In 1937, Farrell began starring as Torchy Blane, a fast-talking wisecracking newspaper reporter. Warner Bros. had started to develop a film adaptation of "MacBride and Kennedy" stories by detective novelist Frederick Nebel. For the film version, Kennedy is changed to a woman named "Torchy" Blane and is in love with MacBride's character. Director Frank MacDonald immediately knew whom he wanted for the role of Torchy. Farrell had already proved that she could play hard-boiled reporters in "Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933) and "Hi, Nellie!" (1934), and was quickly cast with Barton MacLane playing detective Steve McBride in the first film "Smart Blonde" (1937).