Accidents Will Happen (1938) User Reviews

Make that 7.5!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 8 August 2017]

SYNOPSIS: An honest insurance adjuster (Ronald Reagan) is hounded by his shrewish wife (Sheila Bromley) and a corrupt claims investigator (Anderson Lawler).

COMMENT: I didn't expect much from this Ronald Reagan "B" entry. True, it was odd to find our future President saddled with a "B" at this stage of his movie career, although I must admit that it is certainly a lively, extremely well-produced "B" entry.

By the humble standards of a second feature, "Accidents Will Happen" does certainly have a really smart script, which abundantly provides Reagan with some really good opportunities to win audience sympathy with the character he portrays here with such likable acumen.

Better still, the movie is directed at a really crackling pace, that not only enlivens some of the smartest, slickest acting I've seen in many a day, but wins audience sympathy, hands down!

In fact it would be true to say that all the players from the stars themselves down to the tiniest bit-parts, are extraordinarily well cast.

Snappy film editing, attractive photography and A-1 sets add to the film's visual appeal.

My only complaint (and it's a very, very small one) is that Gloria Blondell (Joan Blondell's sister) has — of necessity — such a small role.

"I know you're going to be the best husband my wife ever had."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 26 December 2016]

I was getting a little nervous there when Ronald Reagan's character appeared to be availing himself of all the underhanded techniques his opponents were using to settle fraudulent insurance claims. Fortunately we learn he's working hand in hand with the State's Attorney's office and all the scams he perpetrated were going to be made right. It would not have looked good for the future President to be a criminal!

This was a generally entertaining and briskly paced little flick, with that clever opening in which Eric Gregg (Reagan) conducted his little experiment on women's shoes. Those were some mighty tough heels to withstand the fireplace, but I got more of a kick out of a handful of office gals going gaga over their twelve dollar replacement shoes! Poor Mary (Janet Shaw), Gregg's secretary, she hadn't had a pair that expensive in years!

Say, here's something that present day screenplay writers wouldn't have tripped up on. When Blair Thurston (Addison Richards) declares that he'd like to 'amalgamate' Gregg into his shady operation, it's not much later that Gregg himself says something similar - what were the odds of them each zeroing in on that same word?

Seeing as how Gregg split with his shrew of a wife Nona (Sheila Bromley), I'm glad he was able to hook up with nice girl Patty (Gloria Blondell). But it was a bit weird to see her laying there on the stretcher in the middle of the courtroom. I wonder if that's ever been done before.

Well it was just the thing to bring down the whole insurance scam and take down the bad guys. With Addison Richards in the cast, it was cool to see that he didn't have to be a Western outlaw for a change. Same with another perennial baddie, Earl Dwire, who showed up here as Doc Faris. Rewritten, I guess this could just as easily have been a Western as well, with Reagan wearing a white hat as he rides into town to save the day.

Unlikely but entertaining insurance fraud drama

[csteidler · 6/10 · 17 September 2011]

Ronald Reagan plays Eric Gregg, up-and-coming (he hopes) insurance investigator. Sheila Bromley is his wife Nona, who is decidedly not satisfied with her husband's lack of quicker progress up the ranks. The film opens with a domestic scene—Reagan burning the toast, Bromley bringing in the breakfast—that gave me the idea I was in for a breezy comedy-mystery; in fact, it's anything but a comedy, and the "mystery" here is nothing like a typical who done it.

A couple of major plot twists surprise and impress; the characters are only as deep as a 62-minute picture allows time for, but they do interact and affect each other in ways unusual and intriguing in a B movie.

Reagan is fine as the lead. Bromley is quite impressively nasty, especially when delivering lines like, "Now it happens that I'm not weighted down with tons of righteousness." Gloria Blondell has too small a role but is attractive as the girl with her eye on Ronny who perks up sweetly when told that the wife has gone to Reno….Blondell really is the brightest spot in what is, at least for long stretches, a rather gloomy picture.

An interesting if bizarre little movie. It fooled me, I'll admit that.

Fun "B" Movie

[Michael_Elliott · 23 May 2009]

Accidents Will Happen (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Ronald Reagan plays a young insurance adjustor who is slowly working his way up the ladder but not fast enough for his high priced wife (Sheila Bromley). The wife joins a insurance fraud racket, which eventually gets her husband fired from his job but instead of lying down he decides to bring the racket down himself. This is yet another "B" film Reagan did at Warner and this one here actually kept me entertained from start to finish due to the rather interesting story and a nice performance by the young star. The movie is pretty much one note as we see the hot shot get torn down and then we see him built back up as he takes down the bad guys. What I enjoyed most was how we got to see the various scams play out. We see the characters brought into play, we see the wrecks and then we see how the claims are paid off. All of this was rather fascinating even though the movie never goes too deep into things. The film runs just 62-minutes so it's fast paced and right to the point. I really enjoyed Reagan here as he manages to be quite good in his cockiness early on and he is able to show the strength of the character in the second half. Gloria Blondell and Duck Purcell add good support as does Bromley who plays a great villain who you can't help but hate. If you're not a fan of "B" movies than this here will probably be a bit too shallow for your taste but those you do enjoy this type of thing will find themselves entertained throughout.

It's Only Hit and Run

[wes-connors · 3/10 · 7 March 2009]

Honest young insurance agent Ronald Reagan (as Eric Gregg) is optimistic, but poor. His wife, scheming Sheila Bromley (as Nona Gregg), longs for the finer things in life. Describing herself as "not weighted down with tons of righteousness," Ms. Bromley begins to spend more money than Mr. Reagan earns. Bromley obtains the finer things in life, but puts the couple in debt. Bromley is a fun shrew.

