hidden in the Inn safe.
Spoiler alert: In the end, when everything is revealed, stolen money is returned to where it belongs, the crooks are arrested, and it turns out Mary is a reporter. Magee offers her his typewriter so she can write up her story, even though he will lose his bet. Apparently, he gives up his writing integrity at a chance of getting he girl.
