Film Snail

5.5

Alias Boston Blackie

NR·1942·67m

Mystery

Summary

It is the Christmas Holidays and reformed thief, Boston Blackie goes to Castle Theater to pick up players who will perform for prisoners that are still in prison. He takes a girl with him who has a brother already in prison. She has visited the prison twice in the month, so is not suppose to visit again. However when the group is completed the girl is included as well as Inspector Farrady. One of the clowns in the show is kidnapped and replaced by a con who wants to get even with two ex-partners. Boston Blackie figures out that a con has replaced one of his clowns but is unable to stop him. Blackie's clothes are stolen and a murder is committed. Of course, the Inspector immediately suspects Blackie of being involved. Now it is Blackie's job to find the killer, exonerate himself and help the girl free her brother.

Cast

Chester Morris

Boston Blackie

Adele Mara

Eve Sanders

Richard Lane

Inspector Farraday

George E. Stone

The Runt

Lloyd Corrigan

Arthur Manleder

Walter Sande

Detective Mathews

Larry Parks

Joe Trilby

George McKay

Roggi McKay

Cy Kendall

Jumbo Madigan

Paul Fix

Steve Caveroni

Ben Taggart

Warden

Ernie Adams

Pop - Stage Doorman (uncredited)

Lloyd Bridges

Bus Driver (uncredited)

Edmund Cobb

Police Dispatcher Sergeant (uncredited)

Harry Depp

Mr. Jones - Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Mike Donovan

Policeman (uncredited)

Lester Dorr

Henry - Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Bud Geary

Policeman (uncredited)

Kit Guard

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Dave Harper

Policeman (uncredited)

Al Herman

Guard (uncredited)

George Hickman

Elevator Boy (uncredited)

Dick Jensen

Martin - Driver of Squad Car 29 (uncredited)

William Lally

Policeman (uncredited)

Eddie Laughton

Ambulance Driver (uncredited)

James T. Mack

Bill - Manleder's Valet (uncredited)

Teddy Mangean

Singing Telegram Boy #1 (uncredited)

Sidney Miller

Herman - Bellhop (uncredited)

Eileen O'Hearn

Hotel Maid (uncredited)

Lee Prather

Guard Counting Guests (uncredited)

Frank Richards

Mack - Prisoner Next to Joe (uncredited)

Francis Sayles

Laundry Proprietor (uncredited)

Walter Soderling

Dr. Crane (uncredited)

Cyril Thornton

Meggs - Manleder's Chauffeur (uncredited)

Duke York

Johnson - Policeman in Squad Car 29 (uncredited)

Suzanne Ridgway

Chorus Girl (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Lew Landers

Characters

Jack Boyle

Screenplay

Paul Yawitz

Reviews

Geronimo1967

January 11, 2024

"Blackie" (Chester Morris) starts off this crime drama - on a bus driven by Lloyd Bridges - by doing a little bit of compering at a prison where the Christmas entertainment revolves around a magic booth! Of course, one of the prisoners escapes and, of course, "Insp. Faraday" (Richard Lane) and his hapless helper "Sgt. Matthews" (Walter Sande) conclude that it's all part of a cunning wheeze by "Blackie" to get "Joe" (Larry Parks) out of jail. What we quickly discover, though, is that our sleuth is completely innocent and that he has doubts about the voracity of the conviction that sent the young man up in the first place. Now, with the help of his pal "Manleder" (Lloyd Corrigan) and the ever reliable "Runt" (George E. Stone) - who has a bit more of a part in the one - he sets off trying to apprehend the real culprit of an heinous murder before "Faraday" messes it all up. Morris is on good form, it's a fairly evenly and quickly paced drama and there's just the merest hint of mystery as we head to the denouement. Not so much humour here, but still at the better end of these "Boston Blackie" mysteries.