Handsome Reagan attracts other women, like perky clerk Gloria Blondell (as Patricia Carmody); but, he doesn't indulge. To pay the bills, Bromley gets tangled up in the insurance fraud racket - which helps get her husband fired. An unemployed Reagan seems to be tempted into a life of crime - will he remain straight up, or get crooked? Clinton Rosemond has an uncomfortable "broken arm" scene.

*** Accidents Will Happen (1938) William Clemens ~ Ronald Reagan, Sheila Bromley, Gloria Blondell

Fast moving crime drama

[JohnSeal · 5/10 · 2 October 2003]

Ronald Reagan plays an insurance adjuster who stumbles onto a fraud ring that creates 'accidents' and bilks his company out of thousands of dollars. Gloria Blondell plays Ronnie's wife, a spiteful little minx who can't stand living with the straight shooting young go-getter when there are fur coats to be purchased and good living to be had. This is a low amp 'B' feature that nonetheless uses its 62 minutes wisely and is never less than entertaining. Blondell is particularly good in her bad girl role, and Reagan had yet to fall into the traps that would limit his career to insipid good guy roles. It won't change your life, but Accidents Will Happen is a solid little second feature.

Good performances, good story make a good film

[morrisonhimself · 9/10 · 5 March 2009]

It would seem a given, but if a viewer forgets context, he risks missing an opportunity of enjoyment.

It is easy to carp, from the lofty heights of the 21st century, at styles and prices of the Great Depression years; but the intelligent viewer will remember that magic word, "context," and better understand and, thus, enjoy "Accidents Will Happen."

Among the actors, Ronald Reagan again showed himself a good-looking and personable guy, and again gave a right-on performance.

A reviewer earlier said Gloria Blondell played the nasty wife, but that was wrong: She plays the concession-stand clerk who has a crush on the Reagan character, Eric Gregg, but keeps hands off as long as he is married.

Gloria was cute. Not as lushly beautiful as her sister, Joan, she was still attractive and a good actress. Perhaps her looking somewhat like Joan was a detriment to having a more successful career, and it is certainly our loss.

Sheila Bromley was Mrs. Gregg, and played it well.

Other actors included Dick Purcell, and the great Earl Dwire got to play something besides a villainous cowboy.

Again, most of the players never attained the "household-name" status many of them deserved, but they by gosh gave good performances here, in a story that is still current.

Predictable and dull

[train464 · 3/10 · 26 September 2003]

An interesting period picec showing us what was amazing in 1938. Gosh, Ma, a fake accident ring suing for $25,000!!! I guess projected into the 21st century it would amount to a lot of money. The acting would amount to pure 21st century ham. Nice to see the president as a hard-working newcomer.

Insurance Racket

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 27 June 2020]

Ronald Reagan stars in this B feature from Warner Brothers Accidents Will Happen about an honest insurance claims investigator who's a bit too good at his job. So he gets set up good and proper by some insurance racketeers who use his wife Sheila Bromley as part of the set up.

It's a good part for Reagan solidifying his nice guy image that the Warner Brothers were giving him. Bromley's a hateful and spiteful spouse and has some good scenes herself. The girl for Ronnie is Gloria Blondell playing a part that would have fit older sister Joan in the studios more expensive A films.

I have to say Reagan sets the villains up nicely for their final comeuppance.

Good, but routine programmer.

A Great Reagan Film Classic to VIEW!

[whpratt1 · 10/10 · 10 June 2004]

Over the years I seemed to have missed this picture of Ronald Reagan, and due to his recent passing to the big screen in heaven, it was shown on TV recently. This is a great low budget B&W film of the late 1930's, however, it is very interesting to see how criminals used their talents to steal money from insurance companies with false claims during this particular time frame. I was surprised at the role Ronald Reagan,(Eric Gregg),"The Killer's,'64, played in this picture, along with a great veteran film star, Sheila Bromley,(Nona Gregg),"Nightmare Circus",'73, who was a great supporting actor. It was a great film that showed Ronald Reagan as a very young man reaching for the stars in his career in Hollywood at the time. God Bless HIM !

Eric is married to a terrible lady....he just doesn't realize it yet.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 19 January 2017]

Eric Gregg (Ronald Reagan) is an incredibly smart insurance adjuster. Again and again, he's able to unravel insurance fraud cases and is really a marvel. However, despite this he's blind to a serious problem at home. Gregg's wife longs to live higher on the hog and wants a fancy apartment and more...though they simply cannot afford it. So, she stupidly takes out a loan and defaults on it-- apparently not realizing that the folks giving her the loan were the same people who were behind the insurance fraud cases! Well, appearances are deceiving and it turns out Mrs. Gregg knows EXACTLY who these people are and she plans on making life easy on herself and the fraudsters! In essence, she goes into business with the crooks! When will Eric wake up and see who his wife really is?! And what's next?! Will Eric be able to have the last laugh?!

Although there were a lot of crappy B-movies made during this era, "Accidents Will Happen" is of a higher caliber--and much of it was because a big studio like Warner Brothers could make a much more polished B than tiny outfits like Monogram and PRC. The script is quite good as is the acting and the entire production has the nice polish that you'd expect from Warner. Overall, unusually good for a B--and better than many of the 'better', more expensive pictures!