Film Snail

6.2

The Chance of a Lifetime

NR·1943·65m

Crime

Mystery

Crime

Mystery

Summary

A mad scramble for stolen loot ensues after Boston Blackie has prisoners released for work in a wartime defence plant.

Cast

Chester Morris

Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black

Erik Rolf

Dooley Watson

Jeanne Bates

Mary Watson

Richard Lane

Insp. John Farraday

George E. Stone

The Runt

Lloyd Corrigan

Arthur Manleder

Douglas Fowley

Nails Blanton (Uncredited)

Sid Melton

Benny Hines (Uncredited)

Ray Teal

Policeman Joe (Uncredited)

Maude Eburne

Edna Counihan (Uncredited)

Arthur Hunnicutt

Elwood "Tex" Stewart (Uncredited)

Cy Kendall

Jumbo Madigan (Uncredited)

Larry Olsen

Johnny Watson (Uncredited)

Pierre Watkin

State Governor Rutledge (Uncredited)

Walter Sande

Detective Sergeant Matthews (Uncredited)

Jack Carr

Carpet Man (Uncredited)

Richard Alexander

Carpet Man (Uncredited)

George Anderson

Warden J.A. Edwards (Uncredited)

Jessie Arnold

Woman in Hallway (Uncredited)

Trevor Bardette

Manny Vogel (Uncredited)

Eddie Bruce

Sandy (Uncredited)

Sally Cairns

Richie Adair (Uncredited)

Eddy Chandler

Policeman Frank (Uncredited)

James Conaty

Parole Board Member (Uncredited)

Heinie Conklin

Police Desk Sergeant (Uncredited)

Marie De Becker

Miss Bailey (Uncredited)

Sayre Dearing

Reporter at Parole Board Hearing (Uncredited)

Minta Durfee

Woman in Hallway (Uncredited)

Ben Erway

Prison Warden Root (Uncredited)

Jerry Frank

George Phillips (Uncredited)

Joel Friedkin

Joe Painter (Uncredited)

Kit Guard

Wilfred Thompson (Uncredited)

John Harmon

Red Taggart (Uncredited)

Carl M. Leviness

Parole Board Member (Uncredited)

George Magrill

Policeman (Uncredited)

Al Murphy

William Jones (Uncredited)

Forbes Murray

Chairman of Parole Board (Uncredited)

Frank O'Connor

Policeman (Uncredited)

Brian O'Hara

Parker Gray (Uncredited)

Dick Rush

Policeman Lally (Uncredited)

Harry Semels

Jerome Wagner (Uncredited)

John Tyrrell

Driver (Uncredited)

Bobby Hale

British Newsman (uncredited)

Crew

Director

William Castle

Characters

Jack Boyle

Writer

Paul Yawitz

Reviews

Geronimo1967

January 11, 2024

This time, "Boston" (Chester Morris) comes up with a proposal to the Governor that would allow some trusted prisoners to come and work in a factory to assist with the war effort. He agrees that they can live at his apartment but before long is embroiled in a plan to prove that "Dooley" (Erik Rolf) was set up for a murder he didn't commit. Unusually, "Insp. Faraday" (Richard Lane) is in on the plot to use "Blackie" as bait for the real criminal - well, him and $60,000 - and using some sleight of hand and his gang of well-meaning convicts lays a trap for... This doesn't hang about, is tightly cast with series regulars and with a more solid story than many of the other outings for an on form Morris, it passes an hour with a few red herrings and a precarious window-dangled confession at the end.