Fast-paced mystery programmer that times in at exactly one hour, this one doesn't give you any time to grow bored, as a piece of forged Chinese furniture turns out to be real. Eddie Foy Jr. is great as the fast-talking sidekick and the plot veers in unexpected direction. William Lundigan is earnest and stiff as always, but even the butler speaks fast in this one.
8 Reviews
Competent and pleasant, but no great shakes
39-0-1315 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A lot of mystery movies came out in the 30's and early 40's which were not in the film noir tradition that flourished in the later 40's and beyond. This 1941 movie may be among the last in the who-dun-it style which featured an attractive couple, an amateur sleuth, sawdust headed cops, comic relief by an assistant to the main character, and a genuine puzzle. Here, the puzzle is also "how-dun-it." There is always an assortment of likely suspects, and always a least likely villain. Well, the elements are all here, and the lead actors are pleasant and nice to look at although neither of them became "A" list stars. Very much a time filler to watch, better than some, but not as good as STAR OF MIDNIGHT, say, or some of the Charlie Chan films of the same era. There are always loose ends in these movies, and I highlight just two of them below in a SPOILER QUERY.
SPOILER QUERY: So how did the two victims of the Parrot actually find the secret murder method and how did they restore things before dying when death was instantaneous? Also, did the villain actually get away with the swag at the end when captured and taken out the door by the cops? No one mentions the real motive for the murders as the villain is captured, apparently holding on to the booty.
SPOILER QUERY: So how did the two victims of the Parrot actually find the secret murder method and how did they restore things before dying when death was instantaneous? Also, did the villain actually get away with the swag at the end when captured and taken out the door by the cops? No one mentions the real motive for the murders as the villain is captured, apparently holding on to the booty.
Interesting but....
Jim Tritten13 October 2003
...not great. The premise of a stolen antique is somewhat different for this low budget war-era mystery. Could have been better, but the leading man is too stiff and the murders come too late despite the fast pace. Worth it only to see some ingenious means of death by furniture and to learn why the name of the criminal is the Black Parrot.
Predictable But Pleasant
Handlinghandel6 November 2003
A stylish programmer. William Lundigan is always appealing and Maris Wrixon is generally fun to have around, if only for her name (though here she is quite good.)
The plot is elaborate and somewhat preposterous. And I guessed the mystery within the first few moments. But it's chic and nicely turned out for a cheapie.
The plot is elaborate and somewhat preposterous. And I guessed the mystery within the first few moments. But it's chic and nicely turned out for a cheapie.
More obvious than Polly's cracker.
mark.waltz6 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I struck it rich on this one, figuring it out only minutes into the film, still unsure of my accuracy to the film's revelation, yet not proved wrong, which I usually am in these types of mysteries. But I still had a good time in spite of my certainty, becoming engrossed in the tale of a serial jewel robber, which leads to murder, a suspicious butler (with Bela Lugosi like eyes) and a hoity toity countess, as well as a dresser with several hidden compartments, one of which has a deadly surprise.
The film doesn't pretend to be anything more than a standard programmer mystery, totally unpretentious in its presentation, and filled with delightfully witty dialog and the pleasure of watching a reporter (William Lundigan) solving the mystery rather than the cops. Eddie Foy Jr. ("The Pajama Game", "Bells are Ringing", narrator of the Bob Hope starred story of his famous father's life) takes over the part usually essayed by Allen Jenkins, and Maris Wrixon proves herself to be an acceptable heroine. Plenty of red herrings abound to keep you guessing if you might be wrong too, but you may find yourself figuring it out early in the game.
The film doesn't pretend to be anything more than a standard programmer mystery, totally unpretentious in its presentation, and filled with delightfully witty dialog and the pleasure of watching a reporter (William Lundigan) solving the mystery rather than the cops. Eddie Foy Jr. ("The Pajama Game", "Bells are Ringing", narrator of the Bob Hope starred story of his famous father's life) takes over the part usually essayed by Allen Jenkins, and Maris Wrixon proves herself to be an acceptable heroine. Plenty of red herrings abound to keep you guessing if you might be wrong too, but you may find yourself figuring it out early in the game.
Typical...and rather talky.
planktonrules22 June 2020
In the 1930s and 40s, Hollywood made hundreds, if not thousands of cheap B-mystery movies. Most have a certain sameness about them--and "The Case of the Black Parrot" is no exception. What do they have in common? Well, usually the police are pretty dim and it takes a non-professional (often a newspaper man or woman) to solve some murders. They also usually have the most convoluted plots and schemes. Because this film is so typical, I cannot highly recommend it...but it's not terrible.
The case involves a piece of furniture being shipped from France to the Unites States. But later, folks involves with it start dying...with marks much like snake fangs on the back of the hand of the victims. So, it's up to (naturally) a bright newspaper man (William Lundigan) to put the clues together and capture the baddie...though the baddie pretty much just turns himself in at the end. Few real surprises and, of course, a fantastical sort of way of killing people.
The case involves a piece of furniture being shipped from France to the Unites States. But later, folks involves with it start dying...with marks much like snake fangs on the back of the hand of the victims. So, it's up to (naturally) a bright newspaper man (William Lundigan) to put the clues together and capture the baddie...though the baddie pretty much just turns himself in at the end. Few real surprises and, of course, a fantastical sort of way of killing people.
He copies stuff
bkoganbing20 June 2020
Reporter William Lundigan and his sidekick photographer Eddie Foy,Jr. meet up
with Maris Wrixson and her uncle on an ocean liner away from war torn Europe..
She's traveling with the uncle and an antique cabinet. After the cabinet is master forger the Black Parrot. Known by said name for his skill at copying stuff.
After the uncle's murder and several false leads the reporters actually capture the notorious crook. I have to say I had it figured out and I think you will too.
Routine mystery from the Warner Brothers B unit.
After the uncle's murder and several false leads the reporters actually capture the notorious crook. I have to say I had it figured out and I think you will too.
Routine mystery from the Warner Brothers B unit.
Pedestrian
dougdoepke19 February 2018
Lacklustre whodunit from Warners. Plot concerns a valuable antique cabinet being brought back from France to US. The furniture item appears a mysterious piece of work that may or may not be a copy of the real thing. Reporter Moore (Lundigan) and ditzy photographer Tripod (Foy Jr.) get involved with the cabinet and an exotic someone calling himself The Black Parrot. Soon a series of mysterious deaths occur surrounding the furniture piece. Is the Parrot responsible and just who is he really.
It's a typical amateur sleuth programmer from that period. Unfortunately, the results are dimmer than most. Only the unknown method of killing registers as imaginative. Otherwise, the acting, visuals, and script are pedestrian, at best. Moreover, I don't recall a single scene not taking place on a set. It's a real cheapo for the otherwise respectable Warner Bros. I suspect the project was mainly to showcase pretty boy Lundigan-- who parades through his part-- in hopes of advancing his career. If so, I doubt that it worked for him any better than it does for the audience.
It's a typical amateur sleuth programmer from that period. Unfortunately, the results are dimmer than most. Only the unknown method of killing registers as imaginative. Otherwise, the acting, visuals, and script are pedestrian, at best. Moreover, I don't recall a single scene not taking place on a set. It's a real cheapo for the otherwise respectable Warner Bros. I suspect the project was mainly to showcase pretty boy Lundigan-- who parades through his part-- in hopes of advancing his career. If so, I doubt that it worked for him any better than it does for the audience.
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